News/Business
Multiverse of style: Volante Design in Easthampton has a mission to make jackets that anyone can wear anytime
By Alexa Lewis
EASTHAMPTON — When David Volante posted a photo to his blog of a custom jacket he was working on in 2012, he wasn’t expecting it to go viral.The interest in his design made him realize that people wanted what he was selling, and he could sell even...
Consumer Corner with Anita Wilson: AT&T breach a cautionary tale
In recent months, millions of current and former AT&T customers received notices that their personal data had been stolen and then published on the dark web.Generally speaking, personal data refers to personal information such as names, email and...
Making news in business, May 16
Florence Bank donates $100K to the Iron Horse FLORENCE — Florence Bank donated $100,000 to the Iron Horse Music Hall, supporting a $750,000 capital campaign for renovations and updates to the music venue in downtown Northampton that opened Wednesday....
Area property deed transfers, May 16
AMHERSTGary A. Leaf to Arzum Akkas, 80 Amity Place, Lot 80, $561,000 Melida D. Dyar to Yg Chestnut 161 LLC, 161 Chestnut St., $695,800 Aaron B. St John to Musbah Shaeen, 500 West St., Lot 16, $330,000 Mark S. Bauer and...
‘Knitting treasure’ of the Valley: Northampton Wools owner spreads passion for ancient pastime
By EMILEE KLEIN
NORTHAMPTON — Above the rows of shelves at Northampton Wools, amid all of the yarn of different colors, materials and thickness that fill every cubby in sight, sits a famous sweater worn by Charlize Theron in the Academy Award-winning film “The Cider...
Making news in business, May 9
Heisler, Feldman, & Ordorica announce new shareholder SPRINGFIELD — Heisler, Feldman, & Ordorica, P.C., a Springfield-based public interest law firm, has promoted attorney Dan Ordorica of Amherst to shareholder.This new partnership, effective Jan. 1,...
Making news in business, May 2
Ice cream product development competition at UMass AMHERST — UMass Amherst’s Department of Food Science and Herrell’s Ice Cream announce this year’s Annual Ice Cream Product Development Competition will be held on Tuesday, May 7, from 3-5 p.m., at...
Area property deed transfers, May 2
AMHERST Faheem Ibrahim Lt and Faheem Ibrahim to Nan Zhao and Zhihong Ni, 16 Arbor Way, $738,000 Richard B. Spurgin to Yg Pleasant LLC, East Pleasant Street, Lot 1, $218,000 Richard B. Spurgin to Yg Pleasant LLC, East Pleasant Street, Lot 2,...
Locking up carbon for good: Easthampton inventor’s CO2 removal system turns biomass into biochar
By JAMES PENTLAND
HOLYOKE — Like many people, Michael Garjian believes global warming is a pressing issue of our times.Unlike most, he’s putting his ideas for reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere into practice — and at the same time bidding for a share of the $100...
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 UMass 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, which uses advanced...
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...
Area property deed transfers, April 25
AMHERSTTheodore A. Hallstrom and Elizabeth L. Hallstrom to Richard B. Pierce and Elaine R. Pierce, 63 Cherry Lane, $625,000 Bodin D Joseph Est and Kristi A. Bodin to Julius J. Rosenthal, 35 Maplewood Circle, $470,000 JELB...
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...
Flair and flavor: Couple draws on European, regional travel and food expertise to bring gourmet Aster + Pine Market to Amherst
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — From their own journeys in Europe and across New England and the Northeast, and their experience in the hospitality industry, a Northampton couple is creating a market featuring wines, pantry staples and fresh, local produce in downtown...
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 significantly outpace the inventory of houses for sale.The real estate analysts at The Warren...
Area property deed transfers, April 18
AMHERST 44 Chapel Rd, $560,750, B: Kristin M. Flewelling and Christine L. Larson, S: Paul A. Schroeder and Maria Monasterios BELCHERTOWN 203 South St, $507,150, B: Glenna J. Young, S: M & F Land Dev LLC 45 West St, $200,000, B: Serenity Ft and...
Recognizing an ‘inspiring force’: City business owner honored with Black Excellence award
By Aria Martinelli
NORTHAMPTON — A “good soul” and “inspiring force” who enriches western Massachusetts by bringing African culture to her new downtown store recently garnered some attention from the eastern part of the state.Aimee Salmon, the founder and operator of...
Area property deed transfers, April 11
AMHERST Jeanne Ray Juster T and Sigmund J. Roos to Robert Pomeroy and Holly Thompson, 35 Amity Place, Lot 35, $442,000 Bruce B. Payton to Lynn E. Payton and Marianne Payton, 76 N. Pleasant St., $1,333,337 Helene Cunningham and John Cunningham to...
College will cost up to $95,000 this fall: Schools say it's OK, financial aid can numb sticker shock
By NICK PERRY
MEREDITH, N.H. — As more than 2 million graduating high school students from across the United States finalize their decisions on what college to attend this fall, many are facing jaw-dropping costs — in some cases, as much as $95,000.A number of...
Area property deed transfers, April 4
AMHERST Marie E Armentano 2022 T and Marie E. Armentano to Grantwood LLC,36 Grantwood Dr., $416,000 Ryan Karb and Susan Karb to Kayvon Ross and Cyrus Safizadeh, 251-253 Pelham Road, $302,000 Bidwell James N Est and Torsten Bidwell to Yeon S....