Massachusetts
Massachusetts real estate transactions for Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties Feb. 18, 2024 edition
Agawam
Bretta Construction LLC, to Benjamin Reynolds, 12 Damato Way, $690,000.
Doreen J. Merola to William D. Corbin and Susan L. Corbin, 170 Mallard Circle, $300,000.
Plata O Plomo Inc., to Michael Edward Trippodo, 44 Colonial Ave., $315,000.
Sani Realty LLC, to 444 Shoemaker MA LLC, 444 Shoemaker Lane, $1,450,000.
Tree House S LLC, to XPB LLC, Main Street, $145,000.
Amherst
Joseph Kennedy to APN Properties LLC, 95 East Pleasant St., and 95 E. Pleasant St., $100.
Alfred J. Albano Jr., commissioner, Elisabeth Howard and Catherine Nicholas to Historic Renovations & Rental Properties LTD., 68 McClellan St., $335,000.
Stanley L. Warner and Signia R. Warner to Philip B. Torrey and Nancy G. Torrey, 31 Middle St., $600,000.
Jeffrey P. Roth-Howe, trustee, and Jeffrey P. Roth-Howe Revocable Trust to Evan Paul Roth-Howe and Maria Alejandra Alcaraz Sainz, 74 Overlook Drive, $300,000.
Pelham Road Partners LLC, to Yeon Soon Kim, 370 Pelham Road, $415,000.
Belchertown
Fay M. Flanary to Daniel E. Chase and Tracy Marton, 27 Lloyd Ave., $349,000.
Vera M. Sherman, trustee, Vera M. Sherman Revocable Trust and John Sherman to Colin MacNeil, Ruth MacNeil and Ruth Stiles MacNeil, 161 Federal St., $400,000.
Joseph A.L. Marino and Laurie E. Lentz-Marino to Joshua J. Alway, 94 Canal Drive, $450,000.
Robert H. Adair to DPR Legacy Enterprises LLC, 15 Main St., $320,000.
Gwendolyn Daguiar to Gwendolyn R. Daguiar, trustee, Grimm Addams Supplemental Needs Trust and Grace Linda Ann Daguiar Supplemental Needs Trust, 340 Amherst Road, $100.
Brimfield
Scott C. Aikey and Debra A. Aikey to Ja Property Group LLC, 1494 Dunhamtown-Brimfield Road, $320,000.
Chicopee
Alan Wishart Jr., representative, and Alan P. Wishart, estate, to Anna Marquez and Dennis Sanders, 48 Cambridge St., $233,000.
Slosek Real Estate Holdings LLC, to Privilne Real Estate LLC, 799 Front St., $159,300.
Carlos Pacheco Rubert to Naisha Hernandez, 553 Chicopee St., $269,000.
Dean J. Delamarter and Shirley Ann Delamarter to Ahmed Aljanabi, 19 Dresser Ave., $185,000.
DGL Properties LLC, to Torrey Santini and Maegan Santini, 34 Bromont St., $430,000.
Janet D. Derderian to Angel Matos Rodriguez, 343 Chicopee St., Unit 12, $165,000.
John R. Winters, Kelly A. Saltmarsh and Kathleen C. Winters to Karen Lynn Leblanc and John Ferrell, 56 Fredette St., Unit I-9, $176,000.
Lisa M. Fournier to Chapeaurouge Investments LLC, 46 Harvard St., $300,000.
Michael J. Molinari, Anne K. Molinari, Paul V. Boutot and Donna M. Boutot to Donna M. Boutot and Paul V. Boutot, 33 Belcher St., $50,000.
Nolava LLC, to Nicholas D. Franck, 35 Moore St., $370,000.
Robert S. Talbot, representative, and Glen Blanchard, estate, to Arthur Benoit III, 110 Haven Ave., $245,000.
Colrain
Darlene M. King, trustee of the Walker Investment Trust, to Paul Gulla, 100 Main Road, “aka” Route 112, $30,000.
Cummington
Lyle Hazel and Lyle M. Hazel to Lyle Hazel, trustee, Janeen Romie, trustee, and Lyle Hazel Family Revocable Trust, 47 Main St., $100.
East Longmeadow
Lachenauer LLC, to Toni Brandofino, 382 Porter Road, $345,000.
Mark C. Czupryna and Denise D. Czupryna to Christian T. Dancy and Chelsea L. Dancy, 236 Parker St., $380,000.
Samantha F. Taha and Morgan L. Sibley to Richard W. Santasiere II, 30 Bayne St., $220,000.
William A. Brown and David P. Brown to Elizabeth Vilkhovoy and David Vilkhovoy, 61 Devonshire Terrace, $169,000.
Easthampton
Krupalu LLC, to Michelle A. Gould, 78 Pleasant St., $530,000.
Alexander W. Kwolek and Betty-Ann Kwolek to Lisa A. Darragh, 4 East Green St., $335,000.
Walter L. Hawrylow to Christopher L. Hawrylow, 4 Division Street W., $100.
Michaela A. Tally to Anne Canfield, 30 Pine St., $282,000.
Erich L. Janes, Marilyn G. Janes and Erika J. Saracino, attorney-in-fact, to Erich L. Janes, 4 Gross Lane, $100.
Erving
Lynda Richardson and Michael J. Richardson to Kenneth Allen Rounds, 5 North St., $247,000.
Granby
Linda A. Kapinos to Mack M. Son and Bopha T. Son, 140 Pleasant St., $350,000.
Greenfield
Carter J. Robertson and Justina Smith to Justina Smith, 167 Wells St., $45,000.
Matthew Buttolph Jackson, trustee of the Katherine Buttolph Revocable Trust, to Michael J. Marotto and Sarah Marotto, 100 Silver S., $385,000.
Damon Blake to Mark Wightman, 200 Wisdom Way, $170,000.
Charles Frieders, personal representative of the Estate of Ronald Bosch, “aka” Ronald V. Bosch, “aka” Ronald Vander Bosch, and Charles Frieders and Joyce Bosch Frieders, trustees of the Ronald V. Bosch Revocable Trust, to Spencer Telega, 41 Norwood St., $286,500.
Wicked Deals LLC, to Congamond Management LLC, 231 Hope St., Lot 2, $40,000.
Wicked Deals LLC, to Congamond Management LLC, 231 Hope St., Lot 1, $120,000.
Wicked Deals LLC, to Congamond Management LLC, 231 Hope St., Lot 3, $40,000.
Hampden
Bedrock Financial LLC, trustee, and Cumberland Blues Realty Trust, trustee of, to Leslie P. Addicks and Thomas P. Addicks, 149 Chapin Road, $743,000.
Hatfield
Susan E. Lynes, Susan E. Lynes, trustee, Susan E. Bartlett, trustee, and Susan E. Bartlett Lynes Trust to Maxwell C. Bartlett, 323 West St., $300,000.
Holyoke
Alfred Estabrook to Brittany Wajda and David Wajda, 24 Bayberry Drive, $325,000.
Alycar Investments LLC, to Jennit Rojas Diaz and Ronald L. Cruz Fuentes, 44-46 Gilman St., $361,000.
Brittany L. Petersen to Kenneth A. Lauzier, Kenneth Lauzier, Julia M. Lauzier and Julia Lauzier, 133 North Pleasant St., $420,000.
David F. Nitkiewicz and Hideliza Nitkiewicz to Luz Diaz-Feliciano, 1470 Northampton St., $335,000.
David Schirch, Kimberly Frisino, Nicole Frisino and Francis E. Frisino, estate, to Abimael Claudio, 538 Hampden St., $89,000.
Deepon Realty LLC, to April L. Rivera, 60 Beech St., $206,000.
Jeannette R. Rivard, Ruth Rivard and Jeannette R. Nadeau to Stephanie Szklarz and Angela Marie Figueroa, 37 Franks Drive, $240,000.
Limited Partnership Pearson-Valley Development Co., and Norman Fine to Remote Opportunities LLC, 4 North Bridge St., $1,280,400.
Northern Flooring & Remodeling LLC, to Adrian Cruz, 36-38 Gates St., $435,000.
Peloquin Real Estate One LLC, to TKJM LLC, 286-288 Pine St., $1,950,000.
Stephen C. Konstantinidis, Ellen L. Konstantinidis and Ellen L. Little to Mohammad A. Dib, 88 Lynch Drive, $280,000.
Peloquin Real Estate Two LLC, to PCJM LLC, 38 Clinton Ave., 56 Clinton Ave., 77-79 Elm St., 244 Walnut St., 223 Suffolk St., 101 Pine St., and 184-186 Lyman St., $1,850,000.
Huntington
Ramanjanappa Ravikumar and Subasri Dorairaj to Rt 20 LLC, Russell Road, $350,000.
Leverett
Barbara J. Raymond to Frederic P. Hartwell and Marie Hartwell-Walker, 295 Shutesbury Road, $118,000.
Longmeadow
Trevor H. Agnitti and Angelica Agnitti to Donald R. Muller and Kylie Elizabeth Muller, 192 Converse St., $372,000.
Ludlow
Angela S. Berkeley and Angela S. Nurek to Jessica Lynn Walsh, 31 Cady St., $289,000.
Joanne M. Bell, representative, Robert C. Blais, representative, Robert Armand Blais, estate, and Robert A. Blais, estate, to Richard Rustic, trustee, and Rustic Family Trust, trustee of, 200 Poole St., $250,000.
Jose T. Martins and Susan Dias Martins to Steven A. Crespo, Cislak Drive, Lot 38, $221,000.
Tracey A. Ware and Thomas Ware to David Nitkiewicz, 57 Grimard St., $285,000.
Montague
113 Avenue A LLC, to Avenue A Group LLC, 113-115 Avenue A, $600,000.
U.S. Bank NA, trustee of MEB Loan Trust IV, to Jason Michael Secord, 13 Franklin St., $70,000.
Ann Engley and April Engley to EDS Enterprises LLC, 7 Avenue C, $189,900.
AGT Homes LLC, to Diana L. Tobin and Robert J. Tobin, 257 Wendell Road, $540,000.
New Salem
Kathleen P. Starkey to Adam B. Brougham and Marcy A. Brougham, West Street, $80,000.
Northampton
Robert P. Abuza, trustee, Rebecca R. Abuza, trustee, Katharine J. Waggoner, trustee, and Mardi J. Abuza Living Trust to Robert P. Abuza, trustee, Rebecca R. Abuza, trustee, Katharine J. Waggoner, trustee, Mardi J. Abuza Family Trust and Mardi J. Abuza Marital Trust, 226 Chestnut St., $100.
Lisa Chodos to Lisa Chodos and Leigh Chodos, 63 Sheffield Lane, $100.
Hans D. Michaud to JJK Investments LLC, 16 Fairfield Ave., $500,000.
Theodore W. Schultz to Melissa Islam and Ashequl Islam, 80 Damon Road, $175,000.
John Nicolaou to Richard H. Watling, Riverbank Road, $75,000.
Edward R. Decker, Delores Belmore, personal representative, and Marylou Decker, estate, to Elaine N. Fitzgerald, 9 Cross Path Road, $320,000.
Linda B. Putnam to Amy B. Dickinson, 24 Perkins Ave., $325,000.
Joseph D. Squires and Michelle l. Squires to Shawn S. Ryder and Shannon M. Shaw, 294 Bridge St., $400,000.
Karen Spindel to Rachel M. Prehodka-Spindel and Spindel Family Revocable Trust, 61 South St., $100.
Alice L. Sadlowski and Alice L. Sias to Tracy J. Lisewski, trustee, and 14 Acrebrook Drive Real Estate Trust, 14 Acrebrook Drive, $100.
Rebecca H. Olander, Rebecca F. Hart and Jonathan T. Olander to Rebecca H. Olander, trustee, Jonathan T. Olander, trustee, and Rebecca H. Olander Trust, 96 Chestnut St., $100.
Silvia Araneda Burwell, trustee, and Silvia Araneda Burwell Revocable Trust to Silvia Araneda Burwell, 35 New South St., $100.
Silvia Araneda Burwell to Maria Teresa Hart, trustee, and Burwell Irrevocable Trust, 35 New South St., $100.
Lindsay Rockwell to Lindsay Rockwell and Ami Ladd, 107 Vernon St., $100.
Northfield
Erin Jaworski, Julian Jaworski and Jane H. Lyle-Jaworski, individually and as personal representative of the Estate of Walter C. Jaworski, to Charles E. Fisher, Lyman Road, $45,000.
MW&MW Realty LLC, to Raquel L. Chlosta and Joshua Willis, 21 Meadow St., $370,000.
Orange
Mary Chaplin to Schwowens Properties LLC, 82 Mechanic St., $120,000.
Donna E. Estabrooks, Loretta A. Estabrooks, Philip R. Estabrooks and Diane L. Tilden to James B. Berry and Laura J. Berry, 63 Main St., $901,000.
Palmer
Abaigeal M. Duda to B & B Realty Partners LLC, 3205 Main St., $305,000.
Bryan Damas and Barbara Damas to Coby Piardi and Natalie St. George, 249 Ware St., $330,000.
Clayton J. Lizak, trustee, and John W. Lizak Revocable Indenture of Trust of, trustee of, to Andrew Shevchenko and Nikole Shevchenko, Old Warren Road, Lot 27-8, $100,000.
Lorraine D. Spelko, representative, and Frank W. Spelko, estate, to Jennifer W. Putney and John F. Putney II, 27 Country Lane, $675,000.
Plainfield
Amanda Grosmann Rieder, trustee, Daniel Grossman, trustee, Iris Bikel, trustee, and Richard Grossman Irrevocable Trust to Kivah P. Singh and Joshua C. Nordin, Lower Liberty Street, $52,500.
Rowe
Brian C. McKay and David J. McKay to Sheri A. Kelly and Katie E. McKay, 50 Pond Road, $50,000.
Russell
Ramanjanappa Ravikumar and Subasri Dorairaj to Rt 20 LLC, 0 Huntington Road, $350,000.
Shelburne
Deborah K. McCutchen, personal representative of the Estate of Leighton Mills McCutchen,Jr., and as trustee of the Martha J. McCutchen Credit Shelter Testamentary Trust, and as trustee of the Martha J. McCutchen Martial Testamentary Trust, “aka” the Martha J. McCutchen Marital Testamentary Trust, to Michel A. Clapham and Grace Anne Kennerly, 12 Main St., $450,000.
Shutesbury
Edward M. Suter and Marialis J. Suter, individually and as trustees of the Suter Family Revocable Trust, to Allen H. Pease Jr., and Lesley Pease, 94 Pratt Corner Road, $487,500.
South Hadley
Marcus Grothues to Kayla Langevin, 2 Maple St., $269,000.
Amy Jamrog and Kimberly Cook to Thomas J. Desrochers, 22 Ridge Road, $345,000.
Skinner Woods LLC, to Robert Salem and Marlene Salem, 3 Skinnerwoods Way, $559,900.
Kevin Haczynski to Choquette Capital Properties LLC, 266 North Main St., $415,000.
Southampton
Philip Corbeil to Charlene M. Lustenberger Corbeil, 18 Noreen Drive, $300,000.
Southwick
Dawn A. Turgeon, representative, and William K. Sanders, estate, to Eduard Tsikhotskiy and Maryna Tsikhotskiy, 11 Crescent Circle, $371,000.
Kim A. Prevost, representative, Kim Ann Prevost, representative, Patricia A. Prevost, estate, and Patricia Ann Prevost, estate, to Natalie A. Gaudino, 11 Fernwood Road, $222,000.
Randy S. Rindels and Lori Jean Rindels to Kevin P. Mahoney and Kathleen M. Mahoney, 13 Lauren Lane, $750,000.
V F Realty Co. LLC, to FMM Southwick LLC, 561 College Highway, $900,000.
Springfield
374 Allen Street LLC, to Sole Room LLC, 374-380 Allen St., $260,000.
Athime Continual Wealth LLC, to Welhington S. Dasilva, 49 Prospect St., $365,000.
Awilda Vazquez to James Paul Martin Jr., and Michelle Ruth Derosa, 5 Lavender Lane, $290,000.
Campagnari Construction LLC, to Anthony George Wallace, 64 Burghardt St., $235,000.
Cheryl C. Clapprood to Michael Goncalves, 117 Nassau Drive, $196,000.
Christal J. Vaz and Rishawn Harris to Naomie C. Delva, 3 Hillside Place, $300,000.
Christopher Edmunds to Sean Roth and Katie Roth, 63 Welland Road, $346,000.
David Kachinski and William Raleigh to Alonzo Smith and Denise Lewis, 46-48 Mooreland St., $325,000.
Dylan J. Sheehan, Nora A. Sheehan and Nora A. Snyder to Cailyn Pereira, 150 Louis Road, $273,000.
U S A Housing & Urban Development to Jose Rivera-Portillo, 22-24 Terrence St., $250,000.
Home LLC, to Mass Rentals LLC, 466 Liberty St., $320,000.
James M. Montana, representative, William Gregory Montana, estate, and William G. Montana, estate, to Dominic Kirchner II, trustee, and Cioccolate Realty Trust, trustee of, 14 Dorchester St., $54,255.
Jeffrey G. Cabana to Angel Sunuwar and Sarita Bhattaral, 63 Rencelau St., $300,000.
John H. Meredith to Jose A. Cruz Rivera, 48 Eton St., $248,000.
John J. Damato to Johnny Franco Paredes, 18 Fairmont St., $430,000.
Juan C. Rodriguez and Sharon M. Rodriguez to Javier Pardave and Dayana Pardave, 193 Corona St., $300,000.
Kennedy Acquisitions LLC, to Wendy Gilman, 305 Denver St., $295,000.
KHL Group LLC, to Mheg Inc., 751-755 Liberty St., $180,000.
80 Congress Street Properties LLC, to Aldaine Murray, 39 Milton St., $300,000.
Luis Infante, Luis C. Infante Perez and Elizabeth Aguilera De Infante to Jose R. Brizuela and Jose Roberto Brizuela, 194-196 Massachusetts Ave., $335,000.
Luis Ventura to Angelina Marte Pena, 108 School St., $265,000.
Marcia L. Doyley and Edger Dunkelly to Flanders Homebuyers LLC, and Cream City Homebuyers LLC, 54 Princeton St., $95,000.
Michael J. Molinari and Paul V. Boutot to Phoenix St. LLC, 27 Phoenix St., $500,000.
Nelly Otero and Nelly Collazo to Hiram Maldonado Rolon and Emely F. Martinez Marrero, 19 Granville St., $250,000.
New Canaan Properties LLC, to Consultant LLC, Pioneer Valleys Event Catering and Donovan Allen, 442 Liberty St., $260,000.
Patricia Haynes Nnaji to Luis Eduardo Perez, 54 Dawes St., $200,000.
Patriot Living Properties LLC, to A Plus Enterprises Inc., 0 W S Chilson St., $40,000.
Richard L. Marino, Ronald J. Marino and Eileen Marino to James J. Jozokos Jr., and Mary Jane Flynn, 17-19 Alsace St., $335,000.
Robert J. Cotton and Sylvia Cotton to Dnepro Properties LLC, 95 Windemere St., $240,000.
Ronnie T. Salas to Jorge Rosa, 515 Berkshire Ave., $405,000.
Rose D. Roman and Noel Vazquez Martinez to Rose Mirleine Janvier, 47 Laurel St., $289,900.
Round Two LLC, to Hector Suarez, 85 Farnsworth St., $243,000.
Sharon R. Raverta, representative, and Roy Fanti, estate, to Cil Realty of Massachusetts Inc., 171 Atwater Road, $475,000.
Springfield Gardens 69 LP, and Schweb Partners – Springfield LLC, to Lachenauer LLC, 0 WS Fort Pleasant Ave., $200,000.
Steven E. Zeimbekakis and George Zeimbekakis to Susan Agostine, 775 White St., $310,000.
Suzanne Duguay to Philip J. Beaulieu, 286 Nassau Drive, Unit 286B, $187,900.
Ware
Ryan E. Mulligan, personal representative, and Jeanne C. Mulligan, estate, to Megan Charter, 210 Belchertown Road, $252,500.
West Springfield
Bent Tree Development LLC, to Peter J. Godbout, 21-23 Piper Road, $449,900.
Kerry L. Lafromboise to Congamond Management LLC, 29-31 Worthen St., $200,000.
Lok B. Bhattarai to Kiritkumar I. Patel and Sobhna Patel, 13 Alderbrook Lane, $352,000.
Pavel Duducal and Tatyana Duducal to Tila Gurung and Sujit Gurung, 38 Humphrey Lane, $396,000.
Samuel P. Orlando and Suzanne U. Orlando to Matthew J. Sady and Amy E. Sady, 115 Peachstone Glen, $660,000.
Westfield
Aero Fastener Realty LLC, to Conrad Z. Mayeski and Patricia L. Mayeski, 95-97 Highland Ave., $425,000.
Centura Bay LLC, to Shakira B. Valentin, 24 Hampden St, $220,000.
Conrad Z Mayeski and Patricia L Mayeski to Joshua D. Olin and Noel Olin, 82 Sackett Road, $396,500.
Daniel C. Alvord to Bradley R. Alvord and Shannon M. Boyden, 277 Hillside Road, $250,000.
Katie Schott, Katie L. Laplante, Edward Laplante, representative, and David E. Laplante, estate, to Andrew Schultz, 23 Walker Ave., $327,500.
Malia Homebuyers LLC, to Ashlyn Whitney Pentowski and Sarah M. Pentowski, 127 Northridge Road, $350,000.
Nathaniel Arkoette and Candace A. Francis to Candace A. Francis, 92 Crane Ave., $46,500.
Patricia Z. Johnson, Susan M. Zarichak and Carol Z. Glynn to Juan Rodriguez Reyes, 131 Westwood Drive, $330,000.
Stacey Albert Sorawat and Shaneekwa Shaunte Perkins to Mohamed Sadique Abdul Cader and Fathima Nusrath Sadique, 405 Montgomery Road, $460,000.
Westhampton
Robert J. Tobin and Diana L. Tobin to Miguel Estrada-Zavala and Brandon Miguel Estrada Rodriguez, 160 Laurel Hill Road, $589,000.
Whately
Nicole L. Pietraszkiewicz to David F. Harrington, Kathleen P. Harrington and Susan M. Lewis, 62 Long Plain Road, $605,000.
Brenden J. Monahan to Nicole L. Pietraszkiewicz, 282 Haydenville Road, $529,000.
Wilbraham
Gwen Christine Smith to Katherine Siegel and Justin McKenna, 155 Stony Hill Road, $349,900.
Matthew P. Metzler to Rattlesnake Holdings LLC, 92 Burleigh Road, $156,000.
Phyllis M. Emet to Tyler Emet, Gabriela Fonseca Marafuga and Eric Emet, 8 Mark Road, $275,000.
Robin Farrington Cook and David W. Cook to Elizabeth Af Simons and Jacob Michael Simons, 4 Ripley St., $410,000.
Williamsburg
Elizabeth M. Hartman to Paola V. Sherman, 33 Petticoat Hill Road, $237,000.
Worthington
Leann M. Mason to Lydia Irene Bussiere, Sherri Schon, Robert Thomas Scott, Iris Scott and Elizabeth McCormick, 584 Kinnebrook Road, $539,000.
Massachusetts
New Bedford MS-13 Member, Illegal Alien Pleads Guilty to Role in Brutal Murders In Massachusetts, Virginia
Frankli
Police shot and killed a man who officials say rushed officers with a knife during a call in Lexington, Massachusetts, on Saturday.
Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan said the situation started around 1:40 p.m. when Lexington police received a 911 call from a resident of Mason Street reporting that his son had injured himself with a knife.
Officers from the Lexington Police Department and officers from the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC), who were already in town for Patriots’ Day events, responded to the call.
Police were able to escort two other residents out of the home, initially leaving a 26-year-old man inside. According to Ryan, while officers were setting up outside, the man ran out of the home and approached officers with a large kitchen knife.
She added that police tried twice to use non-lethal force, but it was not effective in stopping him. The man was shot by a Wilmington police officer who is a member of NEMLEC. The man was pronounced dead on scene and the officer who fired that shot was taken to a local hospital as a precaution.
The man’s name has not been released.
Ryan said typically in a call like this where someone was described as harming themselves, officers would first try to separate anyone else to keep them out of danger, which was done, and then standard practice would be to try to wait outside.
“It would be their practice to just wait for the person to come out. In the terrible circumstances of today, he suddenly rushed the officers, still clutching the knife,” Ryan said.
The investigation is still in the preliminary stages and more information is expected in time. Ryan said her office will request a formal inquest from the court to review whether any criminal conduct has occurred, which is the standard process.
This happened around the same time as the annual Patriots’ Day Parade, and just hours after a reenactment of the Battle of Lexington, which drew large crowds to town.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Massachusetts
‘An impossible choice’: With little federal help to combat rising costs, Head Start looks to Massachusetts for more help – The Boston Globe
In Massachusetts, roughly 1,300 slots for children across Head Start’s 28 agencies have been eliminated in the last three years because federal funding has plateaued over that time, while the cost of running the program continues to rise, according to the Massachusetts Head Start Association. Nationally, Head Start enrollment dropped from 1.1 million kids in 2013 to around 785,000 in 2022, according to research by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
“If they didn’t get into a Head Start program, they would be sitting at home,” said Brittany Acosta, a Head Start parent in Dorchester.
It’s teachers are drastically underpaid, and there’s a serious need for a rainy day-type fund should the federal government shut down again, the association says. As they’ve done in years past, state lawmakers have offered to provide financial relief, but the Massachusetts Head Start Association’s request for 3 percent above the amount it received last year, an additional $4.6 million to help its staff keep up with the state’s rising cost of living, so far has not been allocated.
Last year, President Trump’s leaked budget proposal revealed he considered eliminating Head Start entirely. Then, in the summer, he cut off Head Start enrollment for immigrants without legal status. And during the fall’s government shutdown, four Head Start centers in Massachusetts closed because they couldn’t access their funding.
Trump’s latest budget proposal shows a fourth year without increasing funding for the program, which was established in the mid-1960s.
Michelle Haimowitz, executive director of the Massachusetts Head Start Association, said the program doesn’t want to eliminate more child slots than it already has, but paying teachers a competitive salary is equally important in order to keep them from leaving for higher paying jobs. Head Start teachers make under $50,000 annually compared to over $85,000 for the average Massachusetts kindergarten teacher.
“It’s an impossible choice,” Haimowitz said. “When we reduce the size of our programs, we’re not reducing the size of the need.”
Massachusetts is one of few states that supplements federal funding for Head Start, and last year it increased the program’s state grant from $5 million to $20 million, adding to the $189 million in federal aid it receives in this state.
“We can’t run a program without giving staff a raise for three years,” Haimowitz said. “Our next fight now is not just for survival, but it’s for thriving and growth.”
The Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday released its budget, which doesn’t grant Head Start’s request of a 3 percent boost. But state Representative Christopher Worrell filed an amendment for additional funding. Worrell, whose district covers parts of Dorchester and Roxbury, said he loves Head Start’s embrace of culture, recalling one visit to a center where he could smell staff cooking stew chicken, a traditional Caribbean dish.
“I’ve been to dozens of schools throughout the district, and you don’t get that home-cooked meal,” Worrell said. “[The state is] stepping up and doing the best we can with what we have.”
At the Action for Boston Community Development’s Head Start and Early Head Start center in Dorchester, the children of Classroom 7 arrived one Monday morning and dove into bins of magnetic tiles before their teachers, Paola Polanco and Leolina Rasundar Chinnappa, served breakfast. Acosta dropped off her 4-year-old daughter, Violeta, before reporting to her teaching position at the center, where several other Head Start parents also work.
“It’s important for all Head Start parents to have the opportunity to give their child an experience in a learning environment before they actually start kindergarten,” Acosta said.
Beyond providing early education and care to children of low-income families, from birth to age 5, the program helps them access other resources, including mental health services, SNAP benefits, homelessness assistance, and employment opportunities.
It also serves as daycare for parents who might not be able to afford it, while they’re at work.
Research has shown the importance of preschool in a child’s development with one 2023 study, focused on Boston public preschools, finding that it improves student behavior and increases the likelihood of high school graduation and college enrollment.
For Rickencia Clerveaux and Christopher Mclean, the Dorchester Head Start center is the only place they feel comfortable sending their 3-year-old son, Shontz, who is on the autism spectrum. Shontz’s stimming — repetitive movements that stimulate the senses — has reduced, and his speech has improved since he joined the center in 2024, Clerveaux said.
His parents say he’s also come out of his shell. Mclean now drops his son off and gets a simple “bye” as Shontz joins his classmates, he said.
He and Clerveaux said they appreciate the specialized attention Shontz can receive from teachers, such as when staff identified that Shontz might have hearing issues. His parents were able to follow up with their doctor and get Shontz to have surgery to improve his hearing.
“It’s a safe net for parents,” Clerveaux said. “There’s so many ways that him being here helps him grow better.”
Without Head Start, Clerveaux said a lot of pressure would be put on parents to find care for their children, “knowing that they’re already struggling or not getting the ends to meet.”
“That’s a burden for everybody in the community,” she said. “If there’s no funding, there’s no daycare and parents cannot work.”
Lauren Albano can be reached at lauren.albano@globe.com. Follow her on X @LaurenAlbano_.
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