March 21, 2013 PDF Edition - The Sentinel

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PAGE 12 THE SENTINEL • THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 Clapp library’s ‘Focus on the Future’ BELCHERTOWN - The Clapp Memorial Library will be hosting two focus groups in April, as part of the Library’s long range planning process. These “Focus on the Future” forums are designed to gather information about the needs and interests of town residents and implement library services and programs that will serve some of those needs. Belchertown residents will be invited to share their ideal vision of the town, looking into the future. This visioning process helps the library refine its service priorities and determine ways in which the library can contribute to achieving this future. The first session will be held Thursday, April 4 at 7 p.m. and will be facilitated by former Town Moderator Joe White. The second session will be Saturday, April 6 at 10:30 a.m. with facilitator Peg Louraine, Co-Manager of BCTV. Any Belchertown resident, whether a library user or not, is invited to attend. The goal is to assemble as broad a cross section of residents as possible to gain a diverse range of thoughts, opinions, and perspectives. Please contact the library at 323- 0417 to register for one of these sessions, which will be held in the Library at 19 South Main St. Turley Publications photo submitted Marilyn Higgins (left) pictured with the BHS boys tennis team, who were the 2011 Western Mass champions during her final season of coaching tennis. TOURNAMENT | from Page 1 dent athletes. The money can be used for any of the different sports at BHS to assist with non-salaried needs such as equipment, uniforms, etc. Marilyn Higgins passed in January 2012 after battling plasma cell leukemia, a very rare and aggressive blood cancer. At the time, Higgins was a devoted physical education teacher at Swift River Elementary, teaching in Belchertown schools for more than 25 years. She also coached two sports per season at BHS for approximately 20 years. “She was as passionate as passionate can be about sports, our student athletes, and all students here in Belchertown,” said Higgins-Shea of her mother. “We had to keep her momentum going; keep her spirit going. To us as a family, it’s the right thing to do.” The golf tournament will consist of a full day of golf with included cart at the beautiful Cold Spring Country Club, 336 Chauncey Walker Street, Belchertown. Golfers will be provided lunch as well as a dinner with raffle prizes. The cost to register as a golfer for the tournament is $100, and golfers do not have to be part of a foursome to register. There are also a limited number of dinner-only tickets available for non-golfers for $30. “We would like to have a full field of golfers,” said Higgins-Shea. “We hope to be able to give a sizeable donation to the athletic department. Whatever we can do to help those student athletes- we’ll do.” Two levels of sponsorship are available for the tournament. According to Higgins- Shea, for $60 the sponsor’s name or business name will be included on the event T-shirt. Alternately, there are $80 tee sponsorships, which will see the sponsor’s name or logo displayed at a tee, as well as on the event T-shirt. The family is actively seeking sponsors as well as raffle prizes for the dinner. “It’s going to be a really fun event,” said Higgins-Shea. “We’re already looking forward to it. We’ve had a wonderful response so far. I can’t emphasis enough how supportive people are here in Belchertown. It’s that type of community spirit that my mother strived for and invested in.” The tournament will take place Saturday, June 22 with June 29 set aside as a rain date. More information for interested golfers and sponsors can be found at www. coacheschallenge.weebly.com. Any questions about the event or persons interested in donating a raffle item can email the family at coacheschallenge@gmail.com or contact Chris Higgins, 413-323-5243 or Kate Higgins-Shea, 413-323-6769. CAMP | from Page 1 guide instruction. He said helping teachers improve instruction was one of his main reasons for pursuing higher administration duties. “I want to take my knowledge and be a resource teachers can come to for help,” Cameron said when he was hired in February. “I want to help sustain effective programming into the future for the Belchertown Schools.” Superintendent Dr. Judith Houle hyped the first professional development day utilizing the Ed Camp program as a great success and believes it will be a valuable to asset to helping teachers further develop their skills. Houle says Ed Camp is a model for professional learning that has swept across the country. The newer model allows teachers to spend more time educating one another on various topics that can be utilized inside of the classroom as they suggest the topics being offered. For example, one session involved with the issue of PinInterest, a “pinboard-style photo sharing website that allows users to create and manage theme-based image collections such as events, interests, hobbies, and more.” More than 48 different sessions were being offered at the professional development day, with teachers having the opportunity to choose to attend three different 90-minute sessions. “The idea is the facilitators of the sessions will engage participants in the discussion of ideas and strategies to help us in our work with curriculum, instruction, assessment, and integration of technology,” said Cameron. Technology integration is one of the most popular tools being explored by teachers as they continue to find ways to introduce different media and technology into classrooms. Many teachers now have smart boards that can be utilized in classrooms all over the region. Mobile laptop classrooms are also becoming more and more common. The school district also announced recently they will likely become part of the MassBroadband123 network, bringing high-speed Internet to school buildings at a similar cost to what they are paying now. Houle showed another session held in the elementary schools involved the effective use of “centers.” Centers have become more commonplace in many elementary classrooms as they are spaces in the rooms that are dedicated to specific themes, such as dramatic play or focused on a specific holiday, such as the recent St. Patrick’s Day. Houle said feedback from the faculty thus far has been very positive and the Ed Camp will likely continue to be utilized. The sessions were mostly taught “inhouse” and involved very few outside instructors. Teachers were allowed the liberty of choosing what sessions they felt would be most useful to them in their own development. The Ed Camp for Belchertown teachers is a huge change from the typical sit-down and listen type of lectures that are often utilized in professional development. Like the evolution of classrooms with a more interactive approach, so is the Ed Camp. Dr. Francis Martinez General Surgery Dr. Francis Martinez General Surgeon Colon Cancer and Screening March 28, 2013 DR. FRANCIS MARTINEZ, is dual board certified in general surgery and colon and rectal surgery. He brings his expertise in colonoscopy and endoscopy to patients at Holyoke Medical Center, as well as laparoscopic procedures for gall bladder and hernia surgery. With eight years of experience in general surgery, he has been affiliated with Holyoke Medical Center since 2008. Dr. Martinzez is currently accepting new patients at 2 Hospital Drive in Holyoke. To schedule an appointment, please call (413) 540-5048. www.holyokehealth.com Come meet Dr. Martinez for this FREE program at Holyoke Medical Center. He will discuss colon cancer and the importance of screening. Call 534-2789 to register. HMC Specialty Surgeons A Department of Holyoke Medical Center (413) 540-5048 THE 3202765 CURTAIN SHOP Curtains & Home Decor Fishtail Swag • Lined • Single or Double Window Window Treatments For Every Budget! Rte. 9, Hadley, 584-6764 (Next to Sears of Hadley) hadleycurtainshop.com S“a family tradition” urner Heating Co., Inc. HOME HEATING OIL CONTRACTS OIL • HOME DELIVERY • MAINTENANCE • EQUIPMENT REPAIRS & CHANGE OUTS • DIESEL • GASOLINE 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE 253-5999 60 SHUMWAY STREET, AMHERST please recycle this newspaper The Library Loft Schoolhouse Commons Historical Center • 1085 Park Street, Palmer We are celebrating our 10th year at the Schoolhouse Commons. Thanks to our wonderful “friends,” volunteers and patrons, we will be open on Fridays beginning in September. Our New Hours Tues. 10am - 4pm • Wed. 10am - 4pm • Thurs. 10am - 4pm Fri. 10am-4pm • Sat. 10am - 4pm Hope to see you there Book donations will be accepted at the Palmer Public Library or the Library Loft during open hours. Please, no magazines or Reader's Digest Condensed Books. We accept books only in good, clean condition. For more information call 283-3330 ext. 100 Proceeds To Benefit the Palmer Public Library
THE SENTINEL • THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013 PAGE 13 The Steeple NOTE: This section is for listings of local church services, provided by the church. To send your worship schedule to appear in this section, please email it to Editor Aimee M. Henderson at ahenderson@turley.com or mail to P.O. Box 601, Belchertown, MA 01007. Belchertown United Church of Christ (BUCC) On the common at 18 Park St, Belchertown BUCC is an open and affirming church welcoming all God’s people! Service is Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. and is a blended experience that features traditional and contemporary elements. Communion is shared on the first Sunday of every month. Ministries include: Helping Hands Food Cupboard, Loaves and Fishes, Domestic Abuse Support Group, Prison ministry, Military support group, Project New Hope, GLBT Friendly, BINGO, CROP Walk, Relay for Life, BUCC’S PLAYHOUSE. Visit us on the web at www.belchertownucc.org and on Facebook at Belchertown UCC. You can contact us at 413-323-7442 or send us an email at belchertownucc@ yahoo.com. BUCC – serving Jesus (and taco salads) since 1737! Hope United Methodist Church 31 Main St., Belchertown Come join us at Hope United Methodist Church “on the common” Route 202, 31 Main St., Belchertown. Sunday School is for all ages, pre-school to adult from 9 to 9:45am. Sunday Worship Service is at 10 a.m. with Fellowship time immediately following the service. Bible Study is on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. Hope’s Place, “A Free Meal” is held on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. Our Mission: Guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit, our mission is to know God, experience and share God’s love as shown to us in Jesus Christ. Contact information: Hope United Methodist Church, P O Box 933, Belchertown, MA 01007-0933 ; Email: btownhopeumc@gmail.com or visit us on the web at www.HopeBelchertown.org or call the church office 413-323-7584. St. Francis of Assisi Church 24 Jabish St., Belchertown Mass is held every Saturday at 4 p.m. with Confessions from 3 to 3:45 p.m. On Sunday, Masses are on 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Televised Mass every Sunday at 4:30 p.m. on local cable Channel 5. Morning Mass is offered at 8 a.m. in the Chapel Monday through Thursday and on the first Friday and Saturday of the month at 8 a.m. Also, on a weekly basis, Eucharistic Adoration is held in the Chapel from Monday to Wednesday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on Thursday evenings from 6 to 10 p.m. Any questions please call 323-6272. SWIFT RIVER | from Page 1 repair the dam in lieu of a $500-a-day fine imposed by the state, which threatened to bankrupt the trust. It went into effect Aug. 3, 2012. Recently, legislators awarded the private trust a $354,000 grant to be used for repairs, a first in Massachusetts. The new board is working to navigate the situation. The primary order of business is a highly visible safety feature. The river lacks warnings for boaters as they approach the falls. Fay said buoys must be strung across the water before the dam. He noted concrete blocks are located a safe distance before the drop to anchor a line of barrels with rope and steel cable, providing a barrier/ warning. The project’s cost is estimated at $251. Fay offered a tentative April deadline for completion. Warning signs add another layer of protection, he said. The meeting’s other focus - legal issues surrounding the trust’s management of the site, which once housed the Bondsville Duck Mill. The area is contaminated with hazardous waste, coal ash mostly. The substance contains heavy metals. The dam and former mill pose liability hazards, Attorney Daniel Beaudette, of Belchertown, said. Beaudette is a founding member of the Belchertown Land Trust. He is no longer on the board, but offered service (and knowledge) as a contract employee. The dam must be labeled as hazardous, he said. There are fences and signs preventing people from free access. However, “attractive nuisances” must be addressed to limit liability. “You’ve got to maintain some diligence on this property,” Beaudette said. Grant money should help in that area, he said. However, the state funding put the trust into uncharted territory. “There’s not a lot of activity to save dams for private owners,” Beaudette said. The grant gave money for repairs but that’s “the first time it’s happened,” he said. Usually, municipalities own dams. A city or town borrows money for improvements. Increased taxes then bridge the difference, he said. Private organizations, such as the land trust, have nothing to borrow against, Beaudette said. Though, state officials did approve the grant. The trust might leverage that fact into additional funding, he said. It’s uncertain though. Board members also discussed the possibility of cleaning up debris found on other trust properties; securing grants for heavy metal cleanup through the Environmental Protection Agency at the former mill site, and renaming the trust, chief among them. Board members said a new name should reflect the three towns affected by the dam’s future. Residents of Belchertown, Palmer, or Ware may now serve as directors. Previously, director positions were available only to Belchertown residents. No new name has been voted upon yet. The next meeting of the land trust will be Thursday, April 11 at 7 p.m. at the Bondsville Fire Department. Christ Community Church 1255 Federal St., Belchertown Christ Community Church is an evangelical Christian church, serving Amherst, Belchertown, Hadley, Granby, Palmer and the surrounding towns since 1886. Located at 1255 Federal Street in Belchertown, we hold Sunday services at 8:45am and 11am, with Sunday School at 10am. Inquiries can be directed to our church office at 413-253-0292 or to church@dwightchapel.org. We’re growing in Christ - come grow with us! St. Mary’s Episcopal Church 4080 Main St., Thorndike St. Mary’s Episcopal Church invites you to join them for Eucharistic Service the first Sunday of the month at 9 a.m. and Morning Prayer Service the remaining Sundays of the month at 9 a.m. All are welcome to coffee hour following services. Wilbraham Family Dentistry, LLC Christopher J. Root, DMD, FAGD Are you looking for a family owned and operated dental practice? Consider Wilbraham Family Dentistry your “dental home” for the whole famliy. Bus trip to benefit Relay for Life BELCHERTOWN - With a $30 ticket purchase you will receive transportation on a King Ward bus to and from Mohegan Sun, a $15 food voucher, as well as a $20 bet voucher to be used on the big 6 wheel at the casino on Friday, March 22. The bus will depart from Chestnut Hill Community School at 4 p.m. Bus will leave Mohegan at 10:45 p.m. to head back to Belchertown. If you are interested in joining us please contact Kristy Kubacki at 413-262-4614. Spaces are limited. The trip will benefit the Real for Life. Visit us on the web www.turley.com Stephen H. Root, DDS, MAGD • Cosmetic & esthetic dentistry, whitening, veneers, crowns & bridges • Implant Restoration • Digital X-Rays & Photographs • Evening appointments available • Most insurance plans accepted • CareCredit - A convenient monthly payment plan M-Th 8:00-8:00 • F 8:00-5:00 70 POST OFFICE PARK SUITE 7006 WILBRAHAM, MA 01095 www.wilbrahamfamilydentistry.com 413-596-3881 Registration is now open for the spring 2013 lacrosse season. Boys and Girls from 1st to 8th grade are encouraged to participate. Beginners are welcome. Please visit the BLA website at www.belchertownlacrosse.org and select the Registration link on the right hand side of the banner just below the header. The entire registration process is online. The season will start in late March depending on the weather and field availability and end in early June. Games will start during the last week of April.
Page 1 and 2: Your Hometown Newspaper Since 1915
Page 3 and 4: THE SENTINEL • THURSDAY, MARCH 21
Page 9 and 10: Vernon Lodge hosting community brea
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Page 15 and 16: Classroom calendar Thursday, March
Page 19 and 20: GRANBY LEGION DONATES TO SOLDIERS T
Page 21 and 22: By Tim Peterson Turley Publications
Page 35 and 36: ORIOLES MARCH IN THE SENTINEL • T

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