News/Business

Stoneman Brewery, Real Pickles honored with Good Food Awards

Two area businesses were recognized at the recent Good Food Awards, held on April 29 in Portland, Oregon.Real Pickles, a worker co-operative based in Greenfield, won a Good Food Award for its organic sauerkraut and Stoneman Brewery of Colrain won for...

Business Briefs: May 10, 2024

May 15: Health Care Job Fair GREENFIELD — The MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center is holding a Health Care Job Fair on Wednesday, May 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Greenfield Community College Dining Commons.Employers who will be present...

Real Estate Transactions: May 10, 2024

ATHOL 33 Laurel St. $200,000. B: Bryder LLC. S: Cin2023 LLC. 2 Myrtle St. $294,000. B: Kaylee Steele-Hunter and Samuel Steele-Hunter. S: Eamonn F. Mohan and Casey M. Mohan. 539 Sanders St. $325,000. B: Ana M. Sanchez. S: Lilian R. Davis and...

Fogbuster Coffee Works, formerly Pierce Brothers, celebrating 30 years in business

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — Three decades ago, Sean and Darren Pierce, two brothers in their mid-20s, decided to start selling coffee — a business venture that was funded by a roughly $30,000 mountain of credit card debt.Today, the Greenfield-based Fogbuster Coffee...

Business Briefs: May 3, 2024

BusinessWest announces 40 Under Forty Class of 2024 SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest, the business journal of western Massachusetts, recently unveiled its 40 Under Forty Class of 2024, the 18th compilation of rising stars in the local business community.The...

Real Estate Transactions: May 3, 2024

ASHFIELD 535 Cummington Road. $105,000. B: James Bacon. S: George Paradee. 449 Main St. $510,000. B: Craig Gibson and Rachel Gibson. S: Susan A. Gambino.ATHOL 41 Auburn Place. $380,000. B: Danielle B. Littles and Gary Littles. S: Athol Realty...

Goddard finds ‘best location’ in Shelburne Falls with new Watermark Gallery space

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

SHELBURNE FALLS — The 20 Bridge St. space that formerly housed Molly Cantor’s pottery now displays Watermark Gallery’s eclectic collection of modern art pieces.Local artist Laurie Goddard opened Watermark Gallery last month as her seventh location in...

New buyer of Bernardston’s Windmill Motel looks to resell it, attorney says

By DOMENIC POLI

BERNARDSTON — The Windmill Motel was sold at auction earlier this month to a private out-of-state lender.The motel at 497 Northfield Road, which was opened by Kolman Nemes in 1981, was bought for $750,000 on April 10, according to Marianne Sullivan,...

Advancing water treatment: UMass startup Elateq Inc. wins state grant to deploy new technology

By XINYI YANG

AMHERST — In the four years since its founding on the University of Massachusetts Amherst campus, startup Elateq Inc., a water treatment and hardware company, has landed contracts big (think PepsiCo) and small (think town of Amherst).Now the company,...

Real Estate Transactions: April 26, 2024

ATHOL 163 Benwoods Drive. $495,000. B: Ellen Tannehill and Ulysse Millet. S: David M. Cullinane and Sharon M. Cullinane. Jones Street. $35,000, B: FWP Realty Partners LLC. S: Virginia Realty Inc. 19 Kendall St. $121,500. B: My Jireh Properties LLC....

Business Briefs: April 26, 2024

Berkshire East, Zoar Outdoor jobs highlighted in recruitment event GREENFIELD — The MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center, located at 101 Munson St., Suite 210, will hold a recruitment event for Berkshire East Mountain Resort and Zoar Outdoor on...

New Realtor Association CEO looks to work collaboratively to maximize housing options

By ABNER ROJAS

SPRINGFIELD — As the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley’s new CEO arrives to a Massachusetts housing market plagued by high prices and a lack of stock, he aims to work alongside elected officials to maximize the availability of different kinds of...

New owners look to build on Thomas Memorial Golf & Country Club’s strengths

By GRACE LEE

TURNERS FALLS — Members of the Snow family have added another golf course to their portfolio and have already begun work on cosmetic improvements.Kyle and Kelly Snow, along with Kyle’s parents Edward Snow Jr. and Kerrilynn Snow, bought the Thomas...

Prices up, sales down in early spring housing market

By COLIN A. YOUNG

The signs of spring are all around: the days are getting warmer, baseball is back and Massachusetts home prices are setting records as demand continues to outpace the inventory of houses for sale.The real estate analysts at The Warren Group reported...

Real Estate Transactions: April 19, 2024

ATHOL 124 Cottage St. $422,000. B: Raul A. Luzardo. S: Richard Holdings LLC. 804 Cottage St. $380,000. B: Choctaw American Insurance Inc. S: Cal-Mek Enterprises Inc. 88 Drury Ave. $250,000. B: Kurtis D. Plourde and Olivia Plourde. S: John J....

Business Briefs: April 19, 2024

Tractor Supply Co. hosting two events GREENFIELD — Tractor Supply Co. at 72 Newton St. will host a backyard poultry event and a Plant-a-Seed event, both on Saturday, April 20.The backyard poultry event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., providing...

Cleary Jewelers plans to retain shop at former Wilson’s building until 2029

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — More than a year after she was told her business would need to vacate its storefront in the former Wilson’s Department Store, Cleary Jewelers owner Kerry Semaski said she plans to keep her shop at its current location until July 2029...

Tea Guys of Whately owes $2M for breach of contract, judge rules

By DOMENIC POLI

WHATELY — Tea Guys LLC must pay more than $2 million to a Baltimore tea company due to a breach of contract, a Franklin County Superior Court judge has ruled.The small business in Whately was sued last summer by Zest Tea LLC and had two bank accounts...

Primo Restaurant & Pizzeria in South Deerfield under new ownership

By CHRIS LARABEE

SOUTH DEERFIELD — After more than a decade in the previous owner’s hands, the Rodas family is taking the reins at Primo Restaurant & Pizzeria with plans to continue the eatery’s legacy.The new owners officially took over the pizza, sub and pasta shop...