January 17, 2013 PDF Edition - Wilbraham-Hampden Times

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Page The Wilbraham-Hampden TIMES January 17, 013 QUOTATIONS of the Week “ Keep all vehicles and houses locked. Leave outside lights on whenever possible. ” Wilbraham Police Capt. Timothy Kane after a recent breaking and entering case solved. “ We’ll see what happens. ” Wilbraham’s state Rep. Angelo Puppolo (D-Springfield) talking about how tax revenue will affect how the state budget is configured. “ The problem is where gun owners cross with mental illness. ” Rep. Angelo Puppolo commenting on gun control issues that will come up in proposed changes to legislation at the Statehouse. “ They are always doing for others; I think it’s lovely that their friends can help them too. That’s what a small community is all about. ” Brenda Willard of Wilbraham talking about a fundraiser Feb. 2 at St. Cecilia’s for Celia LaBarbera, daughter of Anita and Larry LaBarbera, who has a rare, incurable disease that grows tumors. Volunteer of the week This week’s volunteer of the week is Kevin Burnham who has served on the Recreation Commission since 2004 as vice chairman but now is stepping down. Kevin was a key part in seeing the Parks & Recreation Department and the parks grow through his nine years of volunteer service. The Wilbraham-Hampden The Wilbraham-Hampden Times is published every Thursday by Turley Publications, Inc., 24 Water St., Palmer, Mass. 01069. Telephone (413) 283-8393, Fax (413) 289-1977. PATRICK H. TURLEY Publisher KEITH TURLEY Executive Vice President DOUGLAS L. TURLEY Vice President of Publications EDITOR Charles F. Bennett ADVERTISING SALES Jocelyn Walker SPORTS EDITOR Dave Forbes SOCIAL MEDIA @ Wilbraham-Hampden Times WEB www.wilbrahamtimes.com www.turley.com PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PALMER, MA PERMIT NO. 22 Mailed Thursdays to every home in Wilbraham and Hampden A Turley Publication • www.turley.com Dedicated to improving the quality of life in the communities we serve Turley Publications, Inc. cannot assume liability for the loss of photographs or other materials submitted for publication. Materials will not be returned except upon specific request when submitted. Our advertisers make this publication possible. Let them know you saw their ad in the Wilbraham Hampden Times The Wilbraham-Hampden Times is now on Facebook. Go to www.facebook.com/wilbrahamhampdentimes and “like” us. Editorial Policy Letters to the editor should be 350 words or less in length. No unsigned or anonymous opinions will be published. We require letter writers to include his or her town of residence and home telephone number. We must authenticate authorship prior to publication. We reserve the right to edit or withhold any submissions deemed to be libelous or contain unsubstantiated allegations, personal attacks, defamation of character and offensive language. All unknown or alleged facts and quotations offered by the author need to cite credible, unbiased sources. Send letters to: Editor, Wilbraham-Hampden Times, 2341 Boston Rd., Wilbraham, MA 01095, faxed to 413-682-0013 or via e-mail to cbennett@turley.com. The deadline for submissions is Friday at noon. Correction Policy The TIMES will gladly correct factual errors that appear in this paper and can be substantiated. Corrections or clarifications will always appear on the editorial pages. To request a correction, send information in an e-mail or mailed communication to the editor at the above address listed above. The Wilbraham-Hampden TIMES is published every Thursday by Turley Publications, Inc. One year out of town subscriptions are available at $45, out of state $50 by calling 800-824-6458 Ext. 201. The deadline for submission of news material, letters to the editor and photos is Monday at 12 p.m. The TIMES is not responsible for submitted photos. The New Year is here and with it comes our thanks to all the residents, businesses and organizations for submitting their news and announcements to the Times, so we could share it with our readers. As we look ahead to 2013, we take this opportunity to once again remind our readers that the single most important feature of this community newspaper is you – your stories, your events, your achievements, your struggles, your ideas and opinions. The staff at your paper of record works each day to bring you the news relevant to our readers and the community as a whole, including general news stories, municipal meetings, community news and personality profiles. What did we miss? We are more than open to suggestions on our coverage of events of local importance to our communities, and we take this opportunity now to remind our readers that it our loyal advertisers provide funding for this paid staff coverage. Staff coverage is only half the equation – we rely on and welcome your submissions, and there are many ways we bring your submissions into our pages. To announce and promote an event, consider “News About Town.” This section is intended to promote the activities of local clubs, churches and volunteer-driven organizations, free events and fundraisers that benefit the communities in Wilbraham and Hampden. Include a brief explanation of the event, the date, time, location and contact information. As a free service for our readers, we print birth, engagement and wedding announcements. This space is also reserved for announcements about a milestone anniversary, major birthday, military achievement and educational honors and awards. Photos to accompany these announcements are always welcome but no cell phone photos please. To continue a strong presence in our schools, both in terms of classroom, student and faculty features and sports, please give our staff a head’s up with advance notice. Con- Editorial Be part of your community newspaper TALK of the TOWNS I read this quote by one of my favorite crime fiction writers Elmore Leonard and I hope I live up to it: “I try to leave out the parts that people skip.” The buzz at the Wilbraham Selectmen’s meeting last week was about Notre Dame playing in the college football Bowl Championship Game in Ft. Lauderdale the night of their meeting, Jan. 7. The Hampden Selectmen, John D. Flynn, Vinnie Villamaino and Norm Charest got together with Wilbraham’s Bob Boilard, Jim Thompson and Bob Russell in Wilbraham Town Hall for a joint meeting. But before the conversation began about establishing a joint Medical Reserve Corps in both towns (which was approved) the topic was the big game between Notre Dame and Alabama. John. D. reminded them his father, the well-respected John M. Flynn who recently passed away, was a big Notre Dame fan. But Vinnie said he thought Alabama would be the victor, to which John D. said, “I didn’t know Alabama was in Italy?” Ed Zemba of the Robert Charles Studio in East Longmeadow said he was thrilled to announce that they were able to meet their goal of raising $10,000 for Baystate Children’s Hospital. He thanked all those who donated through an insert in a December issue of the Times. “If it were not for you, we wouldn’t be here to hold fundraisers like this one in the first place,” said Ed. Minnechaug business teacher and Key Club adviser, Katie L. Hastings, helped organize mock interviews given by Wilbraham volunteers from the East of the River Chamber of Commerce Dec. 7 at the new high school. Students practiced being interview by chamber members. Hastings made sure every student had an opportunity to experience the interview. Elissa Langevin, vice president and branch manager of Florence Savings Bank, said the chamber’s Career Readiness program is designed to teach high school students the skills they need in order to go out in search of their first jobs. The mock interviews were the culmination of a week of work in which students learned how to complete a job application, write a resume, and compile a list of personal references. The Hampden Farmers Market is staying open, indoors at 2 Somers Road on the first and third Saturdays of the month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Looking ahead to February, volunteers are needed for the 17th Annual Father/Daughter Dance to be held Feb. 8 at St. Cecilia’s at 7 p.m. Every level of participation is welcome. They include ticket sales, set T A L K c o l u m n i s t CHARLES F. BENNETT tact Editor Charlie Bennett with coverage requests at least three days in advance by calling 413-682-0007 or via email at cbennett@turley.com. If we can’t be there, we welcome your submitted stories, briefs and photos. Local businesses and merchants are the financial lifeblood of our towns. We will feature coverage for businesses that are new, have a major expansion, are moving, under new management or ownership, celebrating a milestone anniversary or have been thrust into the news realm. Merchants can request that coverage through the editor, or for our existing advertising clients, through our advertising representative Jocelyn Walker at 413-682-0007. We love letters to the editor and guest columns and consider them the soul of the Times; however, we don’t print what we can’t prove – if you allege something we cannot verify, we will consider it a news tip and look into it. We always encourage readers to celebrate our towns in letters to the editor. We only print signed letters that include contact information for verification purposes. Our Sports Editor Dave Forbes and his reporters and photographers cover select varsity school games weekly as well as youth and adult sports leagues. To help us expand our sports coverage, we rely on coaches and players to send in their photos and write-ups. You can email Dave Forbes at dforbes@turley.com for more information. There are multiple ways to send us your stories, announcements, photos and letters: via email – send your submissions in Word format and raw digital photos in jpeg format to cbennett@turley.com; via regular mail – send hard copy submissions and photo prints to our office located at 2341 Boston Road, Wilbraham, MA 01095. If you would like your photos returned, please include a self-addressed envelope. To request coverage or to obtain more information about how to submit stories, briefs and photos, contact Editor Charlie Bennett at 413-682-0007 via email at cbennett@turley.com. We hope to see you in these pages in 2013. up and break down. Bakers are also needed. To help, contact Jamie Mastrio at 413-388-2972. The Republican recently named their Coaches of the Year, with three of them from Minnechaug. Nundi Goncalves coaches Div. 1 Girls Soccer. Mark Taylor coaches Div. II Girls Volleyball. Ben Ellis coaches Div. 1 Golf. Congratulations to the Hampden Bears who competed in the 5/6 Div. 2 Tournament at Western New England University’s Golden Bears Classic. The girls worked well as a team winning all five games of the tourney. Team members are Kelsey Sheehan, Autumn Strange, Sarah Walker, Bella DeMattia, Katie Duncan, Jessie Smith, Jenna Joseph, Lexi Roda, Jackie Jolicoeur, Belle Ferrara, and Gabriella Ofcarcik. Proud coaches are Katie Illig, Mike Ofcarcik and Art Ferrara. Don’t forget to get your tickets for the Friends of Wilbraham Senior Center’s Winter Raffle. The grand prize is a 32inch flat screen TV donated by Byron Keenan Funeral Home. There are golf prizes, restaurant gift certificates, wine, Yankee Candles and much more. Tickets are one for $5, three for $10 by calling 596-8379 or pick them up at the Senior Center. The drawings are March 1. The following Wilbraham residents have been named to the Dean’s List at Providence College for the Fall semester: Heloise Dubois and Emily Pin, members of the class of 2016; and Amanda Nelen, a member of the class of 2013. The following Wilbraham students were recently named to the winter honor roll at the Loomis Chaffee School. Somil Sanghvi and Julia Catuogno. Save the date: The Friends of WPA will be holding their annual free Chili Tasting competition on Saturday, Feb. 2 at Wilbraham United Church from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. We read this in a recent issue of The Week magazine: A Russian man spent a month starving in a forest after fighting with his wife about a bowl of soup. Yuri Ticuic, 69, stormed out of his home in a remote region after his wife served him soup he felt was not hot enough. Ticuic became lost in the woods, and survived for a month on berries and leaves until he was finally found, suffering from malnutrition and frostbite. “No matter what happens he said, “that’s the last time I criticize my wife’s cooking.”
January 17, 013 The Wilbraham-Hampden TIMES Page 7 SNOW ❆ THROWERS ❄ ❆ The TIMES Quiz By Charlie Bennett, Editor 1. An uprising was held in Massachusetts with ties to Main Street in Wilbraham in January of 1787. What was it? (a) Ludlow farmers were turned back at the border of Wilbraham (b) The Merrick family was caught selling whiskey to Native Americans (c) Shay’s Rebellion soldiers stayed overnight in Wilbraham on their way to Springfield to seize the Springfield Armory (d) Peach farmers refused to pay their taxes 2. The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission made an announcement about Wilbraham early this month. What was it? (a) The Wilbraham Planning Board was designated “A Heritage Organization” (b) The Stony Hill – Boston Road intersection is No. 13 in vehicle crashes (c) Planning Commission member Dick Butler will receive a free makeover (d) The Wilbraham and Hampden Planning Boards will merge in 2013 3. McLadden’s Irish Publick House in Hampden has begun selling what new product? (a) Scandinavian fish and chips (b) Scantic River Ale (c) Champignon Portabella aux Quatre Fromages (d) Rocky Mountain oysters 4. What Wilbraham executive announced a new babysitting class forming at the Scantic Valley YMCA? (a) Dennis Lopata of Life Care of Wilbraham (b) Western New England College President Anthony Caprio (c) Todd Luzi of Luzi’s Auto Body (d) Julie Costello, Executive Director of the Y New & Pre-Owned ARIENS | TORO | HONDA | SNAPPER TROY-BILT | CUB CADET | SIMPLICITY GREAT PRICES! Acres Power Equipment Co. Your #1 Power Equipment Dealer Since 1969 Editorial Answers: 1-c, 2-b, 3-b, 4-d Wilbraham meetings schedule Tuesday, Jan. 22 Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee 7 p.m. Minnechaug Regional High School. Hampden meetings schedule Tuesday, Jan. 22 Board of Selectmen 6:30 p.m. Town House Parks Board 7 p.m. Town House Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee 7 p.m. Minnechaug Regional High School. Wednesday, Jan. 23 Planning Board 7 p.m. Town House Hampden Parking Ban in effect HAMPDEN - The annual winter parking ban for the Town of Hampden will be in effect from now through April 1, 2013. Any vehicles left on town roads may be towed at the owner’s expense. All vehicles that impede snow removal may be towed by the Police Department or at the request of the Highway Department. ❄ 104 Shaker Rd., East Longmeadow | 413-525-3752 | www.acresequipment.com Police have launched an operation following more than 200 burglaries in rural Huntingdonshire and South Cambs in the past four months. “Operation Twist” will focus on tackling burglaries in rural villages in the districts. Since November there have been 115 burglaries in Huntingdonshire and 113 in South Cambs. Detectives believe they are part of a linked series with the offenders potentially travelling in from outside the county. Det. Insp. Jon McAdam, who is leading the operation, said: “Over the past four months we have noticed an increase in burglaries in rural villages in Huntingdonshire and South Cambs which we believe is part of a linked series. “Operation Twist will see in- TIMES illustration by Benoit Other Wilbrahams… The following are excerpts from a recent issue of the Wilbrahams’ Warbler in Cambridgeshire, England: Burglary operation launched in Huntingdonshire and South Cambs crease patrols in rural villages, as well as investigative and forensic work to target those responsible. Releasing these figures is not about scaring people, as in reality people living in Huntingdonshire and South Cambs are less than 1 per cent likely to become a victim of burglary. In fact, there has been an average of one burglary a day. While that sounds a lot, it is worth bearing in mind the population in Huntingdonshire is 167,300 and there are more than 69,000 homes across the area. And in South Cambs the population is 143,600 and there are more than 59,000 homes across the area. “However, it is important that we raise awareness of this series as the public play a vital part in helping us to prevent further offences as well as catching those responsible,” he said. 2013-2014 Minnechaug Preschool Program Sponsored by the Family and Consumer Science Department The Minnechaug Preschool program will be accepting applications for the 2013-2014 school year during the month of January. Children must be 3 years old by September 1, 2013 for the two day program or 4 years old by September 1, 2013 for the three day program. 2 Day Program - $400/year 3 Day Program $550/year Applicants must be residents of Hampden or Wilbraham. Applications will be available starting January 3, 2013 and the deadline for completed applications is January 31, 2013. We currently have a limited number of openings for our two day program. Information and applications are available through the Minnechaug website at www.edline.net/pages/Minnechaug_Regional_HS/DEPARTMENTS/PreSchool_Program For more information contact Kathy Mosellen 596-9011 x6163.
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January 17, 2013 PDF Edition - Wilbraham-Hampden Times

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