HOLYOKE -- As Fran O'Connell is in the running to serve as mayor, he is opening an office around the corner from City Hall.

O'Connell Care at Home announced this week that it is relocating its corporate office to the Holyoke Transportation Center, 206 Maple St. The home health care organization hopes to begin operating out of the three-office suite next month.

"It is important to me that we continue to operate the business in Holyoke," said O'Connell, who founded the company. "Holyoke has been our home since the business was founded in 1987, more than 28 years ago."

He started the business in the 1980's with a very small staff, financing it with savings from working as a nurse. The agency offers a range of services to clients, from medication supervision to grocery shopping. It employees over 300 employees, a mix of full- and part-time workers.

As company grew, O'Connell Care at Home opened several new offices. The corporate office is currently located at 14 Bobala Road in Holyoke. The organization has another office further north in the Valley, at 4A Sugarloaf St. in South Deerfield.

O'Connell Care at Home opened an office and workforce training center at One Federal Street in Springfield this summer, nearby Springfield Technical Community College. O'Connell said last fall the move allowed him to expand his business and he looked in Springfield after being unable to find a suitable location in Holyoke.

With offices in both cities, the agency has signed training and recruitment partnerships with both Holyoke Community College and STCC.

"We are very excited about a new partnership with Springfield Technical Community College's Certified Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide programs, which are located directly across the street from the new training facility," said Chief Operating Officer Danielle Lord.

O'Connell said having multiple locations throughout Western Massachusetts will allow the company to foster relationships in several communities. 

"Expanding our offices into the communities we serve increases our accessibility as both an employer and as a provider of home care," said O'Connell. "Partnering with local educators will positively impact our economy by retaining our skilled workforce through local employment opportunities, enhancing continued education for the existing workforce and increasing the quality of care for those we serve."

BOSTON -- Massachusetts residents purchasing unsubsidized health insurance plans through the Massachusetts Health Connector should expect to see their premium costs rise, and some will see their co-pays and deductibles go up as well.

"At the end of the day, health insurance is expensive because health care is expensive," said Mark Gaunya, a member of the Health Connector board and co-owner of Borislow Insurance, an insurance brokerage. "Some of the cost sharing might be shocking. At the end of the day, we have a responsibility going forward to try to deal with underlying health care costs."

Customers will also have fewer plans to choose from next year.

The board of the Health Connector voted unanimously on Thursday to approve a list of plans that will be offered in 2016.

According to information provided at the board meeting, individuals buying insurance through the Connector who earn more than 300 percent of the poverty level ($72,750 for a family of four), will see their premiums rise by an average of 7.8 percent for most plans. Around 38,000 people are covered by these plans. The approximately 10,000 members on less comprehensive plans, referred to as "bronze plans," will see their premiums rise by an average of 2.2 percent. But those bronze plans also have a major increase in out-of-pocket costs - an additional $1,000 deductible compared to last year.

There is significant variability between regions and between plans. "Individual members will see very different changes," said Brian Schuetz, director of program and product strategy for the Health Connector.

For example, for the best coverage, called platinum plans, which will see the biggest price spikes, annual premiums would range from $355 to $754 for an average 42-year-old Worcester resident, up from $348 to $700 last year.

The major reason for the increases is that people buying insurance through the Connector are part of the state's individual and small group market. The Division of Insurance approved price increases of an average of 6.3 percent for that market. The growth reflects the increased cost of prescription drugs, higher usage of expensive health care, and additional taxes that are part of the federal Affordable Care Act.

The 120,000 people enrolled in ConnectorCare, a state-subsidized plan for people earning less than 300 percent of the federal poverty level, will see the cost of their plans drop by 2.1 percent, with no major changes to the plans being offered. This drop is mostly because the most popular plan was redesigned to be cheaper this year than last year. The actual amount these people pay depends on their income and the type of insurance plan.

Shoppers on the state's health insurance exchange will also notice fewer plans. There will be 84 plans offered through the Connector, down from 126 last year. This was part of a conscious effort by state officials to limit the number of plans to reduce confusion when people shopped for plans online.

Connector officials say more than 90 percent of members will be able to stay on their current plans, and the rest will be moved to similar plans offered by the same insurer.

"We were closing plans nobody was in," said Heather Cloran, associate director of programming and product strategy.

Dolores Mitchell, executive director of the Group Insurance Commission, which covers municipal employees, said she was "concerned about an excess number of choices," though she urged more demographic study to ensure that the state is not cutting out plans that appealed to a particular demographic group.

But other board members were more critical. Michael Chernew, a professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School, said Connector officials want to make shopping easier and facilitate choice, but they also want competition in order to keep costs down. "If you have different carriers offering the exact same plan, that's actually a really good thing for competition," Chernew said. "The reason we have a lot of plans is because we have a fair number of carriers."

Gaunya said more choice is a good thing for consumers. "I think it's regrettable that 10 percent of people will have to make different choices not because they wanted to give up their product but because we eliminated that option for them," Gaunya said.

By BERNARD CONDON

NEW YORK -- Stocks in the U.S. bucked a global market slump Thursday as investors look ahead to a crucial Federal Reserve meeting next week on interest rates.

Investors pushed major U.S. indexes lower in the morning following drops in Asia and Europe, then reversed course as oil prices rose. That helped send shares of energy companies, which have been battered in recent weeks, higher.

Traders remain focused on a two-day meeting of Federal Reserve policymakers next week. They are trying to anticipate when and how quickly the central bank will begin to raise interest rates from their historically low levels. Those low rates have been a key factor sending stock prices higher over the past seven years.

A report Thursday showing a decline in applications for unemployment claims was the latest bullish sign on the job market, which could prompt the Fed to tighten credit. Some say worries about higher rates are overblown.

"The U.S. economy is in significantly better shape than in the past," said Mike Ryan, chief investment strategist at UBS Wealth Management Americas. "We're not dependent on Fed largess and stimulus to support growth."

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 76.83 points, or 0.5 percent, to close at 16,330.40. The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 10.25 points, or 0.5 percent, to 1,952.29. The Nasdaq composite climbed 39.72 points, or 0.8 percent, to 4,796.25.

Global markets have been moving sharply up and down in recent weeks as investors worry about a slowdown in China, plunging currencies in developing countries like Malaysia and uncertainty over the Fed's next move. In five of the six previous days of trading in September, the S&P 500 has made big moves both up and down, including a surge of 2.5 percent on Tuesday and a plunge of 3 percent on the first day of the month.

Trading was relatively light on Thursday, with little news moving prices one way or the other.

Apple jumped $2.42, or 2.2 percent, to $112.57, on Thursday, a day after the company introduced updated versions of the iPhone, Apple TV and iPad. Technology stocks rose 1 percent overall, the biggest gain among the 10 industry sectors of the S&P 500.

The price of oil rose sharply after the Energy Department reported a strong increase in U.S. gasoline demand.

A report on unemployment claims early Thursday showed fewer Americans applied for benefits last week, adding to recent evidence of robust hiring. The Labor Department said weekly applications benefits dropped 6,000 to 275,000.

A separate government report the day before said U.S. job openings jumped to the highest level in 15 years in July. A report last week showed the U.S. unemployment rate fell to a seven-year low of 5.1 percent in August.

Investors are not so sure they like the healthier economy because it could mean the Fed raising rates sooner, and faster, than anticipated.

"The Fed has to be mindful of all this job creation because, sooner or later, companies are going to have to compete for workers, and they're going to compete by raising wages," said David Joy, chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial. "That will filter into the Fed's deliberations next week."

In Asia, Japan's Nikkei 225 slumped 2.5 percent after surging 7.7 percent on Wednesday in its biggest gain since October 2008. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dropped 2.6 percent and China's Shanghai Composite Index finished 1.4 percent lower.

European markets were mostly lower. France's CAC-40 lost 1.5 percent.

Among U.S. stocks making big moves:

• Krispy Kreme Doughnuts plunged $2.08, or 12 percent, $15.65 after the company lowered its outlook following disappointing second-quarter results.
• Lululemon Athletica sank $10.51, or 16 percent, to $53.54 after the high-end apparel maker predicted profits for the current quarter that were lower than Wall Street analysts were expecting.
• Freight company Con-Way soared $12.01, or 34 percent, to $47.54 after agreeing to be acquired by XPO Logistics.

U.S. crude rose $1.77 to close at $45.92 a barrel in New York. Over the past four weeks, U.S. gasoline demand averaged 9.3 million barrels per day, up 3.8 percent compared with the same period last year, according to the Energy Department's weekly petroleum status report. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils used by many U.S. refineries, rose $1.31 to close at $48.89 a barrel in London.

In other futures trading on the NYMEX:

1. Wholesale gasoline rose 3.4 cents to close at $1.394 a gallon.
2. Heating oil rose 3.6 cents to close at $1.575 a gallon.
3. Natural gas rose 3.2 cents to close at $2.683 per 1,000 cubic feet.

Bond prices fell slightly. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 2.22 percent from 2.20 percent late Wednesday. The U.S. dollar rose to 120.62 yen from 120.28 yen. The euro rose to $1.1285 from $1.1219.

The price of gold rose $7.30 to $1,109.30 an ounce. Silver rose 7 cents to $14.65 an ounce and copper gained a penny to $2.45 per pound.

The Republican file 

The Sept. 30 auction, to take place at South Hadley Town Hall, 116 Main St., begins at 12 noon, with bidder registration at 11:30 a.m.

Shrewbury-based Zekos Group will conduct the bidding.

The two-family home is located at 8 Graves St., and according to the auctioneer, will be offered with no minimum bid requirement.

The other parcels are 12 acres at 351 East St.; 1.6 acres on Granby Road; and a half-acre on Lawrence Ave.

The properties will be "sold as is," according to Zekos.

As Roger Crandall, president and CEO of MassMutual Financial Group, arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston for a speaking engagement on Thursday, a group of Puerto Rican activists protested outside, playing music and waving Puerto Rican flags.

The New York-based investment management firm OppenheimerFunds is a subsidiary of the Springfield-based MassMutual Financial Group. OppenheimerFunds is invested in $4.5 billion in Puerto Rican bonds, making it one of Puerto Rico's largest creditors, according to the independent investment research firm Morningstar.

As Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, struggles under $72 billion of debt, the activists are calling on MassMutual not to press Puerto Rico to impose austerity measures - such as higher taxes or cuts in government services - in order to immediately repay its debts. They want Puerto Rico's creditors to allow the territory to restructure its debt, so that, for example, less money is paid back or it is repaid over a longer time.

"Puerto Rico has to negotiate its debt ... without making the Puerto Rican community pay for it," said Suffolk County Register of Probate Felix Arroyo, a member of the Alliance for Puerto Rico. "This has been done on the backs of the workers."

"I understand they just want their debt paid, but they have to be a little more humane," Arroyo said.

Crandall said, however, that every party has to come to the table and everything, including austerity measures, must be considered.

"Any time a government gets in a situation where it's got too much debt to support, you have to look at all pieces," Crandall said. "To say there's going to be either no payments in total or there's going to be no austerity just frankly has never worked in any municipal restructuring."

Crandall pointed out that the mutual funds that are invested in Puerto Rican bonds are owned primarily by individual investors.

"We've been working closely with the government to try to come up with a solution that helps Puerto Rico but also takes into account the fact that we have tens of thousands of savers who own the mutual funds," Crandall said.

What's happening in Puerto Rico?

All sides agree that the situation in Puerto Rico is dire. Puerto Rico has a struggling economy and high unemployment. As residents leave the island for the mainland U.S., it becomes harder for the government to raise taxes to pay its debt. In August, Puerto Rico defaulted for the first time.

On Wednesday, Puerto Rico Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla laid out a broad plan for restructuring its debt over five years. It involves restructuring Puerto Rico's bonds, which would require negotiations with creditors. It includes installing an independent financial control board and implementing measures such as salary freezes for state workers, subsidy cuts to municipalities and school consolidations.

But there is little chance the plan will go forward.

Ted Hampton, vice president at Moody's Investors Service, a rating agency that rates municipal bonds, warned that investors are unlikely to accept the restructuring of the bonds and there is "a high probability of protracted litigation. ... While the Puerto Rico plan is comprehensive, Moody's believes the commonwealth's ability to implement many of the recommended policies will pose political challenges, and it is unlikely that holders of the many Puerto Rico bonds will agree to forgo or defer substantial sums of promised principal and interest," Hampton said in a statement.

Matt Fabian, a partner at Municipal Market Analytics, a Concord-based independent research company focused on the U.S. municipal bond market, said Padilla's announcement signals the formal beginning of negotiations.

"This would be the official starting gun. Puerto Rico has now formally said they don't have the money to pay bondholders," Fabian said.

Fabian predicted that Puerto Rico and its bondholders will end up in court. Although federal law prevents Puerto Rico from declaring bankruptcy, if a negotiated settlement is not reached, Puerto Rico can default, and bondholders can sue.

What does this have to do with OppenheimerFunds and MassMutual?

In the past, OppenheimerFunds has tried to prevent Puerto Rico from reneging on its debt - which legally, Puerto Rico is obligated to pay.

"They have been forcefully reminding Puerto Rico of its legal obligation to pay its bond," Fabian said.

In 2014, when Puerto Rico passed a law that would have allowed its electric, highway and sewer authorities to restructure their debt, OppenheimerFunds successfully sued to block the law, arguing that Puerto Rico had agreed to certain obligations to bondholders. However, last week, OppenheimerFunds and other bondholders did reach an agreement with Puerto Rico's electric utility, in which bondholders can trade their electric company bonds, at 85 percent of their value, for a stake in money generated by a new fee to be levied on Puerto Ricans' electric bills.

OppenheimerFunds spokesman Ray Pellecchia said the organization has no statement on Padilla's recent proposal.

Crandall stressed that OppenheimerFunds has been working with the Puerto Rican government. He said the electric utility settlement could be a model for other settlements. "We've been working constructively with Puerto Rico," Crandall said.

MassMutual CEO Roger Crandall speaks at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce breakfast on Sept. 10, 2015.SHIRA SCHOENBERG / THE REPUBLICAN 

But organizers with the Alliance for Puerto Rico believe OppenheimerFunds has been too aggressive. "The OppenheimerFunds' stance and insistence on receiving payment is causing tremendous pain to hardworking Puerto Rican families on the island," the alliance wrote in a letter it delivered to Crandall at a Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce event.

"To meet the onerous payments on its debt, the island's population has had to endure major tax hikes and significant cuts in public services, including the closure of over 100 schools this year."

The group is demanding an audit of Puerto Rico's debt and is urging MassMutual, through OppenheimerFunds, to stop supporting austerity measures, to work with the Puerto Rican government to restructure its debt and to refrain from pursuing court orders that force repayment until the debt is restructured.

"They're responsible for investing responsibly," said Sandra Alvarado, a member of the Alliance for Puerto Rico. "Investors went in on this knowing this was a very risky investment. They have to be willing to come to the table and negotiate responsibly."

Otoniel Figueroa-Duran, a union organizer with SEIU 32BJ, which represents maintenance workers, said harsh austerity measures will push more Puerto Ricans to move to communities like Massachusetts, taxing local budgets while making it harder for Puerto Rico to pay its debt.

Fabian said legally, OppenheimerFunds has a strict obligation to its investors - not to Puerto Rican families. "The only reason OppenheimerFunds would be able to negotiate is if it feels that it will get a better return for investors by negotiating versus not negotiating," Fabian said. For example, creditors in distressed cities like Detroit have negotiated to avoid not being paid at all.

In past situations, such as in Detroit, Fabian said unions, government service recipients, businesses, taxpayers and others have typically had a stronger voice in government restructuring than bondholders.

Fabian said it is a "zero sum game," since with the Puerto Rican economy shrinking, there is not enough money to go around. He predicted that all parties would lose some money.

"To the extent they pay one, they won't have enough to pay another," Fabian said. "There's probably going to be a bit of austerity and default."

Both Crandall and MassMutual spokesman Michael McNamara said the fiscal impact on MassMutual and OppenheimerFunds would not be major, even if the funds lose money. OppenheimerFunds has been investing in Puerto Rico for 20 years, and the mutual funds have experienced volatility in the past.

"MassMutual has previously conducted a careful analysis of the debt matter in Puerto Rico, and we have determined it would not have any meaningful impact on the financial performance or stability of either MassMutual or any of our subsidiaries and affiliates," McNamara said.

Oppenheimer Funds, according to its website, manages $237 billion in assets for 13.5 million customers. Fabian pointed out that OppenheimerFunds has diverse investments and good infrastructure for raising more money from investors. It has weathered crises in the past, such as the downturn of airline bonds after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

HOLYOKE -- The Republican and MassLive.com asked the candidates for mayor in the Sept. 22 preliminary election to discuss their positions on issues of importance to voters.

Their responses will be featured daily on MassLive.com beginning Sept. 6.

In this installment, Mayor Alex B. Morse, who is seeking a third term, Fran O'Connell, who founded the business O'Connell Care at Home here in 1987, and Anthony Soto, who is in his second term as Ward 2 representative on the City Council, discuss Lyman Terrace.

The top two finishers in the preliminary election will move onto compete on Election Day Nov. 3 while the candidate placing third will be eliminated.

Fran O'Connell, left, Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse, center, and Anthony Soto, right.(FILE PHOTOS) 

What should be done with Lyman Terrace and do you support the current plan to seek $34 million in tax credits to renovate the housing complex?

Anthony Soto, 41:

It would be unconscionable to force hundreds of Lyman Terrace residents to move out of the city because our current public housing units are full. So, I support renovating the housing complex especially because it is one of the oldest public housing developments in the country having been built in 1939.

I was disappointed to see the current administration first order demolition, thereby causing an uproar among all of the tenants especially when they realized they could not find affordable housing in Holyoke if they were displaced. Then, after the uproar, the mayor
switched his position. As mayor, I will fully explore all options before making my decision. There was no need to put the Lyman Terrace residents through all of that turmoil.

Mayor Alex B. Morse, 26:

I do support the current plan for Lyman Terrace. I have consistently articulated a vision for a downtown that is densely populated, vibrant and prosperous--and this project is completely consistent with that vision. Holyoke has room to grow. And one of the best things we can do to grow our community is to provide for the development of quality neighborhoods. Renovating Lyman Terrace is just a part of a multifaceted effort to provide housing options in the downtown.

The downtown is already seeing more market-rate housing in the pipeline than at any time in decades. We don't face an either/or proposition when it comes to our housing options; it's a both/and situation. Building a prosperous downtown need not come at the expense of 160 low-income families who wish to stay in their neighborhood, as evidenced by the record levels of investment we're currently seeing.

It is also important to note that the current plan for Lyman Terrace was compared to other options, and was deemed the least costly. Doing anything at Lyman Terrace will cost money, given the challenges of the structures and the aged utility infrastructure of the neighborhood. Folks should also understand that no city taxpayer money is going toward this project; the tax credits being sought have already been allocated at the state level. The only question I faced, as mayor, was whether I wanted to fight for our share of those tax credits. It makes perfect sense that I would advocate for the use of these tax credits to improve one of our neighborhoods. It helps the Holyokers who already live there, and benefits the whole surrounding neighborhood.

Fran O'Connell, 56:

Lyman Terrace, in its current condition is nearly unlivable and it serves neither its residents nor the community as a whole. People should not live in these conditions. I support the current renovation plan and I would work to execute that plan. I do, however, have serious questions about the availability of $34 million worth of financing needed to execute the existing renovation plan. I will work diligently with the Holyoke Housing Authority to determine as quickly as possible the financial viability of the proposed renovation project. Either the renovation is financially viable or it is not. If it is not then we need to look at other options, including demolition and relocation of residents to quality housing in the city.

I want each and every Lyman Terrace resident to stay in Holyoke and participate in our community. It doesn't serve anyone to keep the status quo while pursuing a plan that cannot be realized.

BOSTON - Crowds swept through the doors of Irish retailer Primark's first store on U.S. soil on Thursday, passing through a 64-foot high atrium and heading for its cheap clothes.

The store opened at 11 a.m., after Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Primark executives cut the ceremonial ribbon by the entrance.

The Downtown Crossing building was once home to Filene's and Filene's Basement, which anchored the area, and now, along with Primark, houses a Roche Bros. grocery store. Filene's Basement is slated for a resurrection as an online retailer.

Filene's was a part of Downtown Crossing's "soul," according to Breege O'Donoghue, group director of business development and new markets for Primark.

"Downtown Crossing has its soul again," she said at Primark's opening, wearing a three-piece Primark outfit O'Donoghue said she picked up for around $50.

Primark will be competing with other "fast fashion" stores like H&M, which is located down the street.

"You can see really life coming back, a lot of life in the Downtown Crossing area," Walsh told reporters.

"You know, Filene's came here in 1912 and it really revitalized, or built up the Downtown Crossing area," Walsh said. "And for many years it's gotten quiet, and Primark now is another part of revitalization." 

The Downtown Crossing store has hired 590 employees; the number is expected to grow during the Christmas season.

Primark's part of the historic building takes up four floors and spans 77,000 square feet. There are 84 fitting rooms and 530 mannequins.

Critics of "fast fashion" point to exploitation of workers in America and overseas, as well as a negative impact on the environment.

Primark officials said their company is a member of the "Ethical Trading Initiative" and employs a team of people who audit labor standards in the countries in which the clothes are made.

The officials added that the company recycles cardboard, plastic and hangers from its stores.

"I certainly want to make sure any company that works in Boston, any retailer in Boston, when they buy their clothes, if it's made outside of the United States, that the workers are being treated fairly," said Walsh, who was a labor leader before he was elected the mayor of Boston. "And according to the numbers I've seen from this company, they show they're highly ranked."

The Downtown Crossing store is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. It closes at 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Sunday hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Primark, which has a distribution center in Bethlehem, Pa., plans to keep expanding into the U.S., with stores planned in the Burlington Mall, South Shore Plaza in Braintree, the Danbury Fair in Connecticut, Freehold Raceway Mall in New Jersey, Staten Island Mall in New York and the Willow Grove Mall in Pennsylvania.

The first store opened in Dublin in 1969.

Like many little boys, Edward Boland Jr. grew up believing his dad was a hero.

The truth was the late U.S. Rep. Edward P. Boland Sr., whose influence and dedication to the economic well-being of his district is reflected in the skyline of downtown Springfield, was something akin to a superhero in the eyes of his constituents, serving them for nearly five decades with honor, distinction, civility and grace.

Now the father of two boys himself, 40-year-old Ed Boland Jr. and his wife Crissi, who live in Miami, believe there are too few heroes for young boys. So they've tapped their business and creative skills – and the childhood values they were taught by their parents – to launch a new product line of boy superhero characters complete with an action figure and comic book.

The Bolands, who met when they were undergraduates at Boston College, said they created their venture, "HeroBoys", in response to a lack of appropriate comic book and action figure toys for boys between the ages of 3 and 10.

HeroBoys is a line of 18-inch plush/plastic action figures and accompanying comic book, which tells the story of a seemingly ordinary group of boys brought together to do good and provide an example to a city being overrun by selfish behavior, according to a press release on the occasion of Wednesday's launch of the business and the online crowd-funding source, Kickstarter, for their product.

Under the Kickstarter model, which was successfully used to help finance Hott Productions 30-minute documentary of the Sci-Tech Band, creators and backers of a project, whether it be for-profit or non-profit, set a funding goal and deadline.

Three of Edward P. Boland's children and his wife Mary pose with Sen. Edward M. Kennedy in front of the statue honoring their father at Main and Harrison streets in Springfield in this 2005 file photograph. Family members, from left, are: Kathleen, Mary Egan Boland, Martha and Ed Jr.MARK M. MURRAY / THE REPUBLICAN FILE 

If people like a project, they can pledge money to make it happen. Funding on Kickstarter is all-or-nothing – projects must reach their funding goals to receive any money.

The Bolands have set a Kickstarter goal of raising $55,000 within 30 days.

As of Thursday evening, the campaign had raised $10,467 from 28 backers with 28 days to go.

Depending on the outcome of the campaign, Boland said, "We either validate the idea or it's a short-lived venture."

But the Bolands believe their concept fills a void in the marketplace of ideas for products for young boys. And they are optimistic about its success.

Most of the products in the marketplace are based on blockbuster movies that feature older male superheroes and have dark and violent storylines, Boland said.

An exception – aimed at young girls – is the widely popular "American Girl" series of books that led to spinoffs including dolls, clothing, furniture and other products. It's a model the Bolands have in mind.

In a blog he writes about the venture: "Despite all the boys' toys and all the money spent on promoting them, there was always something missing: a thoughtfulness, a meaning, a purpose" to what was being produced.

"We live in a culture of narcissism, a win-at-all-costs mentality," Boland said.

Lost are the virtues of Eddie Boland Sr., author of the Boland Amendment limiting U.S. aid to Contras in Nicaragua during the Reagan administration, he said. While the senior Boland had fundamental disagreements with his colleagues, they had mutual respect for one another, he said.

"They would fight like cats and dogs on the floor of the House, but they were good friends," Boland said, noting his father's close relationship based on mutual respect with the late Republican Congressman Silvio Conte of Pittsfield and others on the opposite side of the aisle.

The life of Edward Boland Sr. and the values he represented are ones his son hopes to imbue in his HeroBoys characters.

Boland died at the age of 90 in November 2001.

In delivering his father's eulogy, Ed Boland Jr. was quoted in The Republican as saying: "I never had to look for a hero. I had one tucking me in, singing me lullabies and teaching me how to shoot a foul shot."

Ed Boland Jr.is a principal at Scout Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in early stage companies, and had previously worked in investment management. Before entering the world of finance, he was a writer for newspapers and television including New England Cable News. Besides his Boston College degree in philosophy, he has a master's in business administration from the University of Florida

Cristina Courtney Boland, co-founder of HeroBoys, is an experienced businesswoman. She has been the co-owner, designer and buyer for Margaux, a home and design store in South Miami where she oversees the business and manages all design projects.

Ed Boland Jr. has three siblings.

His mother Mary Egan Boland, an attorney, is active in Springfield, including promoting the annual Edward P. Boland Scholarship.

SPRINGFIELD — HealthSpot is a photo booth-sized kiosk that takes your pulse and temperature as well as your picture.

And Baystate Health is bringing HealthSpot to a mall or supermarket near you sometime before the end of 2016.

The podlike HealthSpot stations – which will be connected to Baystate doctors by sound, video and data transmissions – are just one of the innovations Baystate showed off Thursday at its TechSpring innovation center in Downtown Springfield as it announced a series of partnerships with computer giant Dell Inc. and others.

Baystate opened TechSpring in November with a write-on-the-walls ethos of collaborative experimentation. The idea, Baystate said, was to bring modern advances like smartphone apps and big-data aggregation to bear on ongoing health care challenges. TechSpring has six full-time employees.

"The one thing we have in common, whether we like it or not, is that we are all patients," said Christian Lagier, managing director of TechSpring.

There were other innovations besides HealthSpot on display Thursday. Lagier said Baystate doctors will start doing e-visits later this month.

It'll take longer to set up HealthSpot. The kiosk needs to be wired in to Baystate, which doesn't yet have a specific location in mind.

Lagier said efforts to aggregate health data to gauge the well-being of an entire population are ongoing. Are folks getting the flu? Are diabetics getting the help they need to keep blood sugar in line?

With those e-visits, doctors will be able to see the patient through the computer and vice versa. Time will be spent checking up on a patient's health and making sure the patient is keeping up with treatments like medication, exercise and diet.

Lagier also pointed out advances in remote patient monitoring Baystate is working on with Dell and other partners. That's where doctors prescribe devices, like blood-pressure cuffs or high definition magnifying cameras, to patients who use them at home to monitor their health and transmit the data back to their doctors.

With HealthSpot, a blood pressure cuff, high-resolution magnifying cameras, a thermometer, a fingertip sensor for measuring pulse and blood oxygen saturation and even an otoscope for looking in the ear all pop from cubbies in the wall.

A stethoscope even comes with video instructions about where to place it so the doctor can listen for heart sounds.

Dr. Nick van Terheyden, chief medical officer for Dell's health care business, explained that patients in a HealthSpot can weigh and measure themselves and take photos of any lesions or rashes.

"Skin cancer is endemic," he said, pointing a magnifying camera at his own wrist. "Those are just my own freckles. But you can see how well they can be seen. Look at the magnification.

"Then you contact the doctor, who may be dealing with someone else at another HealthSpot," he said. "These will be in drug stores, supermarkets, malls. If one is right down the street, why not walk to it and get your questions answered?"

He said to think of a family with children at cold season.

"Or an elderly person in a snowstorm," van Terheyden said. "The idea, ironically for a hospital like Baystate, is to keep people out of the hospital."

HealthSpots are already deployed in other sections of the country, he said. They are large enough for more than one person so the patient can be accompanied. The HealthSpots typically have staff on hand to help out.

Dr. Evan Benjamin, an internist and senior vice president for quality and population health and chief quality officer at Baystate, said HealthSpot is great for what he called low-level cases. These are patients with colds and flu symptoms or who are managing chronic conditions like diabetes.

"(HealthSpots) are so inexpensive," Benjamin said. "We are transitioning from fee for service to population health. And this is a way to keep a population healthy at a lower cost."

SPRINGFIELD — A section of structural steel from the World Trade Center destroyed in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and given to Spirit of Springfield in 2011 may be headed to Union Station.

Kevin Kennedy, Springfield's chief development officer, said the 12-foot-long, 2,950-pound beam might become the centerpiece of a memorial at the refurbished Union Station Regional Intermodal Transportation Center.

"I need to take a look at it and then work with our architects," Kennedy said .

The 89-year-old Union Station is in the midst of an $88.5-million reconstruction into a modern transit facility. The project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2016.

Judith A. Matt, president of Spirit of Springfield, said Friday that Union Station is just one of several possibilities for the steel, which has remained in storage with the Springfield Fire Department since the Spirit of Springfield acquired it in 2011.

"It's a very good possibility," she said, adding that the city has pursued a number of locations that just have not worked out for one reason or another.

One idea early on was to make the steel into a memorial in Forest Park, possibly near the Rose Garden.

There were 2,996 people killed in the 9/11 attacks. Of those, 2,801 were killed in the collapse of the World Trade Center, including 341 firefighters and 2 paramedics from the Fire Department of the City of New York, 23 New York City Police officers and 37 Port Authority Police officers, according to news accounts. Eight medical responders from private agencies also were killed.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, owner of the World Trade Center site, gave steel to Springfield as it did other communities across the country. Recipient communities had to provide transportation, however.

For Springfield, Charlie Arment Trucking Inc. went to New York City and brought the steel back to Springfield. Crowds lined Main Street in Springfield as an honor guard of police, firefighters and EMTs escorted the artifact into the city.

Near Springfield, Ludlow, Ware and Enfield, Connecticut all have dedicated memorials made with remnants of the towers.

SPRINGFIELD - A large pothole opened up on Interstate 91 southbound near Exit 6 Friday morning and efforts to fill it snarled traffic throughout downtown Springfield.

Work was expected to be completed by 2 p.m., said Ralph Romano, resident engineer for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation in the Interstate 91 project.

Sgt. John Delaney of the Springfield Police Department said enshrinement for the  at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame contributed to the bottleneck.

Romano said the pothole opened up after contractors milled away the surface of Interstate 91 exposing the concrete but before they could replace that surface. Crews are prepping lanes inside of the highway to handle extra traffic this winter as the entire 2.5-mile viaduct over downtown is rehabbed.

"It just goes to show the poor condition of the deck," Romano said.

He said six motorists got flat tires from the pothole.

it was in the middle lane, which meant that repair crews had to shut down two lanes of traffic in order to fix it safely.

This apparently pushed southbound  traffic onto the southbound lanes of Main Street and East Columbus Avenue.

The 183.3 million  Interstate 91 project is expected to last until fall 2017. but major lane closures have yet to even begin. MassDot is working with the city and downtown businesses on traffic mitigation.

Fran O'Connell and Mayor Alex Morse support the Community Preservation Act while Anthony Soto does not.

HOLYOKE -- The Republican and MassLive.com asked the candidates for mayor in the Sept. 22 preliminary election to discuss their positions on issues of importance to voters.

Their responses will be featured daily on MassLive.com beginning Sept. 6.

In this installment, Mayor Alex B. Morse, who is seeking a third term, Fran O'Connell, who founded the business O'Connell Care at Home here in 1987, and Anthony Soto, who is in his second term as Ward 2 representative on the City Council, discuss the Community Preservation Act.

The top two finishers in the preliminary election will move onto compete on Election Day Nov. 3 while the candidate placing third will be eliminated.

Fran O'Connell, left, Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse, center, and Anthony Soto, right.(FILE PHOTOS) 

Mayor Alex B. Morse, 26:

I support the Community Preservation Act.

The Community Preservation Act helps communities preserve and rehabilitate historic buildings, recreational spaces, and affordable housing. It is important that people understand what alternatives we face: without the revenue to rehabilitate and restore old buildings, we are often faced with a situation of having to demolish buildings that have deteriorated; the city is then left with an empty lot instead of what could have been a source of revenue.

The CPA, while it places a surcharge on property taxes, ensures that that money stays in our community, and serves a useful function for the betterment of our community. Further, the state matches a percentage of every dollar, to be used specifically for the types of projects I've described. The CPA provides communities with much needed funding to restore important spaces. Investment in our public spaces makes the city safer for everyone, and encourages the private investment we need for the whole city to prosper.

Fran O'Connell, 56:

The Community Preservation Act represents an interesting mechanism for increasing revenues for the City to spend in the areas of historic preservation, recreation, open space and affordable housing initiatives. Unfortunately, the matching state funds that had been available in the past have all but dried up. Ultimately, it is up to the voters to decide whether they want to increase their property taxes to fund the CPA. Personally, I will be voting for its passage, but am not optimistic that it will pass the voters at large.

Anthony Soto, 41:

This is not the time to add another increase in property taxes and many families already are at their limit and taxpayers are not getting a clear answer from the administration on how dollars are being spent. I would focus on increasing fiscal transparency and restoring more stability in the city first.

The CEO of Office Depot apologized to a suburban Chicago woman who said the company discriminated against her over her religious beliefs when its employees told her that making copies of an anti-abortion prayer violated company policy.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. -- The CEO of Office Depot apologized to a suburban Chicago woman who said the company discriminated against her over her religious beliefs when its employees told her that making copies of an anti-abortion prayer violated company policy.

Maria Goldstein, who is Roman Catholic, asked the Office Depot in Schaumburg last month to make 500 copies of "A Prayer for Planned Parenthood."

The prayer was composed by the Rev. Frank Pavone, national director of the anti-abortion group Priests for Life. It calls on God to "Bring an end to the killing of children in the womb, and bring an end to the sale of their body parts. Bring conversion to all who do this, and enlightenment to all who advocate it."

The prayer also includes statistics about abortion in the U.S. and decries "the evil that has been exposed in Planned Parenthood and in the entire abortion industry."

"We sincerely apologize to Ms. (Maria) Goldstein for her experience and our initial reaction was not at all related to her religious beliefs," Office Depot Chairman and CEO Roland Smith said in a statement Friday, the Chicago Tribune reported. "We invite her to return to Office Depot if she still wishes to print the flier."

Office Depot prohibits "the copying of any type of material that advocates any form of racial or religious discrimination or the persecution of certain groups of people," as well as copyrighted material, company spokeswoman Karen Denning told the Tribune. The flier that Goldstein wanted to copy "contained material that advocates the persecution of people who support abortion rights," she said.

But the handout is part of a weeklong prayer and fasting campaign that aims to change opinions on abortion, according to Goldstein.

"The intention of the prayer is to ask for conversion," she said. "The conversion of the staff, employees, everybody who is part of this at Planned Parenthood. It means they will recognize life has dignity and that it is valuable and not a commodity to be bought and sold."

Goldstein, of Rolling Meadows, was invited to use the use the self-serve copy machines at Office Depot, Denning said. But Goldstein said that would have been an inconvenience, so she went to another shop to run her copies.

"I feel discriminated against," Goldstein said.

Thomas Olp, a lawyer for the Chicago-based Thomas More Society, a public interest law group that represents Goldstein, sent a letter Thursday to Smith, asking the company to reconsider its policy and fill Goldstein's copy order.

Goldstein told the Tribune on Friday that she hadn't had time to process the company's latest response.

"I need to take a step back and pray about it," she said.

Office Depot is based in Boca Raton, Florida.

Holyoke's tax rate is $19.04 per $1,000 valuation for residential property and $39.93 per $1,000 valuation for commercial property.

HOLYOKE -- The Republican and MassLive.com asked the candidates for mayor in the Sept. 22 preliminary election to discuss their positions on issues of importance to voters.

Their responses will be featured daily on MassLive.com beginning Sept. 6.

In this installment, Mayor Alex B. Morse, who is seeking a third term, Fran O'Connell, who founded the business O'Connell Care at Home here in 1987, and Anthony Soto, who is in his second term as Ward 2 representative on the City Council, discuss property taxes.

The top two finishers in the preliminary election will move onto compete on Election Day Nov. 3 while the candidate placing third will be eliminated.

Fran O'Connell, left, Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse, center, and Anthony Soto, right.(FILE PHOTOS) 

The current tax rate is $19.04 per $1,000 valuation for residential property and $39.93 per $1,000 valuation for commercial property.

Discuss why you think it is or is not inevitable that property taxes must increase each year. And discuss steps you would take to ease the property tax burden on home and business owners.

Fran O'Connell, 56:

It is absolutely not inevitable that property taxes increase each year on our existing residents and businesses. In fact, because of Proposition 21/2 our taxes legally cannot be raised much more as we are quickly approaching our tax cap levy limit.

The increasing revenues that we need to operate our city must come from an expansion of our tax base. If we do not expand our tax base quickly, I am afraid our city finances will join our school system in state receivership.

In order to increase revenues we must attract new development. We need a laser-focus on retaining and expanding existing businesses and attracting new businesses. This growth of our business sector will not only pay taxes but also create jobs and contribute to our local economy with economic activity.

We also need to be aggressive in collecting all delinquent taxes and overdue fees.

Anthony Soto, 41:

It is not inevitable that property taxes go up every year. I understand that most communities see their taxes going up each year, including Holyoke, but there are many steps we can take to ease the tax burden. We must find a way to lower the business tax rate so we can attract more business development to Holyoke and enable existing businesses to expand here. With more business development comes lower property taxes for homeowners.

I would look closely at our budget to see how we compare to cities with similar challenges and similar size. Spending more money does not equate to better services or more effective outcomes. I will start with a zero based budget to make sure we are challenging our departments to find innovative ways to do business. I will also deal with our budget-busters, expense items that grow faster than the rest of the budget each year and take more and more of our dollars without much to show for it, like health care and energy costs.

Mayor Alex B. Morse, 26:

Because of inflation, it is indeed inevitable that costs go up each year, and municipal budgets aren't immune to that trend. That said, it's not inevitable for property tax rates to go up. As property values go up, rates can come down. When taxes become limiting of our ability to bring in new investment, we also have the ability to enhance our efforts through tax incentive programs.

Through honest budgeting practices, I have managed to present conservative budgets while preserving much relied on city services. I have worked with the Chamber of Commerce, the Taxpayers Association, and the City Council to keep taxes low, and to preside over some of the smallest tax increases in recent memory. In other words, my administration has managed to remain proactive about addressing people's needs, without adding significant new costs to Holyoke's taxpayers.

Another way to ease the tax burden is by seeking new revenues and maintaining conservative budget policies. Under my administration, our spending has grown at a rate lower than inflation, with many of the increases due to fixed costs outside of our control, such as retirement and veteran's benefits. In addition, I have introduced new sources of revenue that do not have a negative impact on residents and business, such as the meals tax. Because of these steps, in addition to our rising property values, I expect tax rates to decrease in the coming years.

Baystate Health plans to deploy a HealthSpot kiosk sometime before the end of 2016.

SPRINGFIELD - In the near future, patients in Greater Springfield may step into a photo-booth-like kiosk to have a Baystate Health doctor check out that cough or that worrisome mole on the skin by remote control.

Also, downtown business want to know how customers will find them once work starts in earnest on the reconstruction of Interstate 91.

Here are five business stories you might have missed:

1)Health care in a booth: Baystate TechSpring innovation center showcases tele-medicine HealthSpot

The podlike HealthSpot stations - which will be connected to Baystate doctors by sound, video and data transmissions - will go in retail locations.

2) Interstate 91 viaduct reconstruction expected to be finished by late fall of 2017; lane closures to begin early next year

MassDOt is planning to erect signs, traffic cams  and broadcast radio messages to let drivers know what is going on. 

But drivers were frustrated Friday

Interstate 91 pothole leads to downtown traffic snarl

3) Scuderi Group, Toyota division reaching settlement on lawsuit over engine research

Hino Motors, Toyota's truck and diesel engine division, sued West Springfield's Scuderi over a research consortium that never came together. According to federal court documents, the debt is expected to be paid by the end of October.

4)Demolition crew knocks down former Knights of Columbus hall in West Springfield

Knights of Columbus Unity Council 2212, faced with rising expenses and declining membership, sold the building to the credit union in May for $350,000.

Arrha Credit Union , the former Springfield Teacher's Credit Union, plans to close its Westfield branch and move it to the West Springfield location.

5)Elms College / HCC bachelor's degree nursing program offers convenience, advancement

The program lets nurses earn a four-year degree at Holyoke Community College without traveling to Chicopee. The program makes use of the newHolyoke Community College's Center for Health Education at 404 Jarvis Ave., in Holyoke.

Deeds in Pioneer Valley

Agawam

Aaron C. Tauscher, Julianne O. Tauscher and Julianne R. Oberle to Melissa Malec, 71 Bradford Drive, $180,000.

Anthony R. Bosini, Jennifer R. Bosini and Jennifer R. Sharpe to Leanne M. Fortini and Kyle Rising, 100 Sylvan Lane, $195,000.

Chantal Nadeau and Johnny Boucher to John G. Fisher, 54 Roberta Circle, $178,000.

Cook Associates Inc., to FRP Holdings Agawam LLC, 7-19 Springfield St., $2,900,000.

Cory R. Heiden, representative, and Frank R. Heiden, estate, to Andriy Dulyepov and Natalja Dulyepov, 97-99 Maple St., $189,000.

Douglas F. Averill and Sara J. Averill to Joshua T. Solek, Ashley Solek and Barbara M. Pilecki, 5 Tannery Road, $214,900.

Ellen M. Davilli to Anthony R. Bosini and Jennifer R. Bosini, 46 Hampden Lane, $310,000.

Jason T. Carr and Elizabeth C. Carr to Paul S. Franco, 420 Main St., Unit 32, $85,000.

John Foley and Paul Foley to John R. Schweitzer, 78 Beekman Drive, $100.

Julie Ann Searles and William K. Searles III, to Pauline M. Picard, 17 Corey Colonial, $143,000.

Lorraine M. Zitka to John R. Schweitzer, 78 Beekman Drive, $100.

Michael P. Viara and Melissa E. Viara to Christopher Gregory, 224 Beekman Drive, $127,000.

Richard R. Berryman and Antoinette R. Berryman to Douglas F. Averill and Sara J. Averill, 31 High Meadow Road, $300,000.

Sandra A. Matroni to Matthew Riley and Brittany Lafountain, 25 South Park Terrace, $184,900.

Amherst

Joshua I. Penn and Jasmine L. Sicotte to Martha J. Elliott, 170 East Hadley Road and E. Hadley Road, $149,900.

Louise D. Parrot and Lorraine Young to Ayano Kataoka, 55 High Point Drive, $310,000.

Sunwood Development Corp., to Donna L. Lecourt, 208 Pine St., $307,000.

John D. Sarna, Vivian Sarna, personal representative, and Jennie R. Sarna, estate, to Razvan Sibil, 122 Spring St., $292,000.

Louis Kaiser Epstein and Maglen Kaiser Epstein to Robert C. Hawley and Mary S. McCarthy, 74 Potwine Lane, $299,900.

Michael J. Wolff to Brett A. Marquard and Jenna L. Marquard, 63 Pokeberry Ridge, $400,000.

Larry Gassan, personal representative, Richard Gassan, estate, Arnold Lawrence Gassan, personal representative, and Lawrence A. Gassan, personal representative, to 220 North East Street LLC, 16 Eames Ave., $320,000.

Paul S. Beacher, Cynthia A. Beacher, Paul S. Baecher and Cynthia M. Baecher to Adam C. Lau and Shevaughn M. Kealy, 31 Weaver Circle, $547,000.

Nancy P. Simanoski to Alan D. Tilton and Gail G. Tilton, 23 Greenleaves Drive, $154,400.

Belchertown

Stephen E. Burek and Edith M. Burek to Stephen E. Burek, 80 Blue Meadow Road, $100.

Danielle Kadinoff to Michael E. Akresh and Bethany C.. Politylo, 277 North St., $250,000.

Beverly Hathaway to Shireen Chaudhry, 1302 Federal Street, Route 9 and Amherst-Belchertown Road, $106,000.

Timothy Jon Kenney and Maureen Kenney to Jeffrey Ryan Leboeuf and Michelle L. Rose, 187 Sheffield Drive, $342,000.

David T. Vacchi and Susan A. Vacchi to Michael J. Bernard and Jessica A. Bernard, 19 Sheffield Drive, $318,000.

William I. Shattuck Jr., and Judith A. Shattuck to Nathan W. Shattuck and Melissa A. Shattuck, 31 Kopec Ave., $82,475.

Janet E. Simeone to Christian S. Bourdeau and Jeannine M. Bourdeau, 135 Kennedy Road, $249,900.

Frances A. Dahle to Gustavo A. Murillo and Marcela Murillo, 85 North Main St., $170,000.

Jean Girard to Leah M. Carver and Katie A. Pacheco, 71 Pondview Circle, $405,000.

Steven M. Auclair and Carrie L. Auclair to Scott C. Thurston and Prisciala M. Thurston, 331 Stebbins St., $280,000.

J. N. Duquette & Son Construction Inc., to Michael Burke and Isabell Burke, 42 Hickory Hill, $400,000.

Sean A. Mason and Anna M. Mason to John A. Alo and Hannah K. Wiberg, 20 Terry Lane, $309,000.

Bernardston

Edward L. Porter and Linda I. Dobson Porter to Brian E. Ross and Willow A. Ross, 17 Fox Hill Road, $280,000.

Gary L. Matteson to Cassidy E. Egland, 404 Bernardston Road, $190,000.

Brimfield

James P. Griesing and Margaret J. Griesing to Harold Lemieux and Kristin Morales-Lemieux, 25 Paige Hill Road, $439,000.

Thomas A. Parkman and Lisa M. Parkman to Jeffrey A. Sheldon and Jill E. Sheldon, 150 East Hill Road, $310,000.

Buckland

Janet Sinclair to Ronald R. Coler and Nina Anderson, 28-30 Ashfield St., $295,000.

Chester

Diane Paquette to Denis R. Proulx and Lynn M. Proulx, Lynes Road, $4,500.

Keith Bloomrose and Wayne Bloomrose to Thomas H. Gelb and Kelly A. Maginnis, 25 Ed Lebleau Road, $190,000.

Chesterfield

Nancy Blondin, personal representative, and Charles Pettersen, estate, to Gary S. Krol and Kathleen L. Krol, 8 Antin Road, $199,900.

Chicopee

Alan R. Menard and Sandra L. Ezold to Daniel A. Potter and Jessica L. Potter, 1191 Burnett Road, $138,900.

Ann Crooks and James Doyle to Christopher Petropoulos, 79-81 Madison St., $98,000.

Antonio A. Pereira and Maria M. Pereira to Mikhail G. Chikrizov and Vera P. Chikrizova, 25 Mayflower Ave., $215,000.

Atwater Investors Inc., to Shelley L. Foust, 61 Oakhill Circle, $220,000.

Bayview Loan Servicing LLC, to Christopher Chateauneuf and Alison Chateauneuf, 37 Devlin Drive, $195,000.

Bayview Loan Servicing LLC, to Kirkland Realty Trust, trust of, and David A. Ladizki, trustee, 40 Belmont St., $108,000.

Cig2 LLC, to Luis J. Crespo-Zayas and Leslie A. Joubert-Collazo, 30 Yorktown Court, Unit 30, $127,837.

Duane F. Paraday and Mary Ann Paraday to Carmen Y. Cruz, 41 West St., $68,000.

Gary A. Gemme to Cassandra C. Allard, 1945 Memorial Drive, $145,000.

James R. Bennett, Sean T. Fitzpatrick and Tiffany M. Fitzpatrick to Jacqueline Hadden and Angel Lopez, 10 Cooney Place, $190,000.

Janice E. Allard to Carleen M. Nahorniak, 49 Clover Ave., $302,500.

Jerome T. Coburn to John A. Lheureux, 102 Ohio Ave., $100,000.

Maxine J. Kamlowski to Kelly Simpson, 585 Sheridan St., Unit 7, $165,000.

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., to Annette Shea, 40 Robin Ridge Road, Unit 6033B, $107,000.

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., to Caroline Castro, 84 Fillmore St., $108,000.

Sonny Mello, Edward J. Mello, Laura Mello, Angela M. Gasper, Jameson Gasper and Angela M. Mello to Phillip A. Laflamme and Alyssa E. Laflamme, 312-314 Springfield St., $229,000.

Timothy P. Moriarty and Elizabeth M. Moriarty to Jacqueline C. Lavoie, 51 Meadowlark Lane, Unit 51, $115,500.

Wesley Blask to Kevin A. Masek, 239 Carew St., $137,000.

William J. Cichaski, Suzanne I. Cichaski and Suzanne L. Cichaski to Robert J. Hinkel, 1195-1197 Grattan St., $166,000.

Conway

Sarah K. Siff to Casey R. Steinberg and Brittany W. Nickerson, 264 South Shirkshire Road, $385,000.

George H.Kennedy Jr., and Sharon R. Kennedy to Beth A. Savidge, 160 Emerson Hollow Road, $262,100.

Deerfield

Saraneath Tann and Sunnser Ang to Courtney Grace D'Antonio, 27 Eastern Ave., $215,000.

East Longmeadow

Brian J. Milbier and Caitlin E. Milbier to Angelina R. Recchia, 52 Birchland Ave., $178,000.

David K. Ritchie, Wendell W. Ritchie and Lois Ritchie to Timber Development LLC, 16 Anne St., $136,000.

Joseph P. Milbier to Brian J. Milbier and Caitlin E. Milbier, 60 Pilgrim Road, $377,000.

Linda Shelton, Linda Vieira, Linda Viera, Linda Vieria, James Cirillo, Joanne H. Candido and Joanne D. Candido to Adelfia LLC, Lindendale Ave., $60,000.

Peter M. Mancuso and Erica T. Mancuso to H. L. Holdings LLC, 39 Tracey Lane, $337,500.

Peter S. Baran and Patricia W. Baran to Joseph J. Impagnatiello, Gina Impagnatiello and Amy Impagnatiello, 73 Hillside Drive, $255,000.

Rafael Pereira Jr., to Sarah J. Greer and Daniel W. Osborne, 67 Lasalle St., $225,000.

Vince J. Cassamasse and Cheryl Cassamasse to Donna V. Wheeler, 353 Pease Road, $270,000.

Easthampton

Craig R. Spaulding and Dale A. Spaulding to Joshua W. Churchhill and Amy C. Churchill, 23 Pine Brook Drive, $269,900.

Norwich Properties LLC, to Courtney L. Leeming and Keith J. Farrie, 29 Phelps St., $250,000.

Verla R. Mantegna to Anne M. Hendry, Karen A. Hendry and Megan H. Coburn, 20 Ashley Circle, $349,000.

Lisa J. Brusco to Shawn E. Hainsworth, 6 Elliot St., $216,000.

Karen A. Adamski, Stanley E. Adamski, and Audrey M. Pierce to Lauren M. Kessler, 38 Spring Street and Chestnut Street, $204,500.

Marilyn J. Ott to Marilyn Ott, trustee, and Revocable Trust Agreement of Marilyn Ott, 49 Mutter St., $100.

Bryce Wallace, Christa Wallace and Christa Jobs to Robert A. Canon, 36 Torrey St., $211,200.

Duane S. Stoddard and Michele M. Stoddard to Bryce B. Wallace and Christa T. Wallace, 14 Duda Drive, $310,000.

Judith A. Almeida to Adam Zachariah Stein, 16 Oliver St., $210,000.

Philip S.. Finkle and Christine M. Tappe to Helen Clement, 165 Park St., $315,000.

Sean Anthony Echols to Robert E. Dragon Jr., Joyce M. Dragon, Jeffrey E. Labonte Sr., and Judith A. Labonte, 33 Meadowbrook Drive, $165,000.

Anthony F. Swana to Erik A. Karella and Erin L. Karella, 8 Fox Run, $408,000.

Deborah Jones, trustee, and Melikian Irrevocable Trust, to Danica E. Achin and Nathan W. Garstka-Osley, 12 Lux Ave., $191,200.

Erving

Jennifer C. Chastain to James R. Damon II, and Sarah J. Swanson-Damon, 5 Highland Ave., $145,000.

Andrew N. Goodwin and Sherri M. Goodwin to Peter Jeffrey Scott, 17 Swamp Road, $232,000.

Gill

Dennis P. Scipione and Nancy S. Scipione to Ken's Roadside Diner, Inc., 24 French King Highway, $120,000.

Goshen

Catherine Damato and Deborah P. Ford to Lawrence M. Rowen, 6 Cape St., $180,000.

Joseph T. Tortoriello Jr., and Linda L. Tortoriello to Martha Putnam Sites, 105 Lake Drive, $386,500.

Anne M. Hendry to Kara B. Burke and Thomas J. Cairns, 583 East St., $250,000.

Granby

Steven R. Pelletier and Jessica M. Serrano Pelletier to Fei Ma and Min Ziong, 9 Harris St., $320,000.

Christine A. Mendrala, Donald W. Smith and Jeri L. Case to Kevin P. Godbout, 176 Taylor St., $122,750.

Kevin M. Boisselle to Cheryl T. Boisselle, 65 Ferry Hill Road, $100.

Michael L. Laprade and Theresa A. Laprade to Jodi L. Desorcy and Lisa J. Laprade, 5 Leo Drive, $100.

Cynthia Mussinan to Kuo Tseng Lee and Fu Mei Yang, 69 Granby Heights, $143,000.

Kris A. Glinka and Susan Glinka to Scott Soverino, 32 Greenmeadow Lane, $229,000.

William A. Gargiulo and Marguerite K. Gargiulo to Jason D. Siudak and Audrey R. Siudak, 21 Greenmeadow Lane, $257,500.

Granville

William P. O'Neill to Darin Aulston and Rebecca Aulston, 9 Cross Road, $222,000.

Greenfield

Kristen O. Sclater-Booth to Sohail A. Waien, 43 Crescent St., $492,000.

Mark Bennett and Lynne F. Bennett to Rachel Slocum, 29 Holly Ave., $136,701.

Kristen A. Elechko to Derek D. Payton and Meaghan E. Carr, 107 Shelburne Road, $211,000.

Dianna C. Nims to ABCCJ, LLC, 114 Woodard Road, $250,000.

James R. DeSanty Estate, Phyllis J. DeSanty, personal representative, to Ann L. Bryce, 25 Keegan Lane, Unit 7C College Park Condo, $87,000.

Newell Pledger-Shinn and Jennifer L. Isbell to Luna L. Greenwood, 29 Woodleigh Ave., $180,000.

Hadley

Donna L. Lecourt to Robert M. Bankert and Megan L. Bankert, 22 Woodlawn Road, $359,000.

Merrill B. Blanksteen and Christina Blanksteen to Lindsay A. Berry and James A. Rzasa, 118 Bay Road, $605,000.

Karen Utgoff, trustee, David M. Lauter, trustee, and Lauter Family Trust, to Theresa A. Ahrens and Donald C. Ahrens, 7 High Meadow Road, $370,000.

Hampden

Albert F. Jones and Judith M. Jones to Bedrock Financial LLC, trustee, and Sugar Magnolia Realty Trust, trust of, Chapin Road, $65,000.

Phillip C Wiley and Barbara J Fuller to Kevin C Wiley and Kristina M Wiley, 570 Main St, $193,000.

Hatfield

Northeast Enterprises Realty Partnership and Charles W. Bowles, partner, to Sherri L. Meade and Ian W. Smith, 33 Elm St., $400,000.

Jacques Blanchet and Holley Allen to Marianne Romaine, 115 Eml St., $280,000.

Debra G. Harlow and Richard H. Harlow to James H. Benson and Barbara A. Bruce, 33 Jericho Road, $525,000.

Heath

Kathryn A. Dean to Jesse C. Weigand and Kristen M. Weigand, 23 Knott Road, $205,000.

Holyoke

Diane F. Judd to Holyoke Medical Center, 10 Hospital Drive, $110,000.

Fannie Mae and Federal National Mortgage Association to Jacqueline Sampson, 15 Keefe Ave., $154,145.

Gregory Thomas Roman and Laura Bridget Roman to Brandon Ducheney and Margaret Ducheney, 15 Liberty St., $259,000.

James C. Powers and Linda M. Powers to Nicholas P. Boccio, trustee, and Trust 37 C Maple Crest Circle Realty, trust of, 37 C Maple Crest Circle, $75,000.

Natalie A. Cohen and Barbara A. Garcia to Cathy J. Thomas and Scott A. Thomas, 125 Mountain View Drive, $283,000.

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., to Jodine J. Powers, 31 Carlton St., $70,000.

Pentre Farm Properties LLC, to Marcos Garcia and Amanda L. Garcia, 894 Dwight St., $85,000.

Peter C. Mckenney and David B. Mckenney to David B. Mckenney, 100 Northampton St., $187,000.

Ronald J. Stebbins to Raymond R. Rivet, 19 Cherry St., $193,000.

Longmeadow

Anne Klupa to Charlene A. Clark, 43 Barrington Road, $213,000.

Cig 2 LLC, to Michael J. Wing, Kristen P. Wing and Anna H. Wing, 511 Wolf Swamp Road, $355,000.

David A. Thor and Maura C. Thor to Bianca J. Kiely and James M. Kiely, 51 Oxford Road, $800,000.

Delia M. Killeen to Todd M. Adelson, 123 Crestview Circle, $175,000.

Gerda S. Maissel and Keith A. Giguere to Andrew E. Berke and Allison L. Berke, 32 Williston Drive, $415,000.

Harriet L. Brisk to Michael Gesin and Milana Gesin, 911 Converse St., $295,000.

Kathryn P. Ehresman to Tessa L. Smit, 84 Massachusetts Ave., $230,000.

Kenneth Jaffe and Abigail Jaffe to Eric W. Pohlman and Gretchen M. Pohlman, 88 Redfern Drive, $380,000.

Melissa A. McCoy to Andrew Barbosa and Tamara Barbosa, 96 Birchwood Ave., $300,000.

Phyllis A. Lavallee to Michelle R. Lavallee, 780 Longmeadow St., $375,000.

Roger Jack Schwartz and Cathrine Fischer Schwartz to Leslie Haynes-Hodgins, Leslie A. Haynes-Hodgins, Stephen Hodgins, Stephen J. Hodgins and Spencer J. Hodgins, 65 Laurel St., $279,000.

Ludlow

Atwater Investors Inc., to Janice E. Allard, 353 Fuller St., Unit 29, $279,900.

John M. Squarok, representative, and John C. Squarok, estate, to Craig M. Labrie and Jessica D. Labrie, 67 Briarwood Lane, $199,900.

Judith A. Tauer, Judith A. Waterhouse and John D. Tauer to Luis A. Hernandez and Salome Lopez Casanova, 41 Stivens Drive, $240,000.

Nancy M. Currier and Walter L. Currier Jr., to John A. Sniegowski and Katie M. Rychlik, 43 Fuller St., $223,500.

Monson

Daniel F. Kmiecik to Robert C. Webb and Robert Webb, 4 Brimfield Road, $130,000.

Shirley P. Candage, Shirley Plumley and Byron Candage to Ian M. Haskins and Juliana Haskins, 63 Moulton Hill Road, $264,000.

Montague

Jo Ann Derrig Estate and Tracy Lynn Derrig-Herland to Scott M. Kuzmeskus, 5 Park St., $139,000.

Marion Bourdeaux Estate, Janice M. Fuller, Janice Fuller, personal representative, Lori A. Bastarache, Alan P. Bordeaux, David L. Bourdeaux, Denis F. Bordeaux, Linda L. Evans, Jeanne L. Gerber, Elizabeth A. Kellyhouse and Bonnie J. Root to Janice M. Fuller, 19 Turner St., and Massasoit St., Tract 2, lots 20 and 22, $110,000.

Fannie Mae and Federal Mortgage Association to Shane Linscott and Nicole Linscott, 1 Randall Wood Drive, $167,000.

Montgomery

Mary E. Purdy to Glenn R. Stanisewski, 1576 Southampton Road, $298,000.

Northfield

Bruce C. Magliola and Eileen M. Magliola to Andrew N. Goodwin, 129 Gulf Road, $295,000.

Northampton

Sharon M. Gross and James Gross to Susan J. Biggs, 98 Deerfield Drive, $213,500.

Andrea L. Callanan to Andrea E. Olson, 53 Hatfield St., $167,500.

Michael J. Haley and Kathleen J. R. Haley to Katharine Dawn Walker, 19-31 Lyman Road, $162,500.

Jay L. Leib to Elijah J. Chastek, 266 Grove St., $160,000.

Howard E. Bond, Judith Pogany and Judith I. Pogany to Marilyn Fichman and James D. Klein, 26 James Ave., $525,000.

Sherri L. Meade and Sherri Lynn Mead to Carla R. Imperial and Megan E. Jewett, 195 Kennedy Road, $587,500.

Andrew Chambers and Donna Chambers to James C. Pinney and Berverlyann Baglio, 267 Turkey Hill Road, $434,000.

W. Marek Inc., to Alyx Akers, 205 Nonotuck St., $375,000.

Stephen G. Sireci, Lynn M. Shelley and Lynn M. Shelley-Sireci to Stephen A. Brown, 95 Autumn Drive, $248,000.

Thomas E. Dawson-Green and Tracy L. Dawson-Green to Tina T. Champagne, 418 Ryan Road, $225,000.

US Bank Trust NA, trustee, LSF8 Master Participation Trust and Caliber Home Loans Inc., attorney in fact, to Jared Starr and Stephanie Cuenoud, 53 Clark Ave., $172,000.

Orange

Gerald E. Beaudoin and Lola L. Beaudoin to Carlton C. Kott Jr., and Debra M. Kott, 113 New Athol Road, Unit 40, Pioneer Place Condominiums, $188,500.

Brenda-Lee Seibert and Orlans Moran, PLLC, attorney, to Beneficial Massachusetts, Inc., 376 East River St., Unit 1, East River Street Condominium, $56,000.

Palmer

Barbara L. Doyle, Barbara Lucy Tweedie and Barbara Lucy Doyle to Harris Holdings LLC, 863 Ware St., $150,000.

Carol A. Pari to Bayview Loan Servicing LLC, 3110 Main St., $71,267.

John J. Chmura and Mary Louise Chmura to Michael J. Nathanson and Kristie L. Nathanson, 2034 Calkins Road, $197,000.

Steven J. Weaver and Nikki G. Weaver to Richard T. Sliney and Sharon V. Snelgrove, 15 Fieldstone Drive, $385,000.

Pelham

Robert C. Hawley and Mary S. McCarthy to Sally B. Kaufmann and Eric S. Kaufmann, 11 Harkness Road, $443,500.

Russell

Anna H. Wing to Kyle Kleis, 84 Shattuck Road, $187,500.

Anthony Melchionno to 815 Blandford Road Land Trust, trust of, and Heart & Home Realty LLLC, trustee, 815 Blandford Road, $80,000.

Shutesbury

Richard J. Reil to Bryan Hobbs, 6 Great Pines Drive, $100,000.

Joseph Salvador and Kathleen A. Salvador to Jennifer C. Chastain, 4 North Laurel Drive, $205,000.

Thomas P. Doherty and Donna M. Doherty to John Redmond and Carol Redmond, 5 Haskins Way, $62,000.

South Hadley

Edward J. Tierney, Frances C. Tierney and Edward Tierney to Gary C. Capone and Nicole S. Stetzer, 259 Lathrop St., $289,000.

Susan E. Brennan, Susan E. Mahall and Robert J. Brennan to Jacob Dziadek and Tabitha Staples, 10 Richview Ave., $190,000.

Mary T. Lenarcen to Katie Diemand 38 Lexington St., $163,000.

Jean Paul Aubin and Adele M. Aubin to Roger W. Tucker and Camille Provost Tucker, 26 Ashton Lane, $328,000.

Walter J. Mozgala Jr., to James E. Doyle, 39 West Summit St., $92,500.

Jennifer Catherine Pyke and John Adrian Adamian to Jenny Scobel, 3 Burnett Ave., $250,000.

Mariann Ingraham and Gary C. Ingraham to Mary E. O'Neill and Tammy J. O'Neill, 611 Newton St., $172,500.

Trustees of Mount Holyoke College and Mount Holyoke College to ABKG Enterprises LLC, 19 Woodbridge St., $150,000.

William Normand to Scott Family Properties, 21-23 South St., $124,000.

Fannie Mae, Federal National Mortgage Association and Harmon Law Offices PC, attorney in fact, to Robert Mathieu, 19 Magnolia Terrace, $260,000.

Southampton

Jerrald Gatlin Jr., and Sherry I. Gatlin to Kevin Coyne, 15 Bissonette Circle, $410,000.

Lauryn E. Malanowski to Ryan C. Czepiel, Old Harvest Road, $6,500.

Ruth A. Baraniuk to Aaron C. Tauscher and Julianne O. Tauscher, 8 Pomeroy Meadow Road Extension, $268,000.

Joshua P. Vight and April L. Vight to Sarah A. Kirley, 106 College Highway, $195,000.

Southwick

Alfred S. Hish Jr., Carol A. Besnia and Joanne M. Hish to Frank N. Dixon and Stacey M. Dixon, 3 Gloria Drive, $189,900.

Aube Homes LLC, to Michael J. Foint and Michelle L. Foint, 4 Lauren Lane, $417,000.

Michael J. Foint and Michelle L. Foint to Tracy L. Cesan, 1 Treetop Lane, $299,900.

Michelle D. Parker and Michelle D. Jubinville to Erica L. Heng and Keo Heng, 11 Great Brook Drive, $385,000.

Tammy J. Wrigley to Billyjo Asselin, 42 Fernwood Road, $164,000.

William Boisvert and Ann Marie Boisvert to Josephine A. Cheika, 21 Wynnfield Circle, $269,000.

Springfield

Aileen J. Turcotte to Larry Lin and Peichi Lo, 205 Durant St., $122,000.

Ara Degray and Randy Degray to Claribel Parra, 22 Pecousic St., $140,000.

Bank Of New York Mellon, trustee, Genevieve Construction Development Group Inc., 15 Florida St, $29,400.

Carol Catellier to Pascual Rodriguez, 44 Glenwood St., $110,000.

Catherine E. Fauteux, Diane E. Fauteux, Diane E. Flynn and John D. Flynn to Nigel D. Greaves, 30 Bangor St., $145,000.

David K. Nichols to Joshua Roy, 290 Plumtree Road, $158,000.

Dennis E. Munson and Gail R. Munson to Lawrence J. Smith, Lawrence Smith and Kim A. Ellis, 1017 Allen St., $95,000.

Denton R. Garrett and Taunya A. William Garrett to Wilfred Torres, 158-164 Chestnut St., Unit 2G, $50,500.

Donald R. Scott and Mary C. Scott to Jamie Erickson, 37 Middlebrook Drive, $88,000.

U S A Housing & Urban Development to Jacob Saleh, 115 Birchland Ave., $68,000.

Fannie Mae and Federal National Mortgage Association to James W. Fiore, 100 Pembroke Circle, $41,000.

Francisco Lavaredas and Aldina Lavaredas to Benjamin C. McNeil, 140 Mazarin St., $163,400.

George R. Sullivan to Kathryn P. Ehresman, 29 Jamestown Drive, $158,000.

James A. Thomas and Evelyn Thomas to Rachel Mogilka, 158 Cherokee Drive, $118,000.

Jennifer Bonavita to Wendy A. Mckellick-Eaton, 235 State St., $134,000.

Jorge G. Costa and Alicia G. Dugan to Evan A. Powers, 1189-1191 Worcester St., $100,000.

Juan A. Santana to Oniel Morrison, 187 Connecticut Ave., $124,900.

Karen C. King to Diane M. Johnson, 63 Audley Road, $142,500.

Katherine J. Lapa to Katherine Judy Parent and Katherine J. Lapa, life estate, 37-39 Prentice St., $100.

Laurie J. Robinson to Jacqueline W. Waweru, Bayard Ave., $1,500.

Lee J. Torres, Andrew B. Torres and Cristina Torres to Lee J. Torres, 66 Noel St., $100.

Leonide Beauge to London Realty LLC, 61 Woodmont St., $105,000.

Lisa Muise to Thomas F. Connors, 264 Newhouse St., $130,000.

Lorraine T. McCormick, estate, and Michael F. McCormick, representative, to Garibaldi Torres, 170 Shefford St., $200,000.

Louisa M. Brady, Louis A. Brady, Ronald C. Brady, Brian B. Brady and Steven W. Brady to Margaret W. Crafts, trustee, and Margaret W. Crafts Living Trust, trust of, 30 Endicott St., $165,000.

Ludmila Sidun to Petr Privedenyuk, 88-90 Beverly Lane, $100.

Luis Arroyo to Evelyn Rios, 45 Parkin St., $93,000.

Marilyn A. Kempesty, executor, William E. Bergdoll, estate, and Nancy M. Jay to Jeanette Soler, Middle Street Extension, $1,500.

Pamela K. Ross and William G. Ross to Maria T. Barroso, 90 Brianna Lane, $262,500.

Paul Boland, representative, and Paul E. Boland, estate, to Carla M. Valdes, 18 Webber St., $128,500.

Paul M. Santangelo to Dennis E. Harkins, 121 Bowles Park, $129,900.

Petr Privedenyuk to International Christian Center Inc., 88-90 Beverly Lane, $100.

Ramona Morales and Ramona Santiago to Miriam Santiago, 38-40 Mapledell St., $100.

Ronald J. Sarnelli to Sharon L. Scholtz, Allen St., $100.

Ronald Kempf, Alice B. Kempf and Alice B. Wilder to Louis P. Marinaro and Susan J. Marinaro, 55 Lindsay Road, $198,000.

Sharon L. Haluch to Latoya N. Hayles and Anthony C. Beckford, 27 Newhouse St., $155,000.

Springfield City to North End Housing Initiative Inc., Pine St., $7,500.

Springfield Parking Authority to Modern Bridal Boutique Inc., Main Street, $5,100.

VFS Lending JV LLC, to Grace Mejia-Lugo, 45 Collins St., $27,500.

Vladimir Dolzhenko and Irina Dolzhenko to Natalya Gavel, 63 Gates Ave., $255,000.

William J. Persch Jr., Lynda M. Persch and Lynda Persch to Giuseppe Leone, 26-28 Arthur St., $171,000.

Sunderland

Laura McPheters and Laura J. Hintz to Eric Marc Crawford, 151 Amherst Road, $262,500.

Tolland

John W. Stonesifer and Cynthia J. Stonesifer to Michelle D. Parker, 75 School House Road, $324,900.

Ware

Maxwell C. Labier to Russell N. Bergeron and Linda M. Bergeron, 82 West Main St., $111,067.

Scott W. McMahon, Elizabeth Pezzote McMahon and Elizabeth Pezzote to Property Veterans LLC, 99-103 Maple St., $100.

Eunice L. Sinnamon to Jane Kirton, Jean Sinnamon, James F. Sinnamon and Thomas L. Sinnamon, 207 Greenwich Road, $100.

Beatrice T. Andrews to Diane L. Andrews, 240 Greenwich Road, $100.

Beth Ann Zajchowski to Michael T. Fitzpatrick, 140 Bondsville Road, $115,500.

Michael Davis and Lauren Davis to Angelique C. Cordeau, 28 Pine St., $129,900.

West Springfield

Ali B. Kitchell and Helen Kitchell to Mary C. Matias and Beverly M. Keane, 24 Appaloosa Lane, $575,000.

Allison J. Skowron to Alexander P. Seymour, 14 Van Horn St., $191,000.

Arlyn C. Wyman and Gary E. Merlo to Sergey Adamyan, Dewey St., $2,000.

St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church of Springfield Inc., to Vyacheslav A. Kuzmenko, 21 Southworth St., $32,400.

James J. Hanly Jr., representative, and James J. Hanly, estate, to Christopher P. Katsoulis and Laura M. Katsoulis, 29 Braintree Road, $224,400.

Pamela M. Robbins to Joshua D. Murray, 95 Park Ave., Unit 12, $67,000.

Westfield

Cheryl Denardo and Christina Denardo to Double D Investments LLC, 6-8 Grant St., $190,000.

Cheryl Denardo to Eleanor R. Bannon, 34 Otis St., $172,000.

Christopher P. Benton and Brandi R. Benton to Joshua P. Vight and April L. Vight, 12 Jaeger Drive, $246,000.

Elizabeth Mcalpine, Ronald Fortier and Andrea Fortier to Jean A. Moulton and Edward R. Moulton, 151 Paper Mill Road, $150,000.

Glenn A. Korostynski to Mark B. Platt and Betty J. Platt, 244 Honey Pot Road, $487,900.

Jeffrey R. Daley and Jennifer J. Daley to Ann Marie Boisvert and William Boisvert, 14 Westwood Drive, $262,900.

John E. Kelley, Robert F. Kelley and Joellyn M. Osowski to Edward J. Abbe and Christine L. Abbe, 76 Ridgeway St., $197,900.

Josephine A. Cheika to Benjamin Joseph Dansereau and Nancy Ann Bigos-Dansereau, 75 Laura Drive, $258,000.

Lenox Homes LLC, to Dmitriy V. Mayboroda, 139 Union St., Unit 42, $159,900.

Michael F. Parent to Jeffrey R. Daley and Jennifer JD Daley, Raymond Circle, $375,000.

Nancy Bigos-Dansereau, Nancy A. Bigos and Benjamin Dansereau to Linda C. Noble, 150 Hillside Road Unit 12, $139,000.

SSMG Limited Co., and SSMG LLC, to Michael G. Letellier and Lorie A. Letellier, 19 Eastview Drive, $285,000.

Westhampton

Rebecca A. Stefan to Robert W. Gougeon, 47 Northwest Road, $270,000.

Brian D. Burrows to Melissa A. Packard, Bruce Packard and Deborah Packard, 95 Southampton Road, $255,000.

Wilbraham

Catherine D. Roberts to Catherine D. Roberts Trust, and Catherine D. Roberts Trust 2015, trust of, 115 High Pine Circle, $100.

Harlan D. Cuklanz and Joyce J. Cuklanz to Keith J. Mcinnes and Marissa L. Mcinnes, 777 Stony Hill Road, $245,500.

John R. Barber and Pamela J. Barber to Elizabeth M. Moriarty and Timothy P. Moriarty, 6 Pheasant Farm Road, $260,000.

Reid B. Savoie and Carol A. Savoie to Luke Jenne and Bethany Jenne, 647 Springfield St., $320,000.

Ricky D. Powell and Darla Jeanne Powell to Russell L. Powell and Jennifer Powell, 6 Merrill Road, $220,000.

Susan L. Leege and Charles E. Durfee to Anthony Rossi, 15 Leemond St., $210,000.

Williamsburg

Kenneth G. Albert, Nora S. Albert, Sarah S. Albert and Jennifer Albert Perry to Tamar Smith, 17 Mountain St., $125,000.

Fred W. Gohr Jr., to William Burke Jr., and Leah K. Morton, 145 Goshen Road, $240,000.
Steven H. St. Clair to Bryan G. Davis, Ashfield Road, $43,000.

Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse supports increasing the mayor's term to four years while challengers Anthony Soto and Fran O'Connell said it's better left at two years.

HOLYOKE -- The Republican and MassLive.com asked the candidates for mayor in the Sept. 22 preliminary election to discuss their positions on issues of importance to voters.

Their responses will be featured daily on MassLive.com beginning Sept. 6.

In this installment, Mayor Alex B. Morse, who is seeking a third term, Fran O'Connell, who founded the business O'Connell Care at Home here in 1987, and Anthony Soto, who is in his second term as Ward 2 representative on the City Council, discuss ballot questions.

The top two finishers in the preliminary election will move onto compete on Election Day Nov. 3 while the candidate placing third will be eliminated.

Do you support or oppose the four binding questions that will be on the Nov. 3 ballot and why?
1. increasing mayor's term to 4 years; 2. increasing terms of city councilors to four years; 3. reducing 15-member City Council to 13; 4. changing selection method of treasurer from elected to appointed.

Anthony Soto, 41:

--increasing mayor's term to four years from current two years. I do not support this move. The two year term is best to hold our public officials accountable.

--increasing terms of city councilors to four years from two. I do not support this move for the same reasons as above.

--reducing 15-member City Council to 13. I support reducing the number of members of the City Council to reflect the decrease in population in Holyoke over the past few decades, and to be in line with other cities our size.

--changing selection method of city treasurer from elected to appointed. I believe the city treasurer should be appointed to ensure that the person in this position is qualified.

Mayor Alex B. Morse, 26:

This package of reforms is intended to make Holyoke's city government more efficient, responsive and representative.

I support increasing the mayor's term from two to four years. The two-year term places the chief executive of the city in the position of having to gear up for citywide reelection campaign, just as his or her policy agenda is beginning to be implemented. The four-year term would give the mayor a better opportunity to pursue the longer-term vision he or she was elected to enact. If the voters of Holyoke decide they want a mayor with different priorities, the four-year term still provides a baseline level of accountability to the public.

I do not support increasing city councilor terms to four years. The legislative branch of government is essentially different from the executive. By design, the legislature is meant to represent the democratic will of a given moment. The ability to change councilors every two years provides an important check on the government's power.

Fran O'Connell, left, Holyoke Mayor Alex B. Morse, center, and Anthony Soto, right.(FILE PHOTOS) 

I do support reducing the 15-member City Council to 13 members. Holyoke currently has more city councilors than Boston. A 15-member council makes no sense for a city of our size. Moreover, as the system is currently designed, with seven ward and eight at large councilors, the council is more likely to reflect the preferences of particular segments of the population, and not the whole. The eight at-large councilors will necessarily represent the views of higher-turnout voters. A smaller council would be more efficient and more representative of the city's whole makeup.

I do support changing the selection method of treasurer from elected to appointed. Try to imagine a company whose CEO has no meaningful say in appointing members of a financial team, and very little ability to deal with daily operations in financial offices. That, in effect, is what we have. Changing the method by which the treasurer is selected would be the first step toward centralizing the city's financial operations. Per the recommendation of the Department of Revenue, I support the formation of a Central Financial Officer position, which would oversee the city's whole finance team. Such a step would greatly increase efficiency and improve our city's overall financial health.

Fran O'Connell, 56:

I don't support increasing the terms from two years to four years for the mayor or the City Council. I believe the voters should have a right to review the performance of their elected officials every two years.

I do not support reducing the number of City Council members from 15 to 13. We need to ensure that all voices are heard and that there is a good balance of voices on the council.
I do support having the Treasurers Office become an appointed position. The Treasure should be a professional with extensive experience in finance and not an elected politician.

Massachusetts' fledgling medical marijuana law is largely silent on an employer's responsibility toward an employee who uses medical marijuana after hours.

BOSTON - When Cristina Barbuto of Brewster took a job with a marketing firm, she told the company that she used medical marijuana to treat symptoms of Crohn's disease.

Barbuto says she worked for only one day for Advantage Sales and Marketing, promoting products in a supermarket, and then the company fired her. The reason they gave was that Barbuto failed a required drug test by testing positive for marijuana.

When she complained, she said a human resources representative told Barbuto that the company, which has offices nationwide and in Massachusetts, follows federal, not state law.

Barbuto's claims were laid out in a complaint she filed in Suffolk County Superior Court accusing Advantage Sales and Marketing of discrimination and invasion of privacy.

Barbuto's case is the first of its kind in Massachusetts, but her circumstances are not unique. Massachusetts' fledgling medical marijuana law is largely silent on an employer's responsibility toward an employee who uses medical marijuana after hours. As medical marijuana dispensaries begin to open and more Massachusetts residents start to use medical marijuana, experts say the question will have to be decided either by the courts or the Legislature.

"Current medical marijuana law and regulations do not address the issue of employment discrimination," said Nichole Snow, executive director of the Massachusetts Patient Advocacy Alliance, which represents medical marijuana patients. "Patients have a false sense of security that they're going to be protected by the medical cannabis law....No one realizes that there's no explicit protection in the law."

Massachusetts' medical marijuana law explicitly says that employers do not have to accommodate marijuana use in the workplace. But it says nothing about whether employers can forbid medical marijuana use outside the workplace.

Barbuto's lawyers are seizing on a provision in the law that says a medical marijuana user cannot be penalized under Massachusetts law or "denied any right or privilege" because of using medical marijuana.

They use Massachusetts' anti-discrimination and privacy laws to argue that the marketing firm discriminated against Barbuto because of her disability and because she treated it with medical marijuana. Even though federal law forbids marijuana use, Barbuto's lawyers say there is no federal law preventing a company from hiring someone who uses marijuana.

Barbuto's attorney, Matthew Fogelman, a Newton lawyer specializing in employment law, said Barbuto is able to manage her Crohn's disease, which causes inflammation of the digestive tract, and perform her job with proper treatment - including the use of medical marijuana at home. "We believe the company discriminated against Ms. Barbuto due to her medical condition and refused to provide a reasonable accommodation to her, which is the use of medical marijuana to treat her medical condition," Fogelman said.

Fogelman said Barbuto has a certificate from a doctor. Under state law, he said, "She is lawfully entitled to use marijuana for medicinal purposes to treat her medical condition and improve her life."

Barbuto is also represented by Adam Fine, a Boston lawyer who has tried medical marijuana cases around the country and is active in the campaign to legalize recreational marijuana in Massachusetts.

A spokesman for Advantage Sales and Marketing did not return calls.

Barbuto's case is the first to go to court in Massachusetts, but she is not alone. Templeton resident Steven Drury told The Republican/MassLive.com before a Statehouse hearing in July that he is a union carpenter who has not worked since 2010 because he takes medical marijuana to treat ulcerative colitis and his union requires a drug test. "The union won't allow me to work because I have THC in my blood," Drury said.

Chris Geehern, a spokesman for Associated Industries of Massachusetts, a business trade group, said employers are concerned about medical marijuana use as well. "It's an issue we hear about on a regular basis from employers who are trying to balance workplace safety with the changing laws surrounding medical marijuana use," said Geehern.

Tamsin Kaplan, an employment lawyer at Davis, Malm & D'Agostine in Boston, said she is often asked by the employers she represents how to deal with medical marijuana use outside the workplace. "It's a huge issue," Kaplan said.

Kaplan said while the medical marijuana law does not address it, she looks at privacy and discrimination law and advises clients that they can require drug tests if there is an issue of safety - for example, for a forklift driver. But if there is no safety issue, she tells clients to judge an employee by their performance at work.

"I advise clients to carefully balance legitimate business interests that are at stake against the privacy interest of the employee," Kaplan said.

Kaplan said judges in other states - including California, Montana and Washington - have generally found in favor of employers, ruling that they can fire employees for using medical marijuana. But those cases are not binding on a Massachusetts court and each state's medical marijuana law has different wording, so a Massachusetts judge could potentially rule otherwise.

Anyone working for the federal government or subject to federal regulations - such as truck drivers - may be drug tested and cannot use marijuana due to the federal law.

The confusion has led to calls to change state law. State Rep. Frank Smizik, D-Brookline, has sponsored a bill that would bar employment discrimination against medical marijuana users, prohibiting companies from using a worker's status as a medical marijuana patient against them in hiring or firing.

"Currently, medical marijuana patients have to worry not only about their medical issues, but whether their current or future employment is in jeopardy," Smizik said. "As a state, we have chosen to recognize the benefits of medical marijuana, and this choice comes with the responsibility of ensuring that patients can access their medicine without the fear of losing their livelihoods."

State Sen. John Keenan, D-Quincy, an opponent of medical marijuana legalization who has called for a tightening of the state's medical marijuana laws, said he thinks employer-employee relations will increasingly become problematic as more people start using medical marijuana. For example, he said a company might have one employee using medical marijuana for a legitimate medical purpose and another who has a medical marijuana certification but is using the drug recreationally. "How does an employer differentiate between those and should there be a need for an employer to differentiate?" Keenan said.

"I think it will increasingly be an issue, and I think it begs for regulation," Keenan said.

Rosenberg said energy is 'sure to come up' when he meets with Gov. Baker and House Speaker DeLeo on the 21st.

GREENFIELD -- Sen. President Stanley Rosenberg, D-Amherst, said at a recent public meeting that he looks forward to a "robust discussion" on energy topics this fall, now that lawmakers have returned from their summer recess.

Rosenberg added that he plans to meet with Gov. Charlie Baker and House Speaker Robert DeLeo on Sept. 21, when the three resume their weekly leadership meetings, and that "the issue of energy is sure to come up."

When asked about the mood on Beacon Hill regarding the proposed Kinder Morgan pipeline known as Northeast Energy Direct -- a hot topic in Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin, and Middlesex counties -- Rosenberg said that so far he's heard "very little outside of Western Mass."

Rosenberg fielded questions from reporters at Greenfield Community College Thursday night during a break in a public scoping session on Northeast Energy Direct, the 421-mile interstate natural gas pipeline that would slice through the heart of the Senate president's district.

Rosenberg organized and presided over Thursday's session, where dozens of residents voiced concerns about the pipeline plan. Rosenberg said he would hand-deliver the testimony to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Sept. 30. FERC will consider the oral and written testimony as it prepares its upcoming environmental review of the project.

Rosenberg said that while he has taken no formal position on the pipeline, he wishes to ensure a thorough review of the project.

"I, like most people, would rather not have a pipeline crossing my district -- Berkshire, Hampshire, and Franklin counties," said Rosenberg. "That said, saying 'we don't want it and don't need it' -- neither of those work at FERC. At FERC you have to prove that you don't need it."

Rosenberg added that he anticipates discussing energy matters with Gov. Baker and House Speaker DeLeo in the coming weeks.

The Senate president said he has not yet been debriefed by Baker about an Aug. 31 meeting between the Eastern Canadian premiers and the six New England Governors, held in St. John's, Newfoundland on Aug. 31.  The group, which meets annually to discuss matters of mutual concern, resolved to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 35 percent, to 40 percent below 1990 levels, by 2030.

Baker on that day reportedly met separately with Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard and Newfoundland-Labrador Premier Paul Davis to discuss how hydro from Canada could be imported into Massachusetts to help reduce the state's carbon footprint. Baker in July introduced a bill to the state Senate that would require Massachusetts utilities to pursue long-term contracts for bringing hydropower into the state. 

A number of other energy-related bills are likely to be heard this fall.

Two Democratic lawmakers -- Patricia Haddad of Somerset and Antonio F.D. Cabral of New Bedford -- have introduced separate bills that would boost offshore wind by requiring utilities to craft long-term purchasing contracts.

Baker has filed legislation to lift the cap on net metering, which would allow for an expansion of solar energy. In July, the state Senate passed its own version of a bill that would ease up on the solar net metering cap.

On the pipeline front, so-called "Article 97" legislation could become an issue. Article 97 of the state constitution requires a two-thirds vote of both houses to grant easements or otherwise change the use of conservation land.

In August, a Democratic state rep. from Hingham filed a bill that would let Kinder Morgan push a smaller, separate gas pipeline loop through a state forest in the Berkshires. Rep. Garrett Bradley filed the bill after lawmakers from Western Massachusetts refused to do so. That bill has yet to be scheduled for a hearing.

So far, no Article 97 legislation has appeared in relation to the larger Northeast Energy Direct project, which would cross more than 100 conservation parcels, including state forests, state parks, wildlife management areas, and land trust properties in Massachusetts.

"I'm trying to figure out how we're going to secure our energy future as a green energy future, making use of conservation and alternative technologies," said Rosenberg. "I'm also concerned with stabilizing prices so that our residents, businesses and organizations will have the energy supply they need, and it will be affordable."

Mary Serreze can be reached at mserreze@gmail.com

The Springfield hearing is 7 p.m. Thursday, at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, 60 Congress St. , second floor.

SPRINGFIELD - The public will get a chance Thursday to weigh in on plans to enhance east-west passenger rail service from Boston to Springfield and possibly extend service north through Vermont to Montreal.

Known as the Northern New England Intercity Rail Initiative (NNEIRI), this study examines the potential of expanding passenger rail service along a 470-mile route through New England, the Canadian province of Quebec, and New York, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

The Springfield hearing is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, 60 Congress St. in Springfield, on the second floor. 

A Boston hearing is taking place at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Building, 10 Park Plaza, Conference Room 1, second floor, Boston. Visitors must have a photo I.D. to enter. 

A Vermont meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24 at the Hotel Coolidge, 39 South Main  St., White River Junction, Vermont.

MassDOT announced the meetings Friday afternoon.

The attending public can expect to find out what was learned and what type of service is proposed.

One suggestion has been an overnight train with sleeping cars that would get passengers to downtown Montreal early in the morning.

The Northern New England Intercity Rail Initiative fits in with a number of other rail transit projects in the region.

This includes the $82-million rehabilitation of Springfield's Union Station, the rerouting in December of the Vermonter to tracks along the Connecticut River and restoration of service to Holyoke, Northampton and Greenfield and the state of Connecticut's plans to increase frequent service from New Haven through Hartford to Springfield.