New owner of Springfield’s Tower Square Hotel revealed as sale is set to close
Western Massachusetts businessman Dinesh Patel and his partners plan to close on their purchase of Tower Square Hotel on Thursday. Patel’s attorney, Paul M. Maleck, confirmed Wednesday that the transaction is expected and said Patel and his partners’ planned purchase of the adjacent Tower Square mall and office tower will follow in a few weeks. Read…
Westfield submits state paperwork to create industrial park
A potential industrial park on the city’s north side is moving forward with the submission of an environmental notification form to the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The potential park, located on 66 acres between Turnpike Industrial and Cabot roads, is a wooded area that the city purchased in 1989 with intentions…
Social Innovation Conference to Take Place April 7
The Berthiaume Center for Entrepreneurship will present its 2018 Social Innovation Conference on Saturday, April 7 at the UMass Integrative Learning Center. Registration is free and includes two keynote speakers, three panel discussions, a design workshop, breakfast, lunch, and refreshments. Attendees will learn about trends in innovation and how social entrepreneurship is transforming traditional business.…
Local Chambers to Present ‘A Taste of Commerce’ on April 11
The public is invited to “A Taste of Commerce,” a chamber of commerce collaboration consisting of the Greater Holyoke, Greater Easthampton, Greater Chicopee, Greater Northampton, South Hadley and Granby, and Quaboag Hills chambers coming together to showcase local businesses in the region. The event is set to take place on Wednesday, April 11 from 4:30…
Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee lands 2018 GSCVB Spotlight Award
The Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau revealed this week that the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee is the 2018 winner of the prestigious Spotlight Award. The honor is part of the bureau’s 23rd annual Howdy Awards for Hospitality Excellence, or “The Howdys” and is bestowed upon a person, organization or establishment responsible for…
Springfield Planning Board considers new office building to replace Peter Pan bus station
The Planning Board has a hearing scheduled Wednesday night to consider approving plans by a housing agency to demolish the Peter Pan bus terminal and construct an office building in its place. Way Finders, a nonprofit housing services agency that was formerly HAPHousing, is proposing the new, 23,338-square-foot building at the former bus terminal at…
People in Business: STCC announces Vice President of Academic Affairs
Geraldine De Berly has been named to serve as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer at Springfield Technical Community College. De Berly’s hiring comes after an extensive search and comprehensive vetting process. Currently Vice-Provost for Continuing and Professional Education at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, De Berly begins her new position…
People in Business: Springfield College names Christopher Hakala Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship
Christopher Hakala of Wilbraham, has been named the Springfield College Director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship. The newly-created academic affairs position was developed through the College’s strategic planning process, and the center strives to foster intellectual engagement across the curriculum, through evidence-based programs and services that increases collaboration, communication, and…
MGM Springfield posts more than 1,000 new jobs as hiring continues ahead of September opening
MGM Springfield has posted more than 1,000 new jobs ranging from food servers to locksmiths as it prepares to open its $960 million casino in September. The posting is the largest by the company since the casino plans were launched, MGM Springfield said. The company is committed to hiring 3,000 employ ees for its opening. “The opportunities…
Youth summer job event set for Monday by CareerPoint in Holyoke with businesses’ help sought
Businesses can learn how they can help young people get summer jobs at a CareerPoint event Monday. The “meet-and-greet” is set for noon to 2 p.m. at the Holyoke Community College MGM Culinary Arts Institute, 164 Race St. “The YouthWorks Summer Employment Program enables us to give youth ages 14 to 21 access to their…
Northampton City Councilor to co-host community conversation about keeping city’s downtown…
The forum, called Northampton Connects, will take place Tuesday, April 3, in the Community Room at JFK Middle School, Bidwell said. Northampton Connects was created by Bidwell along with Northampton resident Stan Schapiro and Leverett resident Paula Green. Its goal is to “encourage less polarized and more respectful conversation about contentious topics in the future,” Bidwell said. Northampton…
WNEU School of Law Selects Sudha Setty as Its Next Dean
Sudha Setty wasn’t sure where her initial interest in law would take her — she simply wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. Her current role as a professor certainly fits that bill, though it’s not a path she expected to take early on. Now, as she prepares to take over the dean’s chair…