News/Business
Turners Falls micro-roastery aims to ‘bring people together’ over coffee
By LIESEL NYGARD
TURNERS FALLS — During the pandemic, Ericka Almeida felt claustrophobic. She and her husband were working from home in 2020 and it was difficult to see their friends. But when Almeida had the opportunity to socialize, it was always over coffee. “Some...
Real Estate Transactions: Jan. 19, 2024
ATHOL Harrison Street. $60,000. B: Jesse Hixon. S: Guy R. Jones. 359R and 447 Main St. $450,000. B: Maajaa Realty Trust and Mark A. Armentrout. S: C & Z Realty Trust and Marc R. Duguay.BUCKLAND 10 Deerfield Ave., Lot 1. $522,500. B: Christine Hayer...
Same Scottys, different owners: Turners Falls convenience store has new couple at helm
By DOMENIC POLI
TURNERS FALLS — Stroll into Scottys at 66 Unity St. sometime soon and you may see Bobbi Marguet, just as you have for the past 15 years. She might be behind the counter, helping a customer or greeting a delivery truck driver. The only difference is...
Real Estate Transactions: Jan. 12, 2024
ATHOL Lyons Hill Road, Lot 1. $28,300. B: Ronny R. Cote and Robin E. Cote. S: 4M Athol Trust and Peter E. Mongeau. 497 Pleasant St. $300,000. B: Paul Leblanc. S: Sally A. Arpino.BERNARDSTON West Mountain Road. $35,500. B: Gregory Reilly and Lindsay...
Business Briefs: Jan. 12, 2024
Freedom Credit Union raising money for Coalition for the Homeless SPRINGFIELD — Throughout January, Freedom Credit Union is collecting donations at all its branches to benefit the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.“In the cold New England...
Franklin County CDC’s UPstart initiative to expand entrepreneurial programs
By CHRIS LARABEE
GREENFIELD — As the Franklin County Community Development Corporation takes the lead on two existing entrepreneurial programs, it is bolstering those programs with a new UPstart initiative.UPstart is the expansion of the already-existing Take the...
Real Estate Transactions: Jan. 5, 2024
ATHOL 48 Burma Road. $230,000. B: Terry Chapalonis Jr. and Robin Hall. S: Kristine C. Johnson Irrevocable Trust and Gordon Duke. 1403 Main St. $399,900. B: Jamal J. Abdallah and Munique M. Abdallah. S: Newlife LLC. 50 Pequoig Ave. $80,000. B:...
Business Briefs: Jan. 5, 2024
Freedom Credit Union donates $4K to Westover Galaxy Community Council SPRINGFIELD — Throughout November, Freedom Credit Union collected donations at all its branches on behalf of the Westover Galaxy Community Council to support military service...
With hopes to ‘evolve as an artist,’ Molly Cantor closing Shelburne Falls pottery gallery
By BELLA LEVAVI
SHELBURNE FALLS — Sunday will be the last day Molly Cantor’s pottery gallery at 20 Bridge St. will be open, but she assures residents she isn’t going anywhere.“It’s kind of micro-retiring,” Cantor said. “I’m giving up one part of my work so I can...
Cocina Lupita in Greenfield accepting SNAP benefits as part of state pilot program
By MARY BYRNE
GREENFIELD — Under a new pilot program, certain restaurants and food trucks in Massachusetts, including one in Greenfield, can accept Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, which are typically reserved for grocery items.As of this...
Real Estate Transactions: Dec. 29, 2023
ATHOL 20 Benwoods Drive. $453,000. B: Suzanne M. Amari and Tracy A. Thompson. S: Benwoods LLC. Brooks Road. $35,000. B: Jason Piland and Claudiano C. Costa. S: David D. Desroches and Jennifer A. Desroches. 20 Castle Ave. $310,000. B: Christina A....
Business Briefs: Dec. 29, 2023
Association awards $5K grant to Empty Arms Bereavement Support GREENFIELD — Greenfield Cooperative Bank’s nomination of Empty Arms Bereavement Support, an organization offering support to families experiencing pregnancy or infant loss, has resulted in...
New year, new book store in Orange
By DOMENIC POLI
ORANGE — Are you making a New Year’s resolution to read more? If so, you’re in luck.The Book Forge at 3 South Main St. has a grand opening scheduled for Jan. 1, and owner Tyler Hauth is putting the finishing touches on the roughly 2,000-square-foot...
Real Estate Transactions: Dec. 22, 2023
ATHOL Brooks Road. $59,900. B: Sally A. Posk and Terence F. Posk. S: David D. Desroches and Jennifer A. Desroches. 61 Byrd Ave. $242,000. B: GCS Enterprises LLC. S: Cory P. Walker and Sarah E. Walker. 795 Main St. $97,000. B: Wesley C. Acosta. S:...
Over The Top Bakery opens above Bates Down Under in Orange
By DOMENIC POLI
ORANGE — Fran and Mike Bates like to say their new bakery sits “over the top” of their indoor flea market, Bates Down Under. They like to say it so much, in fact, that the business carries that distinction in its name.Over The Top Bakery opened at 90...
Real Estate Transactions: Dec. 15, 2023
ASHFIELD 137 Beldingville Road. $262,500. B: Michael O’Malley and Kari Gatzke. S: Keith Zorn. 369 Bullitt Road. $4,500,000. B: Starflower Farm LLC. S: Raycharles J. LaMontagne and Sarah A. Sousa. 243 Main St. $329,000. B: Hilary Burgin. S: Thomas...
Business Briefs: Dec. 15, 2023
Bank promotes Cleary to South Hadley branch manager SOUTH HADLEY — Greenfield Cooperative Bank has promoted Northampton resident Erin Cleary to the position of branch manager of its South Hadley location.Cleary attended Greenfield Community College....
Couple looks to buy Ashfield property, continue its use as glassblowing studio
By BELLA LEVAVI
ASHFIELD — The property at 634 Bellus Road, home to a small glassblowing studio since 1996, is expected to stay the course under new ownership. In a joint meeting between the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals on Nov. 29, Michael Schunke and...
PV Squared in Greenfield achieves unprecedented number of worker-owners
By DOMENIC POLI
GREENFIELD — Rachel Levey admits January 2020 was not the best time to become a business owner, but she doesn’t regret her decision one bit.After two years of working in customer service at PV Squared, she decided to take the cooperative up on its...
Real Estate Transactions: Dec. 8, 2023
ASHFIELD Barnes Road and Phillips Road. $680,000. B: Franklin Land Trust Inc. S: June L. Heideman and Mark D. Graves.ATHOL 71 Central St. $210,000. B: Christopher Shaw. S: Virginia Realty Inc. Charden Lane, Lot 2. $59,000. B: V&J Real Estate Inc. S:...
