'Citizen Diplomacy' in Afghanistan - Wilbraham-Hampden Times

Page The Wilbraham-Hampden TIMES
April 1 , 01
QUOTATIONS
of the Week
“
David’s legacy will touch young men and
women in the district for decades to come.
”
Minnechaug Football Coach Steve Allosso commenting
on a $20,000 gift from the family of the late
David Gatti for weightlifting equipment for the new
Minnechaug.
“
I was overwhelmed with excitement when I
first heard the news.
”
Christopher Perkins, president of Minnechaug’s
Student Council upon hearing they received a National
Gold Award for Excellence last week.
“
We recognize the importance of showing
clear support for local infrastructure improvements.
” State Rep. Angelo Puppolo announcing that Wilbraham
will get $552,727 in state Chapter 70 money for
roads and bridges improvement.
“
Another opportunity to strengthen the
spirit of collaboration that sustained our towns
through recent natural disasters.
”
School Committee Chairman Scott Chapman commenting
on a workshop to be held to train people in basic
shelter operations at the new Minnechaug.
Volunteer of the Week
This week’s volunteer of the week is
Shirley Hebert of Hampden. Once a
month she makes dinner for all the parents
staying at The Ronald McDonald
House, preparing meals for 30 top 50 people. She
shops and prepares the meals. This Easter she
took a count of kids, their gender and age, and
put together an appropriate basket for each guest
at the House.
The Wilbraham-Hampden
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
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
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
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.
Editorial
Only you can prevent brush fires
The unseasonably warm weather in March coupled
with high winds and dry conditions has
made the threat of brush and forest fires extremely
high. Wilbraham alone has seen quite
a few brush fires over the past few weeks. The last few
weeks of March experienced fires almost every day and
as many as three in one day March 23. They ranged from
Three Rivers Road to Boston Road and Maynard Road.
Recently the National Weather Service issued a fire
weather warning and raised a red flag for much of Southern
New England. The warning was in effect throughout
the entire day and into the evening hours on several days
last week. The Wilbraham Fire Department has been
closely monitoring conditions.
Do not throw caution to the wind…instead take extreme
caution of the wind. The extremely dry air combined
with gusty northwest winds and little rainfall over
the recent weeks raised the red flag for any outdoor burning
– meaning it is not permitted. Wilbraham Fire officials
have advised that any fires that develop will have
the potential to spread rapidly and get out of control, posing
a threat to whatever surrounds the area, whether it be
more forest or a home. Fire can spread faster than you
can run in these conditions – do not risk having a fire
getting out of control.
In a typical season burning is permitted through May
1, but more people do not start burning brush until mid
April, when the weather is nice and yard work is being
done. But, because we found ourselves with little snow
and are not waiting on snow banks to melt, we are out in
our yards earlier ready to get rid of all those limbs left
behind by October’s devastating snowstorm. The conditions
have lined up just perfectly to cause extremely
TALK of the TOWNS
Following up last week’s review of research
about community newspapers conducted by
the research arm of the Missouri School of
Journalism here are more facts about readers
of community newspapers: 74 percent of those surveyed
read a local newspaper each week. They spend
about 38.95 minutes reading it and 73 percent said
they read most or all of it. Forty-eight percent said
they never read news online.
Congratulations to the Wilbraham Raptors basketball
team who went 17-1 to win the Atlantic
Division Championship. As part of their celebration
they rode in a limo to the Basketball
Hall of Fame recently. The Raptors are
Coaches Beauchamp, Gougeon and
Poisson, Anthony Paulo, Tyler Poisson,
Jack Normoyle, Kareen Hakim,
Rob Koziol, Noah Gougeon, Chase
Beauchamp and Joshua Willis.
In last week’s Times we ran a photo
of the Senior High Youth Fellowship
group at Wilbraham United Church who
took part in a demonstration against hunger
overnight March 31 at the church. We
want to expand on the efforts of Lindsey
Bernard, one of the participants. Lindsey
joined the 30-hour famine but she had
to leave and wasn’t in the photo because
she had to work a shift at Friendly’s where she maintained
her fast, going above and beyond. The project
was coordinated by Jeanne Westcott, Christian
Education Director at the church.
Don’t forget to stop in at the Wilbraham Library
Brooks Room to see the work of the late artist Vickie
Fritz, a member of the Wilbraham Art League and
St. Cecilia’s Catholic Women’s Club. Her beautiful
art will be on display until April 21. A reception will
be held April 14 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Dr. Melanie Van Amsterdam was featured in
a December story in the Albuquerque Journal for
her efforts in the Presbyterian Hospital at Home
project there. In the program doctors and nurses visit
patients at home throughout the day to give medication,
adjust equipment and assess patients’ progress.
Melanie is the lead physician. She says part of what
she loves most about the work is seeing where her
patients live. “Any time you go to somebody’s house,
(to treat them) it’s hugely different than the hospital
setting,” she says. Dr. Van Amsterdam is the daughter
of Adrienne and John Van Amsterdam of West
Colonial Road in Wilbraham.
Save the date: The Hampden Lions Club are
holding their popular Fashion Show on Tuesday,
April 24 at Elmcrest Country Club. Fashions are by
Dress Barn. There will be a choice of Prime Rib,
T A L K
c o l u m n i s t
CHARLES F.
BENNETT
dangerous conditions for burning at this time and it is of
utmost importance to adhere to fire officials ruling of the
day’s conditions. If a no burning red flag has been raised,
there is a reason. Remember, only you can prevent brush
fires. If you don’t start one, there are none to get out of
control.
For more information on open burning regulations
and permitting, go to www.mass.gov/dcr and click on
“conservation,” then “forest fire control” or go straight to
www.mass.gov/dcr/stewardship/firecont/index.htm.
Chicken Marsala or Baked Scrod. Tickets at $30 can
be purchased by calling Barbara Thomas at 566-
5550.
The Lions are again selling their Brown Gold
fertilizer this year as a fundraiser. The delivery dates
are April 14 and 28. Bags at $3.50 each can be
ordered by calling Doug Craven at 566-3763 to set
up a delivery; or he can arrange a truckload for $60.
“Between every two pines is a doorway to a
new world” said the famous naturalist John Muir.
Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary at 30 Peck Road in
Monson has free balsam fir seedlings in celebration
of Earth Day to give to a good home.
You can pick up the free seedlings on Friday,
April 20 or Saturday, April 21 from
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Norcross Wildlife
Sanctuary. Supplies are limited. First
come, first serve. For more information
email Trudie Renaud at trudie@norcrossws.org.
Rita Grover is the $500 winner
of the 25/100 Club of the Wilbraham
Knights of Columbus.
Did you know that the Wilbraham
Parks & Rec is now on Facebook?
According to director Bryan Litz, they
are using their page to promote program
information, registration deadlines, cancellations
and other exciting news. So give them a
search.
Christina Duquette of Hampden, a junior at
Roger Williams University was named to the Dean’s
List for the fall semester. She will also be inducted
into Beta Gamma Sigma, the National Honor Society
for business majors, on May 6.
Fairfield University has announced Christine
Donaruma, Abigail Dunklee and Hannah Tanguay,
all from Hampden, were named to the Dean’s List..
Samantha Normandeau of Wilbraham was also
honored.
Alexandra Alm of Wilbraham has been named
to the Dean’s Commendation List at Gettysburg
College.
Morgan Bacon of Hampden, a Theatre major,
has made the Columbia College in Chicago’s Dean’s
List.
Happy Birthday to Emmalou Matthews, Denise
Habiger and Brandon Herter.
Jeff Foxworthy says you are not a kid anymore
when you tell the barber to comb it over the best he
can. You talk about “good grass,” and you’re referring
to someone’s lawn. You got cable TV just for
the Weather Channel. You start believing that you
really did walk five miles to school barefoot and in
the snow.