Systemwide, Baystate was headed for a $33 million operating margin, not the $55 million budgeted.

This story expands upon: Baystate Health lays off 24 employees, cuts hours for 17, eliminates 45 open jobs

SPRINGFIELD — Prior to the layoffs announced Thursday, Baystate Health was on a pace to earn $33 million in operating margin for the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30.

That would have been $22 million less than the $55 million called for in Baystate's budget projections, said spokesman Ben Craft. As a nonprofit, Baystate reinvests the surplus in capital expenses like buildings and equipment as well as in programs.

Overall, Baystate has a $2 billion-a-year budget.

Baystate Health has a total of 11,500 employees at Baystate Medical Center, Baystate Mary Lane in Ware, Baystate Franklin in Greenfield, Baystate Wing in Palmer and other assorted operations. Of those, 6,100 work at the flagship Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

This makes Baystate the region's largest employer, according to the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (pdf). The next largest employer, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, has roughly 7,900 employees.

The Baystate layoffs include 24 employees who will be out in 30 days. Baystate also plans to cut hours for another 17 workers and not fill 45 open positions.

The jobs are all based in Springfield and almost entirely at the flagship Baystate Medical Center. The eliminated jobs do not include bedside nurses nor do they include doctors. The jobs do include clinical support and administrative jobs and 10 management positions, Craft said.

Interviewed via email on Thursday, Craft said he hesitates to draw a connection between the layoffs and the federal Affordable Care Act now changing nearly every aspect of health care. Baystate agrees with the ACA's goal that everyone deserves access to health care and to health insurance, Craft said.

He wrote:

"I think the fairest attributions for today's news are first, our overall imperative to transition from volume to value -- striving to deliver the highest value in care; that's high-quality care, with high efficiency, rather than the sheer volume of care. That means looking at processes and resources and often adjusting them, and it means managing costs."

Medicaid also costs Baystate about $40 million a year. Baystate's one of the largest providers of Medicaid services in the state but is compensated only 70 to 80 cents on the dollar by Medicaid.

Medicaid is a federal and state program providing health care to those with low incomes.

James Leahy has been a Holyoke councilor at large since January 2000.

HOLYOKE -- City Councilor at Large James M. Leahy said he is running for a ninth term because he knows how to speak up for taxpayers and wants to keep playing a role in decisions that help the city.

"I am not afraid to question the administration on every dollar they want to spend of Holyoke taxpayers' money," said Leahy, 41, of 12 Park Slope.

"I will continue to advocate on the taxpayers behalf, and utilize my business acumen, passion for Holyoke and the experiences I have both in the public and private sectors, to make the best decisions for the residents and our future," he said Monday (June 1).

The city registrar of voters office recently certified Leahy's nomination papers, which places his name on the election ballot.

Leahy is a first-generation American, his father having been born in Ireland. His three brothers are police officers, with two working for the Holyoke Police Department and one in Las Vegas, making public safety issues his priority, he said.

Leahy has been a councilor since January 2000.

"With public safety being a major focus, I am a hard-working city councilor who spends my time on constituent services, as an advocate for both the citizens and businesses in Holyoke," Leahy said.

Leahy is a long-time member of the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade Committee, which organizes the annual series of events that include a parade and road race. He works in sales and marketing for Takeda Pharmaceuticals, one of the largest such companies in the world.

He has a bachelor's in political science from Westfield State University.

Among orders Leahy has filed have been one to prompt discussion about fluoridation of the municipal water supply and another to ensure the American flag that flies in front of City Hall is under a spotlight at night.

Leahy is known for quips during City Council meetings. A few years ago, some neighbors complained that officials had done a poor job of informing residents on Lower Westfield Road about the recent opening of a low-risk detention facility.

Leahy told them, "If you like my comments, I'm Councilor Jim Leahy. If you don't, I'm Councilor Kevin Jourdain."

The City Council has 15 members, with eight at large and one from each of the seven wards. A preliminary election would be held Sept. 22 to narrow the field in the at large race if the candidate field totals at least one more than twice the number of seats, or 17 candidates. The top 16 finishers would compete on Election Day Nov. 3.

Petco declined to tell WWBT exactly how the accident occurred, although it told the station the dryer did not have heat or hot air.

National chain Petco says its making changes to its grooming equipment after a 2-year-old dog died, possibly of a heat stroke, at a Virginia store.

Allison Marks, of Powhatan, Virginia, and owner of golden retriever Colby, dropped off the pet Saturday at the Chesterfield store for a grooming appointment, she told WWBT-TV. When she returned, Petco employees told her they found the dog dead in a drying case.

Marks was sent to a nearby animal clinic, where a veterinarian said he believed the cause of death was heat stroke.

Petco declined to tell WWBT exactly how the accident occurred, although it told the station the dryer did not have heat or hot air.

Marks told WTVR-TV that she intends to press charges. Local animal control is also investigating, the station said.

In a statement Thursday, the pet supply chain said it took "full responsibility" for the incident and had fired employees who had not followed proper procedures.

It said it was also removing the type of kennel dryers used in this incident at its stores, and it will step up focus on training for employees.

"As animal lovers, we're saddened and deeply concerned about what happened to Colby," Petco's statement said, "and we're committed to doing everything in our power to prevent this kind of tragedy from ever happening again."

The family that owned the dog issued its own statement to the TV station: "Colby's family would like to thank everyone for all the continuous support and prayers during this difficult time."

The Economic Development and Industrial Commission must now comply with Open Meeting Law.

EASTHAMPTON -- An unwieldy public body in Easthampton that has been meeting for months without a quorum will be freed up to legally conduct business, now that its size has been reduced.

The City Council Wednesday night reduced the Economic Development and Industrial Commission (EDIC) from 15 to 10 members at the request of Mayor Karen Cadieux. The EDIC has consistently failed to attract a majority of its members at its "informal" monthly meetings, where matters of business, commercial real estate, zoning, and more are discussed along with city officials.

The EDIC "promotes economic development and downtown improvements" and "seeks opportunities for economic growth," states the city's website. With a ten-member board, the EDIC may now officially conduct business with six, instead of eight members.

Under Massachusetts Open Meeting Law, a public body may not conduct business -- or "deliberate" -- without a quorum present. Deliberation is defined as "any oral or written communication through any medium, including electronic mail, between or among a quorum of a public body on any public business within its jurisdiction."

However, it is impossible for the public to know if the EDIC has been deliberating on matters within its jurisdiction, because the commission has not kept minutes since it began meeting again last fall after a lengthy hiatus.

The reinvigorated commission has been meeting since at least October on the third Tuesday of every month along with Cadieux and Assistant Planner Jamie Webb.

The EDIC is immune from the requirements of state Open Meeting Law so long as a majority of its members never show up, Webb has opined.

Webb told MassLive/The Republican that the EDIC does not keep "minutes," but only jots down "notes." The notes are in the possession of EDIC Chairman Joshua Rosenblatt, said Webb. Webb declined to give a reporter Rosenblatt's contact information, saying that it is "private."

Members of the EDIC apparently communicate with each other using their private emails, as they have not been assigned official city email addresses.

When MassLive/The Republican spoke with Rosenblatt in February, his contact information was found through a Google search.

Also, the EDIC for months did not videotape its meetings the way other city boards and commissions do. Audio recordings of most of the meetings are in the possession of Easthampton Community Access Television, but are not available on the ECAT website. In response to a request, ECAT director Kathy Lynch provided MassLive/The Republican with copies of the audio.

The group's May 12 meeting was for some reason videotaped, and can be viewed below:

The EDIC's informal ways will presumably change now that it will be able to muster a quorum.

The commission earlier this year was frustrated by its lack of a quorum. The group wished to issue a recommendation against a zoning change before the Planning Board and Ordinance Committee, but was unable to do so because a majority of its members were not present.

Also on Wednesday night, the City Council eliminated a body called the Industrial Development Finance Agency, which had the authority to issue bonds for industrial development, according to the city's website. The IDFA was a companion agency to the EDIC. The sole member of the IDFA was Thomas Brown, Vice President at Easthampton Savings Bank. Brown now sits as an official member of the EDIC. 

The provenance and history of the EDIC and IDFA are unclear.

The EDIC and the now-defunct LocalWorks committee previously met in 2010 and 2011, according to Easthampton Minutes, a website run by David Gardner, a former Zoning Board chairman who is now a member of the EDIC. Gardner has said his website is meant to promote government transparency.

Members of the EDIC are Rosenblatt, Michael Buehrle, Maureen Belliveau, David Boyle, Gail Cannon, Susan Pepin-Phillips, Andrew C. Hendricks, Clay Crow, and Gardner, according to information provided by Cadieux.

With nine sitting members, the EDIC currently has one vacancy.

Mary Serreze can be reached at mserreze@gmail.com

Correction: An earlier version of this story stated that Gardner's current term on the EDIC is "provisional" in nature. Gardner is in fact now serving a full two-year term. Gardner's first term on the commission was a one-year provisional appointment.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren offers her viewpoint on the GOP budget pitch for the coming fiscal year.

By Senator Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.

A budget is a building plan for the future. It's about what it takes for our families, our businesses, and our economy to thrive.

What do we need? Our kids need a good, affordable education. Our workers need good wages, good benefits, and good jobs here in America, jobs built on 21st century innovation and technology. Our businesses and workers need transit, roads, and bridges that are safe enough, strong enough, and fast enough to get us to work and to keep goods and services moving. And everyone needs to know that we're in this together. That's how we build a strong future.

Republicans in Congress have a different vision. The Republicans' partisan budget, jammed through the Senate last month, will make the rich richer and the powerful more powerful, while leaving our kids, our college students, our seniors, our workers, and our families to fall further and further behind.

If the drastic cuts in the Republican budget are applied proportionately, it could cut transportation funding over the next decade by 40 percent. So if you think we already have a crumbling infrastructure, if you're already worried about old buses and whether the T can struggle through another winter, remember that Republicans want to slash support for transportation.

Cutting construction and repair also means cutting jobs. Economists estimate that the Republican budget would mean about 56,000 fewer jobs in Massachusetts alone.

The Republican budget also takes aim at our kids. Over the next decade, it could eliminate Head Start for 400,000 children across the country, including about 5,000 kids here in Massachusetts. The budget could make college more expensive for over 130,000 Massachusetts students who receive Pell grants. And cuts in the student loan interest rates? Forget it. The Republican budget keeps sucking down billions of dollars in profits off student loans.

The Republican budget puts Massachusetts seniors' health at risk too. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, the days when seniors had to choose between filling a prescription and paying the rent were over. But under the Republican budget, nearly 80,000 seniors in Massachusetts could pay an average of $920 more per year for prescription drugs. About 900,000 seniors in Massachusetts could lose free preventative Medicare health services, and over 25,000 Massachusetts nursing home residents who rely on Medicaid could face cuts to their care and an uncertain future.

And what about medical research and technology--the kind of work we're proud to do in Massachusetts? For over 10 years, Congress has decimated medical research funding, choking off support for projects that could lead to the next major breakthrough against cancer, heart disease, ALS, diabetes, or autism.

With more and more families desperate for those breakthroughs, what's the Republican solution? Cut the National Institutes of Health budget. Cut medical research. In fact, compared to the President's budget, the Republican budget could mean 1,400 fewer NIH grants a year.

The Republican budget also cuts $600 billion from programs like nutrition assistance, putting at risk food stamps for thousands of Massachusetts families that depend on this program to put food on the table. And the Republican budget could cut funding for heating assistance, funding that helped over 180,000 Massachusetts families stay warm in the winter.

We know who this budget would hurt - millions of hard-working families in Massachusetts and all over this country who are trying to make ends meet; people who work hard and play by the rules, but who are seeing opportunity slip away.

Why? Why billions of dollars in cuts for education and medical research, for heating assistance and highways? Because the Republicans want to give billions of dollars in new tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans--and they expect everyone else to pay for it. The Republicans have planned $269 billion in tax cuts that would go to just a few thousand of the richest families. That's not just irresponsible. It is just plain wrong.

A budget is about values, and this budget puts Congressional Republicans' values on vivid display. This budget is about making sure that a tilted playing field tilts even more, while everyone else gets left further and further behind.

Those aren't Massachusetts' values and they are not America's values. We believe in opportunity, and that means fighting for a budget where everyone--not just the rich--has a fighting chance to build a better life for themselves and their children.

aurel Wider, who raised more than $41,000 for the Wonder Crew dolls' first round of production through a Kickstarter campaign that ended in April, has entered her line into the Intuit Quickbooks' "Small Business Big Game" competition. Winning the online, vote-based tournament would mean clinching a commercial during the 2016 Super Bowl.

NORTHAMPTON -- A Florence psychotherapist is hoping her new line of unconventional, gender stereotype-breaking toys will get some attention during the the most-watched game of the year.

Laurel Wider, who raised more than $41,000 for the Wonder Crew dolls' first round of production through a Kickstarter campaign that ended in April, has entered the line into Intuit Quickbooks' "Small Business Big Game" competition. Winning the online, vote-based tournament would mean clinching a commercial during the 2016 Super Bowl.

The slot would be a perfect opportunity to promote the 15-inch, soft-bodied dolls during what's known as one of the most hyper-masculine events in the world, she said said.

"Currently toys marketed to boys are not addressing needs of the full boy," explained Wider, who runs a private psychotherapy practice in Northampton and specializes in gender, LGBTQ issues and family matters. "This airing in front of the Super Bowl audience and fans would hit just the right market."

In the words of the company's mission, Wonder Crew is toy company that brings emotional intelligence and creativity into the world of boys' play; more specifically, toys with a human face that encourage friendship and empathy, which are usually found in the so-called "girls' aisles" in big-box stores.

"We want to show boys they can build and they can be nurtured, they can be superheroes and they can be caring," Wider said in an interview Thursday.

The line includes three dolls, for now: Rockstar, Superhero and Builder. The figures resemble regular toddlers rather than the muscular, middle-aged men most action figures are modeled after. Wider has compared them to American Girl dolls and stuffed animals for boys that still maintain a masculine element. But girls are encouraged to play with the toys, too, Wider added.

Wider said the time is ripe for toys that buck against traditional gender stereotypes. GoldieBlox, which makes construction and engineering kits for little girls, beat out more than 15,000 rivals in the Small Business Big Game competition last year. The ad cost an estimated $4 million, according to Forbes, and was watched by a record 111.5 million viewers.

Each person can submit one vote per day until the competition closes on Aug. 7. After that first round ends, participants will be evaluated by a panel of judges at Intuit. The top-10 finalists will be announced on Sept. 2, when a final public voting period through Nov. 3 will begin to determine the top three winners.

Wider said winning Small Business Big Game isn't a main focus of her company, which recently secured an order fulfillment center in Easthampton and is on track to begin shipping the toys nationwide in August. But the ad would still be a big boon for the startup, she acknowledged.

"If it happens organically, that would be phenomenal," Wider said of the potential win.

Wonder Crew dolls be sold at local stores beginning in August, Wider confirmed, including A2Z Science & Learning Store on King Street in Northampton.

Daily Table, which calls itself the first not-for-profit grocery store in America, is working to combat food insecurity with its simple mission. On its Facebook page, the market advertises bags of whole-grain brown rice for 79 cents, bunches of spinach for 99 cents and carrots that cost just 29 cents per pound.

DORCHESTER -- Food that didn't sell at other markets has found a place on the shelves of a new nonprofit grocery store in Dorchester, founded by the former president of Trader Joe's.

Daily Table opened in the Boston neighborhood Thursday, according to NPR, and aims to provide nutritious and affordable meals to low-income families. Most of its stock is donated by food wholesalers and markets who would rather see products approaching their "sell-by" dates put to good use rather than tossed.

Ex-Trader Joe's president Doug Rauch concocted the idea through channeled frustration, he told The Boston Globe. He observed how many grocery stores dump their nearly expired goods while millions in the U.S. continue to battle with food insecurity.

"Our job at Daily Table is to provide healthy meals that are no more expensive than what people are already buying," Rauch told the paper. "We're trying to reach a segment of the population that is hard to reach. It's the working poor who are out buying food, but who can't afford the food they should be eating."

Feeding America, a national nonprofit network of food banks, estimates that one in six Americans lack reliable access to affordable and healthy groceries.

Daily Table, which calls itself the first not-for-profit grocery store in America, is working to combat the massive problem with its simple mission. On its Facebook page, the market advertises bags of whole-grain brown rice for 79 cents, bunches of spinach for 99 cents and carrots that cost just 29 cents per pound. Bananas are 29 cents a pound, according to NPR.

The store is supported by the Greater Boston Food Bank, an agency that also helps stock the shelves. Rauch maintains all of the market's food is safe to eat and the majority of it is healthy.

Grab-and-go meals are also available at the Daily Table, The Boston Globe reports, with entrees priced between $1.79 and $4.99.

"As it turns out, if you're struggling in the economy, you're struggling not only with money but with time," Rauch, who announced he would open the store in Sept. 2013, told the Globe.

Last October, a Massachusetts regulation that bans any establishment that creates a ton or more of food waste per week from sending old food to landfills took effect. The state Department of Environmental Protection requires stores and restaurants to donate or re-purpose edible food. Excess waste is shipped to an anaerobic digestion facility where it's will be converted to clean energy.

The ban is expected to help the commonwealth reach its goals to reduce the waste stream by 30 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050.

The commission chose to delay a vote on demolition until it tours the inside of the building and gets further details from the owner on preservation efforts.

SPRINGFIELD - The Springfield Historical Commission was not convinced this week that a blighted historic duplex at 25-27 Elliot St., is beyond saving.

And a lawyer for the property owner, who has applied for permission to demolish the building, said at Thursday's hearing that losing the building is "a sin," but an economic necessity.

"It's a sin," said Glenn Goodman of Springfield, a lawyer representing Long Wharf Financial of Las Vegas, the listed owner. "It's a shame. The only commercially viable option is to demolish it."

The commission voted to table any action on the demolition request until the commission tours the inside of the building, and gets further details on the owner's efforts to save or sell the building. Goodman said he will make the arrangements with the owner.

The building, constructed in 1872, has extensive damage, Goodman said, describing it as "gutted," swept by fire and "just a mess."

It has been boarded and vacant since a fire in 2008, and under Housing Court review since that time.

Some commission members and two residents speaking against the demolition said that estimates provided by the owner that it might cost $1.5 million to $3.5 million to restore the building seem too extravagant or exaggerated.

The $1.5 million estimate appeared to be a "compete restoration to it's grand elegance," and thus inflated beyond what the commission would likely require, commission Chairman Ralph Slate said. The higher estimate of $3 million to $3.5 million was based on vague numbers "and seemed hard to believe on their face,'' he said.

"We would like to explore every option to save it and to make sure it's not just being cleared for convenience," Slate said. "The past proposals are not very detailed."

The cost estimates seem to be old estimates from vague sources, and seem to call for "Cadillac reconstruction," Slate said.

Goodman said he will seek further details and a description of efforts to preserve or sell the site. The property is behind the federal courthouse on State Street and within the Armoury-Quadrangle Local Historic District.

Residents William Devlin and David Gaby urged the commission to reject the demolition request.

Devlin said the building was left unprotected from the weather and other conditions for long periods following a 2008 fire, and has been neglected by successive owners. It is a "nasty idea" to tear it down, he said.

Gaby said he has been inside the building and is convinced that a gut renovation is not needed, as many elements can be preserved. He suggested the cost for restoration is far less than cited.

"It's not the White House," Gaby said. "It's not Independence Hall."

Commission member Robert McCarroll said that having the building demolished would leave the property with little value because any new development there would meet strict requirements within a historic district. The site is small, leaving little room for creating a parking lot if that would be the plan, he said.

Goodman said he did not know if the ownership has offered the site for sale at a very low price, as a means of improving its chances for preservation.

Long Wharf, a mortgage company, reached an agreement to take over the deed to the property from the former owner, in lieu of foreclosure of a $250,000 loan, according to Goodman. Slate questioned the corporate status of Long Wharf, and Goodman said he believes the name is a business name, not a corporate name.

The Big E might use shuttle buses when Interstate 91 is under repair, a project expected to begin later this year and last for three years.

WEST SPRINGFIELD - The Eastern States Exposition is expecting thousands of visitors this weekend for four major events, including 5,500 people expected to fill the Coliseum Sunday for West Springfield High School's commencement.

Fairgrounds staff are also expecting traffic snarls stemming from the planned shutdown of the Memorial Avenue Rotary a few blocks away, making it harder to access the fairgrounds from Interstate 91 or Route 5. Other business, from the Big Y to the Hofbrauhaus Restaurant are adjusting in what might be  dress rehearsal for the impending resurfacing of the Interstate 91.

"We take each closure and each project as it unfolds," said Catherine Pappas, communications manager at Eastern States.

The Big E is considering bringing back its network of Big E Express shuttle buses when the fair is running and Interstate 91 is under construction, Papas said. The fair once had pick-up points in Westfield, the Eastfield Mall and in Connecticut to alleviate traffic on Memorial Avenue. In recent years, the shuttles have been cutback to a single pick-up point at the Holyoke Mall.

Construction on Interstate 91 is expected to begin in the fall and take three years. It is slated to be a $183.3 million project.

The Big E drew nearly 1.5 million people for its record-breaking 17-day run in 2014. That made it the fifth-highest-drawing fair in the county.

As for this weekend, the Big E has posted traffic advisories on its Website and on its Twitter and Facebook accounts.

"We are in constant contact with the Department of Transportation," Pappas said.

The West Springfield School Department also put out the word that the traffic circle at the end of the Memorial Bridge will be closed.

Besides graduation, a longstanding tradition at the Big E, the fairgrounds will host several events this weekend.

MassDOT announced Thursday it will shut down the busy intersection to eastbound traffic from 10 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Tuesday. After taking a weekend off, the 79-hour shutdown will resume two weeks later the weekend of June 19 through 23.

That weekend of June 19-23 is when the Eastern States opens its Storrowton historical village for the summer.

The schedule means that the intersection will be open June 12 to 14 for the "good Guys" car show.

Joe Stevens, owner of the Hofbrauhaus Restaurant, said shutting down the Memorial Bridge Rotary on weekends might be less disruptive for the majority, but it can really hurt his business.

"Saturday is critical to survival in this business," he said. "Hopefully, the quality of our food and of our service makes people learn that it is worth the trip. Especially if it nice out and people can be outside in the biergarten."

He's advising travelers on the his social media.

Todd Volk, president of Central Chevrolet doesn't expect to be impacted by the weekend shutdown at the circle.

"If people want to get to a place, they'll get there," he said.

He thinks I-91 will result in more traffic going past his dealership.

When Interstate 91 is under construction he plans to step up advertising by more traditional means, in newspaper, radio and possibly television.

Claire Claire D'Amour-Daley, Big Y Foods Inc. vice president for corporate communications, said the Memorial Drive store is expecting a 10-to-20 percent hit during construction. It depends how many Big y customers are coming from the west, which includes the rest of West Springfield and Agawam.

Some customers will simply come at a different time, or some might go to another grocery store instead.

The store will have fewer staff members and will make less baked goods, pizzas and other prepared items.

"Purple Heart Trail" signs are available to be sponsored at $100 each.

HOLYOKE -- Those who want to honor military men and women who were injured or died in combat can do so thanks to city officials and Brian Willette.

Signs that show "Purple Heart Trail" and depict the Purple Heart medal are available to be sponsored at $100 each for posting along Route 202 here from Westfield to South Hadley.

The City Council voted Oct. 7 to designate that part of the road Purple Heart Way. Willette, commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Western Massachusetts Chapter 875, working with effort-sponsor Councilor David K. Bartley, came up with the idea for signs.

"The City Council was honored last year by the Military Order of the Purple Heart and (was) presented with a beautiful citation, which hangs in City Council Chambers," Bartley, the Ward 3 councilor, said Friday.

"Having seen several Purple Heart trails elsewhere and after reviewing the Purple Heart web site, I thought it would be a good time to advocate for one in Holyoke. All councilors and the mayor gave support to this," said Bartley, who displayed the sign during Tuesday's City Council meeting.

Willette, of South Hadley, said he is scouting locations along Route 202 and expects to choose about 10 spots for signs, probably attached to existing poles. Sponsors will be identified on the signs, he said. Bartley said the city Department of Public Works will install the signs.

"We're looking to do a dedication on Aug. 2 tentatively at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home," Willette said.

Individuals or groups interested in sponsoring a sign can call Willette at (413) 262-1031 or Jim Mahoney, director of the city Department of Veterans' Services, at (413) 322-5630.

The City Council voted Tuesday (June 2) to use $100 from its "flower fund" to sponsor a Purple Heart Trail sign. The fund consists of personal funds councilors chip in to buy flowers for wakes and funerals or to make gestures on other occasions.

Gen. George Washington first awarded the Badge of Military Merit in 1782 that by 1932 had become the Purple Heart.

Last year, local veterans presented the city with a plaque in appreciation of the council having voted to make Holyoke a Purple Heart Community. The Purple Heart Community designation -- proposed by Councilor at Large Peter R. Tallman -- is an honorary one that recognizes the city's residents who have been injured or died in combat.

Among the places in reference to veterans that exist on Route 202 are the Holyoke Soldiers' Home, a state facility that provides residential beds and outpatient medical care for military veterans, and facilities named after veterans, such as Mackenzie Stadium and Beaudoin Village.

John S. Mackenzie, after whom the stadium is named, received the U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism on the U.S.S. Remlick in 1917 during World War I. At sea, a 100-pound container of TNT got loose in the choppy waters and in order to keep the explosive from banging around, Mackenzie sat on it until it could be secured, veteran Jim Bronson, of Holyoke, told the City Council in October.

U.S. Army Lt. Raymond O. Beaudoin was posthumously awarded the U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor. He was killed in combat in Germany in 1945.

The renaming of Route 202 as Purple Heart Way is an overlay designation and didn't require that people who live on that route change their address names.

On Saturday, the store will celebrate its customers and its 70th anniversary with door prizes, a raffle and food.

AMHERST — On Sept. 7, 1945, President Harry S. Truman gave Congress a plan for peace and the Senate voted to investigate the Pearl Harbor attack. Gas cost 15 cents and a new car about $1,000.

Set against the end of World War II, Victor and Ada Gryrbko bought the old Checkerboard Feed Store on South Pleasant Street and The Amherst Farmer's Supply was born.

On Saturday, the store will celebrate its customers and 70th anniversary with door prizes, a raffle and food.

The business began in a 600-square foot building that was once used by the Boston and Main Railroad for freight and is now nearly 3,000 square feet in size.

Things have changed in some ways, but much is still the same, said manager Vicki L'Abee, granddaughter of the Grybkos.

The supply store is still family owned and the product line is similar, with the store supplying feed for birds, horses and pets, building and landscaping materials, stoves and fuel.

But while at one time large farms bought their supplies and feed at the store, now it's more backyard farmers, she said.

Amherst Farmer's Supply also expanded its metal roof line of products. While once only farmers used metal roofs on barns and sheds, more homeowners are buying the metal, said L'Abee's cousin, Mickey Grybko, who oversees that department.

The business also expanded its granite line as more people are discovering the beauty of granite steps and walkways, something people used a century or so ago.

"If it's heavy, bulky and obnoxious, we get into it," Grybko said.

L'Abee said if customers ask for a particular kind of pet food, for example, they'll bring that in. They cater to what their customers ask for.

The store has thrived because of community support, L'Abee said.

Grybko said for some families, stopping by the store "is part of their weekend routine."

And he said, "If people come with a problem, we try to solve it." They can hook up a customer with a contractor who specializes in what they want done.

L'Abee's mother, Patricia Schoenberger, daughter of the original owners, has worked in the store since 1959 (not counting the less formal days when she was 8 or 9 and taking inventory.) She said they know their customers by name.

They still sell to contractors, the town, the colleges and the University of Massachusetts, L'Abee said.

They still deliver massive amounts of feed, pet food and birdseed throughout the valley.

Twenty years ago, Amherst Farmer's Supply started a sister store in Bernardston, and three years ago they family opened the Fire Place in Whatley. The three businesses employ about 30, Grybko said, 20 full-time.

Family members have their specialty areas, but sometimes they overlap. They enjoy each other's company and the work at hand.

L'Abee said there are bad days like any job, but she figures if "the good days outnumber the bad, it's a good career to be in." She's been working there for 30 years.

Mickey Grybko's son, Tim, works at Amherst Farmer's Supply one day a week, but he is also working at WEEI radio in Springfield. He said his son took a lesson from the work ethic imbued at Amherst Farmer's Supply when someone he wanted to talk to didn't answer his email, so he drove to Boston and turned up in his office. Grybko said that's something his father would do, because it had to get done.

The celebration at the store is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Five citizens addressed the subject of the moratorium, which calls on the gas companies to disclose the financial and engineering data that resulted in the moratoriums.

NORTHAMPTON - If you live in Northampton, you have more to say about the environment and corporate transparency than you do about the city budget. At least that's how it seemed at the City Council meeting Thursday.

A resolution by Ward 3 Concilor Ryan O'Donnell and some of his colleagues targeting the moratoriums on new customers imposed by the Columbia and Berkshire gas companies brought more citizens to the podium than Mayor David J. Narkewicz's fiscal 2016 $87.2 million budget, which was also before the council for approval. Only three speakers brought up the budget during a special public hearing scheduled for the subject, and each focused on a single detail and not on the bottom line.

Five citizens addressed the subject of the moratorium, which calls on the gas companies to disclose the financial and engineering data that resulted in the moratoriums. Both companies have said they will buy natural gas from Kinder Morgan, which is pushing a 125-mile Tennessee Gas Pipeline that can deliver up to 2.2 billion cubic feet of gas per day. Kinder Morgan asserts that the pipeline is needed to satisfy a shortage of natural gas in the region. Opponents claim the company intends to sell much of the gas abroad for a profit.

Although Northampton has approved a resolution against the pipeline, there are no plans for it to pass through its borders. State Rep. Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington, and some environmental organizations have suggested that the supposed gas shortage is a way for the public utilities to promote he pipeline project, which has yet to be approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Margaret Bullitt-Jonas of Bancroft Drive thanked the council for stepping up to the plate on the topic.

"This pipeline is bad for the climate and for our local environment and economy," she said.

Martha Nathan, a local activist, accused the utility companies of "blackmail."

"I'm proud of you councilors to put this resolution through," she said.

Frances Crowe, who has been arrested more than a dozen times for protesting at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant and other sites, said she is also in favor of the resolution, warning against the environmental impact the pipeline could have.

Malloy spokesman Mark Bergman said the "governor fully intends to sign the bill, although it was not ready to be signed Friday.

By SUSAN HAIGH

HARTFORD, Conn. -- Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy plans to sign a bill into law creating a multi-step process for possibly opening a new tribal casino along the Connecticut border to fight out-of-state gambling competition.

Malloy spokesman Mark Bergman told The Associated Press the "governor fully intends to sign it into law." The bill was not ready to be signed Friday.

Under the bill, the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes would issue a request for proposals, or RFP, from municipalities interested in hosting one satellite casino to compete with the MGM Resorts casino planned in Springfield, Massachusetts. That request would be posted on the state Department of Consumer Protection website.

Tribal officials have already said they would likely locate the facility along the Interstate 91 corridor in north central Connecticut.

On Friday, they thanked the General Assembly and Malloy on behalf of Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino workers and vendors for approving legislation the tribes said will protect Connecticut jobs.

"Competition from gaming in New York and Massachusetts will impact our state, and we appreciate the support from our government partners," the tribes' two chairmen said in a joint statement.

"In the next weeks we will develop an RFP as outlined in the legislation, and begin to look at possible sites," they said. "At the same time, we will continue to work with the Attorney General's office to ensure that both the state and the Tribes are protected throughout this process."

State Sen. Tim Larson, D-East Hartford, recently explained how the tribes would have to report to the state monthly on their progress with the projects. Any development agreement reached between the tribes and the community would have to be reviewed by the state attorney general to make sure it doesn't conflict with Connecticut's existing compact with the tribes, which provides the state with 25 percent of the slot machine revenues at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casinos.

Ultimately, a new casino could not operate until the General Assembly amends state law to allow casino gambling. The two existing casinos are located on sovereign tribal land in southeastern Connecticut. Lawmakers have said the project would also be reviewed by the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield, called it a shame that Malloy was signing the bill.

"The people in north-central Connecticut who I represent simply don't want this," he said, adding how he questions "whether Connecticut can regain the gambling dollars it used to enjoy given the competition."

Malloy had voiced concerns with an earlier version of the bill that would have allowed the tribes to open up to three casinos, agreeing with the attorney general that it could prompt legal challenges, risk the state's revenue-sharing agreement with tribes and possibly make it easier for other Connecticut tribes that receive federal recognition to open casinos.

"What I believe is that the legislature can't name a winner, that there has to be a process," Malloy, an attorney, said recently.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 56 points to close the week at 17,849.

By MATTHEW CRAFT

NEW YORK -- A burst of hiring last month led to a drop in the bond market Friday as traders placed bets that the Federal Reserve would raise interest rates later this year. Despite the good economic news, the stock market drifted to another loss, finishing lower for the second week in a row.

The Labor Department reported that U.S. employers added 280,000 workers to their payrolls in May and also tweaked its estimate of hiring in March and April, raising hiring numbers for the two months by a combined 32,000.

Traders reacted immediately to the report, dropping U.S. government bonds and shooting yields up. The benchmark 10-year Treasury note bounced to a high for the year, 2.43 percent, before drifting back to 2.40 percent. The dollar gained strength against the Japanese yen and other major currencies.

"I was pleasantly surprised," said Russell Price, Ameriprise Financial's senior economist. "This adds to the recent spate of positive data that shows the economy is really pulling out of its winter slump."

But major stock indexes finished mixed. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 56.12 points, or 0.3 percent, to 17,849.46.

The Standard & Poor's 500 index lost 3.01 points, or 0.1 percent, to 2,092.83, while the Nasdaq edged up 9.33 points, or 0.2 percent, to 5,068.46.

Big banks and other companies that benefit from rising interest rates made gains: JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, PNC Financial Services hit all-time highs.

Jeremy Zirin, head of investment strategy at UBS Wealth Management, said the rapid rise in interest rates over recent months has unsettled some investors. In April, when traders were more concerned about the strength of the global economy, the yield on the 10-year Treasury slipped below 1.90 percent.

In general, a rise in interest rates reflects economic growth, but a quick leap could slow the economy down by triggering a sudden drop in lending.

Zirin said investors "want to see the rise in bond yields be more tempered. They can handle higher interest rates as long as they come at a measured pace."

In Europe, markets were rattled by Greece's decision to bundle together its upcoming payments to the International Monetary Fund. The move heightened concerns that the country could default on its debts and drop the euro. It was the first time a developed country has taken the option of rolling debt payments together, an emergency move last taken up last by Zambia in the 1980s. At an emergency session of Greece's parliament on Friday, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said his government cannot accept "irrational" proposals like one made this week by the international organizations overseeing Greece's bailout.

Greece's stock market led the way lower. The benchmark Athens index slumped 5 percent. Elsewhere, both France's CAC 40 and Germany's DAX ended with a loss of 1.3 percent. Britain's FTSE 100 sank 0.8 percent.

Japan's Nikkei 225 finished with a drop of 0.1 percent, and South Korea's Kospi fell 0.2 percent. In China, Hong Kong's Hang Seng dropped 1.1 percent, and the Shanghai Composite Index gained 1.5 percent.

Precious and industrial metals futures settled mostly lower. Gold lost $7.10 to $1,168.10 an ounce, and silver slipped 12 cents to $15.98 an ounce. Copper picked up a penny to close at $2.69 a pound.

In other commodity trading, the price of oil rose 2 percent following news that the number of rigs drilling for oil in the U.S. decreased. Benchmark U.S. crude rose $1.13 to close at $59.13 a barrel in New York. Oil finished the week down 1 percent. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oil used by many U.S. refineries, rose $1.28 to close at $63.31 in London.

In other futures trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange:

1. Wholesale gasoline rose 4.9 cents to close at $2.030 a gallon.
2. Heating oil rose 2.6 cents to close at $1.870 a gallon.
3. Natural gas fell 3.6 cents to close at $2.590 per 1,000 cubic feet.

The Boston 2024 Partnership, a privately backed bid to bring the Summer Olympics to the city, released its inaugural quarterly progress report, shedding light on the nonprofit group's finances, planning and bid operations.

BOSTON — The Boston 2024 Partnership, a privately backed bid to bring the Summer Olympics to the city, on Friday released its first quarterly progress report for 2015, shedding light on the nonprofit group's finances, planning and bid operations.

The organization so far has raised $14 million, established a board of directors, and held collaborative talks about venue planning with key stakeholders.

Boston 2024 also has:

• conducted six of 20 planned statewide community meetings;


• held three of nine planned community meetings in Boston;


• amassed about 3,000 volunteers;


• expanded its staff;


• established an executive leadership team;


• galvanized support from local Olympians and Paralympians;


• and recruited Olympic experts to help guide key elements of the bid process.

"As we move forward, we remain committed to an open, objective and inclusive process," Boston 2024 Chairman Steve Pagliuca wrote in a letter included in the report.

The organization, which is required to file annual disclosures with the IRS, worked closely with the offices of Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh and state Attorney General Maura Healey to develop the disclosure protocols for the quarterly reports.

Boston is at the start of a bid process that will end in Lima, Peru, in 2017, when the International Olympic Committee selects a host city for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Boston 2024 is funding its bid entirely through individuals, foundations, corporations, and other private sources.

It might take 18 months for the population of laying hens, and the supply of eggs, to return to normal.

SPRINGFIELD - Egg prices in the Pioneer Valley have nearly doubled after 35 million to 39 million lay hens were euthanized across the county to deal with particularly nasty strain of the avian flu.

Spokespeople at both Big Y Foods Inc. and Stop & Shop said their suppliers haven't experienced any issues relating to the flu.

But a lack of production is causing prices to rise in classic supply-and-demand  fashion, said Claire D'Amour-Daley, vice president of corporate communications at Springfield-based Big Y.

"So you take close to 40 million birds out of the picture, that is going to create some shortages," she said.

Big Y is selling eggs now for $3.49 a dozen, D'Amour-Daley said. Six weeks ago, eggs were selling for $2.69 a dozen. A year ago, they sold for $2.59.

She said prices may remain high for another 18 months until more laying hens go into production.

Phil Tracey, a Stop & Shop spokesman, said prices have also jumped for products that include liquid eggs.

D'Amour-Daley said egg prices might also drive up the prices of some baked goods and sauces.

"It's a shame, because eggs area  source of cheap protein for some people," she said.

Big Y is working to absorb as much of the price increase as it can and not pass all of it on to consumers.

As of now, Big Y hasn't had to restrict egg sales.

The Washington Post reported Friday that some Texas grocers are rationing eggs, limiting consumers to three dozen at a time in order to discourage restaurants and other businesses from scooping them all up.

The grants are funded by the federal "Linking to Employment Activities Pre-Release" or "LEAP" initiative.

SPRINGFIELD - The Regional Employment Board of Hampden County and its partner organizations have received $500,000 to develop new job centers at the Hampden County and Franklin County houses of corrections and run those centers over two years.

The Regional Employment Board and its president and CEO David M. Cruise announced the grant Friday following a Washington announcement from U. S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. It's partners include the Franklin Hampshire Career Center, CareerPoint in Holyoke, FutureWorks in Springfield as well as the Franklin County and Hampden County sheriff's Departments.

The Hampden and Franklin county proposal was one of only 20 awarded nationally in 14 states.All grants were for $500,000. There were no other awards in Massachusetts.

Cruise called it a "Great win for our REB team and regional partnership in a national competition."

The grants are funded by the federal  "Linking to Employment Activities Pre-Release" or "LEAP" initiative.

According to a prepared statement issued by the  U.S. Department of Labor, more than 9 million people are released from the nation's more than 3,000 county and local jails every year and many have trouble finding jobs.

Perez is quoted in the prepared statement as saying:

"When someone leaves a county or local jail, very real barriers too often stand in their way as they try to find a good job and lead a successful life. We have to do more to help them land on their feet as they return to their communities. We have to work together and use existing resources in new, innovative ways to break the cycle of incarceration. The LEAP initiative encourages greater coordination between local workforce programs, correctional systems and other critical services to prepare inmates for jobs before release, and to continue to assist them as they return home," Perez added. "This is a commonsense approach that strengthens communities and improves public safety at the same time."

The Aquinnah Wampanoags want to turn an unfinished tribal community center on the remote, western side of the island into a gambling hall filled with electronic betting machines.

PHILIP MARCELO

AQUINNAH -- The commonwealth of Massachusetts and an Indian tribe whose ancestors first inhabited Martha's Vineyard are asking a federal judge to settle whether the tribe may build a casino on the island that has long been a favored vacation destination for the rich and powerful.

The Aquinnah Wampanoags want to turn an unfinished tribal community center on the remote, western side of the island into a gambling hall filled with electronic betting machines.

They say the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act permits them to offer certain types of gambling because they are a federally-recognized tribe with jurisdiction over about 485 acres in the town of Aquinnah. They say recent legal analysis from other federal authorities support that claim.

"This court cannot properly conclude that the Commonwealth has jurisdiction over the (tribe's) lands," the tribe said in a court filing. "The court should also afford substantial deference to the thorough and well-reasoned opinions of the United State Department of the Interior and the Indian Gaming Commission that reach these same conclusions."

The Wampanoags want to offer electronic, high-stakes bingo-style games that can often resemble slot machines found in traditional casinos. They don't propose offering casino table games, like blackjack, craps and roulette.

The state counters that the tribe specifically forfeited the right to offer gambling when it reached a settlement with Massachusetts for those lands in 1983. The agreement stipulates that the tribe was subject to local and state laws in effect at the time. It was subsequently approved by state lawmakers and Congress.

"Federal legislation codifying the settlement agreement expressly applied 'those laws and regulations which prohibit or regulate the conduct of bingo or other games of chance' to the settlement land," the state said in legal briefs.

The suit was filed in December 2013; Massachusetts is joined by the town of Aquinnah and a local community association in suing the tribe. Each side has asked the judge to decide the case on the arguments rather than take it to trial, and a hearing is set for Aug. 12 in Boston.

Buddy Vanderhoop, an Aquinnah Wampanoag and popular charter fishing boat captain, says the gambling debate has also divided tribal members. Most of those living on the island are opposed to the plan while mainland members are largely supportive, he says.

The tribe has about 1,200 members. Most live on the mainland in New Bedford and other southeastern Massachusetts cities.

"We're outnumbered by the tribal members that don't live here," Vanderhoop says. "Nobody on this island wants it. It's all the members in New Bedford. They don't want it in their backyard."

Aquinnah Town Selectwoman Julianne Vanderhoop, who is Vanderhoop's sister and also a tribe member, was among those opposed when the tribe narrowly approved a vote last year to continue to develop the plan.

"It's just not a good fit for this side of town," she says, citing a lack of parking, increased traffic and other possible negative effects on the bucolic island's way of life.

Vanderhoop suggests the tribe has more pressing matters to address, such as a recent die-off of scallops that affects some 200 Aquinnah families working in that industry.

Prominent gambling boosters have been noticeably silent on the subject in recent weeks. Cheryl Andrews-Maltais, who chairs the tribe's gambling corporation, declined requests for comment, as did lawyers and a spokesman for the tribe.

Massachusetts lawmakers in 2011 allowed for up to three regional resort casinos and one slot parlor to be licensed by the state. Then-Gov. Deval Patrick also negotiated an agreement with the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe as it sought a federal land in trust status to build a casino in Taunton. But Patrick declined to do negotiate an agreement with the Aquinnah Wampanoag.

Gov. Charlie Baker and state Attorney General Maura Healey, both of whom inherited the lawsuit when they took office in January, have declined to comment.

The Republican and MassLive.com are providing the revised version of the proposed Holyoke budget for readers.

HOLYOKE -- The city has released a revised version of the budget that Mayor Alex B. Morse has proposed to operate in the fiscal year that begins July 1, at $127.1 million.

The revision -- see below -- that the mayor delivered to the City Council June 1 corrected typographical errors in the budget he originally presented May 14. The revision was provided electronically to The Republican and MassLive.com on Friday (June 5).

The largest error between the budget the City Council saw June 1 and the one Morse presented May 14 occurred in the Police Department account, Morse said. The correct line item to pay eight lieutenants is $706,603 but that was listed in the previous budget book as only $47,403.

The $127.1 million budget Morse is proposing is nearly 2.2 percent higher than the budget with which the city began the current fiscal year on July 1 of $124.4 million.

The next City Council hearing on parts of the budget is Monday (June 8) at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall. Councilors will discuss budget plans with officials related to the fields of public works, personnel, health insurance brokers, the Retirement Board and the School Department.

The City Council is in a 45-day period authorized by the city charter to review the mayor's proposed spending plan and can cut, but not add to, the budget.

The amount that the City Council cuts in the budget now will determine the size of the property tax increase required of home and business owners in December when the council sets the new tax rate to fund the budget.

The council began budget hearings June 1, questioning Morse and financial officials about the proposed spending and projected revenues, and on June 3, grilled Police Chief James M. Neiswanger and Fire Chief John A. Pond about their budgets.

Morse has proposed $12.3 million for the Police Department, which is about 2.5 percent more than than the nearly $12 million with which the department began the fiscal year July 1.

The budget book lists funding for about 160 police uniformed and civilian employees, including 94 officers and 28 superior officers.

Morse has proposed $8.1 million for the Fire Department, which is 3.5 percent less than the $8.4 million with which the department began the fiscal year. The May 14 budget book erroneously listed the proposed Fire Department budget as $7.5 million.

The budget book lists funding for 138 Fire Department uniformed and civilian employees, including 88 firefighters and 38 superior officers.

The proposed budget is $127,104,346. Most, $64,130,544, is for the schools. The $62,973,802 is for public safety, public works and other services.

Aside from what is devoted to the schools, most of which is state funding to the city, a total of 82 percent of the rest of the budget consists of spending in six areas: the Police, Fire and Public Works departments, retirement costs, health insurance and debt, Morse said.

Revised proposed Holyoke budget for fiscal year beginning July 1, part 1

Revised proposed Holyoke budget, part 2

Revised proposed Holyoke budget, part 3

Revised proposed Holyoke budget, part 4

Deeds in Pioneer Valley

Agawam

Dorothy R. Chechile to Jacques E. Kmon and Bonnie E. Kmon, 134 River Road, $215,500.

James D. White to James D. White and Candace L. White, 24 Senator Ave., $100.

John R. Conte and Sharon A. Conte to Dorothy R. Chechile, 14 Tom St., $233,500.

Joseph F. Dempsey and Susan M. Dempsey to Wadsworth Realty LLC, 76 Ramah Circle North, $178,000.

Justin J. Richter and Amanda Richter to Bonnie L Watson, 767 Mill St., $225,000.

Justin Matisewski and May Awkal to Corey L. Moquin, 181 Shoemaker Lane, $180,000.

Robert W. Touchette Jr, Deborah A. Ghidoni, Linda J. Ferrentino and Jeffrey A. Touchette to Eric D. Peterson, 32 Columbus St., $264,900.

Amherst

Di Hong and Kieu T. Vuong to Miao Miao Lin, 209 Old Farm Road, $335,000.

Naz O. Mohamed to Daniel M. Rogers and Susan Milliken-Rogers, 82 Crossbrook, $217,500.

Sunwood Development Corp. to Jonathan D. Solins and Mary S. Peterson, 208 Pine St., $507,800.

Bruce Coldham andMary E. Sayer to Kevin Michael Moore and Felicity Aulino, 155 Pine St. $334,900.

Michael J. Cavatorta to Michael J. Cavatorta and Meeghan A. Ziolkowski, 670 Bay Road, $100.

Mona Arriola, representative, and Leslie K. Arriola, estate, to Berg & Berthiaume LLC, 66 Berkshire Terrace, $307,560.

Karen Merrill to Eleanor Townsley and Ronald N. Jacobs, 150 Market Hill Road, $333,000.

Belchertown

Clair J. Brucker and Lisa A. Brucker to Paul O. Brown and Christine Brown, 164 Railroad St., $322,500.

Kevin M. Lacroix and Martha S. Lacroix to Tara M. Orzolek and Laurent C. Levy, 26 Pondview Circle, $324,900.

Bernardston

Perry Farm, LLC to C. William Llewelyn Jr., and Mary E. Llewelyn, Route 5, $200,000.

Chesterfield

Kester Warlow-Harry to Timothy E. McElroy and Amy Gavalis, 178 Bryant St., $508,000.

Thomas E. Dawson-Greene to Roslyn S. Malkin, 50 Bray Road, $190,000.

Chicopee

Christiana Trust, trustee, to Daniel Garrity, 142 Mountainview St., $100,395.

CVT Limited Partnership, Cabot Street Limited Partnership and Cabot Street Corp., to BG Massachusetts I LLC, 68 Eastern Drive, $12,957,152.

David J. Matlasz and Patricia A. Matlasz to Ryan T. Matlasz and Janina M. Matlasz, 30 Holmes Drive, $239,000.

Jane Cheney, representative, and Helen Wroblewski, estate, to Mark Pires II, and Katherine Pires, 35 Beaumont Ave, $140,165.

Lise C. Guillemette to Eric Graziano, 34 Woodcrest Circle, $147,000.

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Cop., to John J. McCarrick, 90 McKinstry Ave., Unit 221, $54,900.

Peter E Zawadzki to Kemal Akin, 24 Upton St., $175,000.

Peter Lancto and Sally Charland to U S Bank Trust, trustee, 269 Chicopee St., Unit 1, $103,618.

Deerfield

Walter T. Griffin and Debra Griffin to Stephen M. Cullen, 642 Greenfield Road, $185,000.

14 Steam Mill Road, LLC, to Carl G. Burwick and Angela F. Burwick, 14 Steam Mill Road, $410,000.

Easthampton

Thomas I. Orne Jr., and Jeanne L. Orne to Jared T. Orne, trustee, and Orne 2015 Irrevocable Trust, 3 Pinebrook Drive and Pine Brook Drive, $100.

Robert W. Lacey to Craig A. Lacey, Dana R. Lacey, Shawn D. Lacey, Eric S. Lacey and Suzy M. Campos, 3 Gabrielle Way, $100.

Donna M. Blow Sicard to David A. Blow, 49 Oliver St., $122,500.

Scott D. Edmands and Debra J. Junnila to John Fish and Rachel Feuer-Beck, 109 Strong St., $293,500.

Mt. Tom Properties LLC, to Norwich Properties LLC, 29 Phelps St., $120,000.

Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., trustee, Securitized Asset Backed Receivables LLC Trust and Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC, attorney in fact, to Joseph Ryan, 14 Robin Road, $192,000.

US Bank, trustee, RMAC Trust Series 2013-IT and Rushmore Loan Management Services LLC, attorney in fact, to Anne-Marie E. Harris and John A. Harris, 15 Lawson Drive, $100,000.

East Longmeadow

Alfred J. Albano Jr., and Sandra Gast to Caswell Boreland, 49 St. Joseph Drive, $134,000.

Brownstone Quarry LLC, to Kathleen M. Sawyer and Jeremy W. Sawyer, 91 Melwood Ave., $192,000.

George A. Montero and Kathlene A. Montero to S&C Homebuyers LLC, 212 Mapleshade Ave., $92,500.

Michael Torcia to David R. Mailloux and Anna M. Mailloux, 46 Birch Ave., $320,000.

Patricia K. Schmid to Joseph J. Mcgrath, 25 Tracey Lane, $246,000.

Roland D. Gelinas and Joy A. Gelinas to Jill A. Manferdini, 40 Bent Tree Drive, $389,900.

Granby

William G. Sharp, Nancy L. Sharp, Nancy L. Baum and Sandra Doucett to William G. Sharp, 211 Amherst St., $100.

Michael J. Curran, James G. Curran, Kathleen A. Curran, Jennifer L. Curran, Jennifer L. Roberts, Kathleen Curran, Lisa Nash and Lisa M. Nash to James P. Curran and Monique L. Curran, 7 Sherwood Drive, $100.

Greenfield

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation to Lawrence F. Bouley, 158 Silver St., $58,200.

Richard S. Bartak to Theresa Bartak, 178 Hope St., $12,000.

Eric J. Demers and Michelle D. Demers to Justin Purinton and Tess A. Tashjian, 281 Wisdom Way, $155,500.

Robert L. Broussard and Laurie Siggillino Broussard to Danae Dinicola, 16 Lincoln St., $172,000.

Joshua N. James and Laura B. James to Robert L. Broussard and Laurie S. Broussard, 6-8 Lincoln St., $180,000.

Wells Fargo Bank, NA, trustee, to CR Properties 2015, LLC, 7 Myrtle St., $18,350.

Lt. John J. Galvin Post, 81, American Legion and Lt. John J. Galvin Post, No. 81, Inc., American Legion to CC MA Realty LLC, 7 Legion Avenue, $219,900.

Hadley

Austen Iglehart to 36 North Maple Street LLC, 36 North Maple St., $100.

Hadley Investments Corp., Inc., and Hadley Investments Inc., to Henry L. Rigali, 208 River Drive, $550,000.

Hampden

Betty Markham to Craig A. Sweitzer, Howlett Hill Road, $100,000.

John I. Brennan, representative, Evelyn Louise Schmidt, estate, and Evelyn L. Schmidt, estate, to Jaison H. Richard, 24 Fernwood Drive, $192,500.

William J. Fisher, Margaret D. Mitchell, Marianne L. Fisher and James D. Fisher to Christopher E. Quackenbush, 74 Meadow Brook Lane, $179,000.

Hatfield

Fannie Mae, Federal National Mortgage Association and Harmon Law Offices PC, attorney in fact, to Eduardo Quinteros, 68 Prospect St., $100,000.

Matthew Shiels, Angela Shiels and Angela Motyka to Martha Brabant, 74 Chestnut St., $260,000.

Hawley

William Guild and Janet Ellner to Lauri Donelson, 21 Forget Road, $167,000.

Holyoke

Ann M. Nagy to Karen A. Hobert, Susan A. Duda and Ann M. Nagy, life estate, 26 Willow St., $100.

Pioneer Valley Redevelopers LLC, receiver, Massachusetts Comm Attorney General, Holyoke City and Gail P. Crabtree to Forestdale Cemetery Association, 210 Rock Valley Road, $106,000.

Christopher S. Geissler, Kimberley L. H. Geissler and Kimberly L. H. Geissler to Elijah C. Willis, 21 Fairfield Ave., Unit B, $142,500.

Laurette C. Landry to Kayla Rodriguez, 14 Laurel St., $127,000.

Pedro Rivera to Shawn P. Antunes, 715 Westfield Road, $223,500.

Peter J. Lally III, and Maureen A. Galaska to Cailin M. Baker, 117 Sheehan Drive, $165,000.

Robert P. Sanborn III, representative, and Robert P. Sanborn Jr., estate, to Louise A. Lyle, 32 George St, $140,000.

Robert R. Luce, Deborah Whitten and Deborah Luce to PMC Properties LLC, 476 South St., $140,000.

Huntington

Laura L. Stoops and Laura R. Cox to Laura L. Stoops and Dennis W. Stoops Jr., 13 Rocky Brook Drive, $100.

US Bank NA Trust, Structrued Asset Securities Corp., Mortgage Loan Trust, and Nationstar Mortgage LLC, attorney in fact, to Artur Muszynski, 13 East Main St., $50,500.

Leyden

Albrecht H. Kummerle and Ilze K. Kummerle to David J. Morgan, 670 Greenfield Road, $255,000.

Jennifer C. Phillips, Lucas C. Phillips, Patricia C. Phillips, Patricia Canfield Phillips, and Samantha C. Phillips to William f. Carron, George Lamb Road, $75,000.

Longmeadow

Dimitri Krutov and Larisa Krutov to Barbara L. Holensworth, 157 Meadow Road, $227,500.

Shelley Cotton, Steven K. Merzigian, Mary Jo Christy and Laura Deluca to Michael C. Arnold, 145 Redfern Drive, $280,000.

Ludlow

Albert W. Massanti and Donna B. Massanti to Linda B. Lastoff, 308 Ventura St., $350,000.

Antonio L. Gomes to Carl Fisher and Elaine Fisher, 421 Chapin St., $164,000.

Eugene E. Fish and Marilyn C. Fish to Samantha L. Skiba, 87 Guertin Ave., $113,000.

Geremia Botta Jr., and Lisa R. Botta to Richard T. Santos and Michelle Ferrentino, 81 Atlantic St., $241,500.

Kari Ann Nunes to Tina Eugenio, 55 Meadow St., $156,500.

Montague

Francis P. Hanley and Mary M. Hanley to John M. Martineau and Shannon M. Martineau, 18 Carlisle Avenue, $164,900.

Gregory M. Stewart to PNC Mortgage and PNC Bank, NA, 98 Turnpike Road, and Lot 76, Turnpike Road, $136,000.

New Salem

Reita L. Oliver Living Trust, Joseph Campolo and Mark Schedlbauer, individually and trustees, to William A. Lane and Frances C. Arnold, 10 Neilson Road, $168,000.

Northampton

Sheila M. Elliott to Sheila M. Elliott and Marie R. Lamontagne, 5 Denise Court, $100.

Justrev LLC, to Nonotuck Resource Associates Inc., 425 Propsect Street and North Elm Street, $750,000.

R2R LLC, to Huong Chen Chow, 227 Bridge St., $350,000.

Mary D. Willard, Mary D. Willard, trustee, Mary D. Willard, living trust, George E. Willard Jr., trustee, Frank P. Willard, trustee, and George E. Willard, living trust, to Kevin Brigham and Dennis Cavaliere, Blackberry Lane and Blackberry Lane Extension, $100,000.

Robert A. Day, personal representative, Leona Day, estate, and Leona G. Day, estate, to Beth F. Pellettieri and Samuel M. Hudzik, 5 North Farms Road, Cloverdale Street Extension and Horse Mountain Road, $230,000.

R.E. Carle LLC, to Eric Lucentini and Sandra Lucentini, 36-40 Main St., $150,000.

Frank J. Werbinski and Sydney W. Stern to Donna Vance, 374 Bridge St., $401,500.

Kent Pecoy & Sons Construction Inc., to Stacy L. Giufre, 95 Moser St., $349,900.

Northfield

William J. Robinson to Chuck Fisher, Four Mile Brook Road, Lot One, $4,000.

Dolores E. Hoff and Louise E. Hoff to Jayant D. Singh, 160 Main St., $275,000.

Orange

Fannie and Federal National Mortgage Association to Mark Haapanen, 59 High St., $28,900.

Robert L. Fortier and Darlene A. Fortier to Fannie Mae and Federal National Mortgage Association, 41 James Lane, $168,530.

Palmer

George L. Foskit Jr., and George L. Foskit to Keem LLC, 26 Barker St., $66,000.

Mathew Allen Biron and Jessica Jill Biron to Michael B. Samek, 21 Robinson Road, $60,000.

Robert J. Mastrodonato and Angela Mastrodonato to Mark Rehbein and Deborah Rehbein, 3050 Main St., Unit 3050, $105,000.

Wells Fargo Financial Massachusetts Inc., to Robert H. Hayes, 2015 East St., $134,500.

South Hadley

Barbara E. McCarthy, Sally S. Dumont and Shirley D. Somerville to Linda Tallman, Lyman Street, $4,500.

Sharon M. Zulch, Denise L. Percy, Douglas P. Percy, Yvonee C. Percy Golas and Yvonne C. Golas-Percy to Jarrett Moyer and Jessica D. Moyer, 20 Maria Drive, $195,000.

Elizabeth M. Savard to Daniel L. Gregory, 119 Alvord Place, $184,900.

Janet Rudolph, personal representative, and Carlene F. Allard, estate, to Melissa A. Meon, 20 Pittroff Ave., $217,000.

Eleanor Townsley and Ronald N. Jacobs to Allana N. Jackson, 27 Ashfield Lane, $423,000.

Southampton

James W. Berniche to Beverly F. A. Berniche, 7 David St., $87,500.

Southwick

Crystal Conroy and Crystal Manzi to Sharon A. Conte, 11 Buckingham Drive, $174,000.

Springfield

Allan F. Syrett to Millie Lozada, 89 West Alvord St., $114,000.

Brenda Lee Degray to Juan A. Ayala Baez Jr., 39 Wakefield St., $105,000.

Carolyn J. Boyce to Edward Michael Davis, 27 Goodwin St., $99,000.

Cynthia A. Olson, Cynthia A. Strom, Cathleen A. Maccini, Cathleen A. Strom, Candace A. Barna and Candace A. Strom to Erik R. Strom Jr., 125 Fair Oak Road, $111,750.

Dana E. Carpenter and Daniel S. Larochelle to Yanitza M. Montalvo, 48 Appleton St., $149,900.

Denise M. Colon and Jose A. Colon Jr., to James L. Campbell and Bonnie R. Campbell, 70 Labelle Drive, $226,000.

Grahams Construction Inc., to Kevin P. Bach, 15 Alwin Place, $290,000.

J. Adams Investments LLC, to Aaron M. Carrier, 42 Irvington St., $158,000.

James Almeida to Stephen H. Rodolakis, 175 Brewster St., $127,000.

Jorge L. Ortiz to Enrique Ortiz Jr., 33-35 Algonquin Place, $10,000.

Karen Krause and Peter A. Krause to Patti J. Goldstein, 40A Yorktown Drive, Unit 40A, $160,500.

Mark Seymour and Kristin Leigh Seymour to Joseph Fiorentino, 91 St. James Circle, $130,000.

Ming Tsang, receiver, Springfield City Code Enforcement and Michael Spillane to Ming Tsang, 33 Lorimer St., $90,000.

Robert M Harlinski, executor, and Mary F. Harlinski, estate, to Caroline L. Ellison, 180 Cherokee Drive, $114,900.

Satish Kumar to Mayank & Abhi Inc., 1119 State St., $290,000.

Timothy A. Barber to Edward J. Haluch, 75 Deepfield Road, $76,000.

Sunderland

Kathleen Kennedy, Paul Korpita Jr., and Gary Korpita to Dylan Korpita, 51 South Main St., $240,000.

Wales

Doris P. Binkley to Rosemarie A. Morin and Timothy R. Morin, 19 Monson Road, $70,000.

Ware

Jennifer M. Fox, Jennifer M. Jock and David R. Fox Jr., to Jennifer M. Fox, 58 East St., $100.

Paul A. Nowicki, Mary B. Aiken and Mary B. Nowicki to Kevin Slattery and Melanie Zombik, 33 Berkshire Drive, $195,000.

CPI Ware LLC, TCI Ware LLC, and City Knickerbocker Properties Ware LLC, to HJN Hotels Corp., 104 West St, $7,790,000.

Alan P. Desrosiers and Carol H. Desrosiers to Melissa Richardson, 76 Old Poor Farm Road, $285,000.

West Springfield

Felicia Vreeland and Glenn A. Vreeland to S&C Homebuyers LLC, 171 Morton St., $103,500.

Joseph C. Sampson to James M. Rickson and Priscilla J. Rickson, 82 Queen Ave., $165,000.

Limestone Management Services LLC, to Lazy River Housing Co., LLC, 68 Westfield St., $160,000.

Neita B. Marshman to Neita B. Marshman, trustee, and Marshman Family Trust, trust of, 171 Circle Drive, $100.

Sheila M. Warren, Jamie A. Warren, Peter C. Warren Jr., and John P. Warren to Sheila M. Warren, 161 Piper Road, $100.

Westfield

Brian M. Iserman to Cory D. Welch and Joan C. Welch, 29 Hubbard St., Unit A, $179,500.

Carolino A. Centeno and Cenciafina S. R. Centeno to Igor Radionov and Tatyana Radionov, 130 Whitaker Road, $290,000.

Cheryl A. Zebold to John J. Florek Jr., and Sarah A. Florek, 78 Devon Terrace, $367,000.

Christine M. Keenan to Thomas P. Keenan, 41 Church St, $125,000.

Elaine Fisher and Carl Fisher to Shuming Chen, 39 Lindbergh Blvd., $179,500.

Glen Schermerhorn and Julie Schermerhorn to Iacovelli Enterprises LLC, 280 Lockhouse Road, $180,000.

Joan C. Welch and Cory D. Welch to Thomas Glynn and Carol Glynn, 23C Tannery Road, Unit C, $119,000.

John D. West to Kyle J. Killinger and Jennifer Gallagher, 150 Miller St., $181,000.

Joseph E. Beatty Jr., and Ruth E. Beatty to Crandall Family Trust, trust of, and S. Kendrick Crandall, trustee, 245 Western Ave., $190,000.

LGPp Realty Holdings LP, and LGP Realty Holdings GP LLC, to Kayrouz Realty II LLC, 162 Southampton Road, $825,000.

Mark Sears to Alicia A. Malloy and Adam Alexion, 6-8 Morris Ave., $139,000.

Theresa M. Farina to Lori A. Kurtz and Eugene J. Kurtz, 114 Otis St, $90,000.

William S. Wright and Anita P. Wright to Michael Cashman and Amie Cashman, 132 Devon Terrace, $390,000.

Whately

Roy J. Giangregorio and Contemporary Country Builders to Amy Altadonna, 31 Grey Oak Lane, $386,500.

Wilbraham

Barbara T. Andrews to Thomas X. Kennedy Jr., and Nancy G. Kennedy, 687 Stony Hill Road, $132,000.

Dorothy Soja, Dorothy R. Soja, Stephen A. Arabik and Eugene Arabik to Christopher J. Connolly and Jayme M. Connolly, 5 Magnolia St., $140,000.

Maria K. Welsh and Lorraine Dinuovo to Maria K. Welsh and Terence J. Welsh, 21 Leemond St., $106,000.

Williamsburg

Roger A. Graves and Ann S. Graves to Douglas Theobald, trustee, and Ilex Realty Trust, Depot Road, $245,000.

Richard A. Nelson, personal representative, and Allan P. Nelson, estate, to John C. Dickinson and Lorie A. Dickinson, Hemenway Road, $100.

Worthington

Thomas D. Downey, Martin M. Downey, Lauren E. Fiorentino, Colin M. Downey, Michael F. Downey and Caroline M. Downey to James S. Downey and Kevin R. O'Connor, 168 Old North Road, $82,304.

Martin M. Downey, Colin M. Downey, Michael F. Downey, Caroline M. Downey, Lauren E. Fiorentino, Mary Downey Costello and Thomas D. Downey to James S. Downey and Kevin R. O'Connor, 168 Old North Road and Cummington Road, $88,934.