June 6, 2013 PDF Edition - The Sentinel

THE SENTINEL • THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2013 PAGE 9Vacancy on schoolcommittee to be filledBELCHERTOWN – The Belchertown SchoolCommittee and Board of Selectmen are looking to fill avacancy on the School Committee, effective July 1 throughthe town election in May 2014. The school committeerequests that interested citizens send a letter of interestand resume to: Belchertown Public Schools, Office of theSuperintendent, 14 Maple St., P.O. Box 841, Belchertown,MA 01007, by the close of business on Friday, June 14.Hulmes transportsveterans duringceremoniesThe American Legion Chauncey WalkerPost 239 would like to thank HulmesTransportation for helping the veterans byproviding transportation to various eventsincluding the recent Memorial Day Serviceat Quabbin Park Cemetery.ROCCANTI | from Page 1She passed away in 2006 and was buried in Belchertown’sSouth Cemetery alongside over 300 veterans. Marriedfor 57 years, Roccanti describes his wife as a gift fromheaven. After she passed away he thought of a kind gestureto honor her memory. In partnership with the town andDPW, Roccanti had all the U.S. service flags added to thecemetery.In a similar gesture, he also arranged for the replacementof the flagpole in front of the town hall after he learnedthat it could not be lowered. Roccanti felt it was importantthat the flag be lowered to half-staff when a resident fromthe armed services died.“I love Belchertown,” said Roccanti. “It has the atmosphereof a small town, but it does big things.”Today, Roccanti spends his time volunteering at theBelchertown Senior Center. He believes that the centersponsors wonderful events for senior citizens.He also volunteers his time every Sunday at the SoldiersHome in Holyoke and currently, he has given around 4,000hours of his time to the center. His wife Dorothy was aresident of the home before she passed away.“They were so good to her,” he said.During her time there, Roccanti made friends with thestaff and residents. He now assists with Sunday Masses atthe center.Roccanti, who has six children, 15 grandchildren and14 great-grandchildren, can also boast about an impressivecareer as a salesman. He began as a food broker and afteronly seven years, he was promoted to Assistant Manager.He later spent 16 years at Johnson & Johnson, where heearned the honor of being the number one salesman inthe healthcare industry. With this award he won a trip toEurope, which he took with his wife.In his final position at the Kendall Company, Roccantiwon the coveted title of top salesman in all of NewEngland twice.“You make such good, life-long friends,” said Roccantiabout his career in sales.He explained that he keeps in touch with former clientsand has one friend in particular that he still meets forbreakfast.It is clear that Alfred Roccanti likes to stay busy, andBelchertown is thankful to him because the town has trulybenefited from his involvements and contributions.From left, second Vice John Toutant and Commander Mike Czech.FRENCH | from Page 1French said it only seemed natural that her next step involunteering would be to run for the school committee.“Obviously it is very important for me to volunteer inthe schools and to be a big part of my child’s education,”she said, adding that there were some incidents throughoutthe school year that had French concerned, referencingcentral office not acknowledging parents’ concerns.“I definitely had some concerns last year,” she said. “Iwant to be a voice on the committee. I know what happensin the schools because I’m in them everyday. I want tolearn what happens on the other end of the spectrum.”Before French submitted her interest papers she decidedto collect signatures from residents to see if there wassupport for her decision. Although the signatures are notrequired for the appointed position, she said she felt it wasimportant.“The whole purpose of gathering signatures is because,had it been a proper campaign I would have been requiredto get 50 to even be on the ballot. I still think it is importantto do that part of the process,” said French.As of early this week French had collected 246 signatures.“It’s nice to know I have that much support,” shesaid.French said even if she is not appointed this time aroundshe will run in the May 2014 election for an open seat. Ifshe is appointed she would also rerun for the seat.“I plan to run next election no matter what,” she said.Turley Publications photo submitted“This can potentially get me on soon because there is a lotto learn.”French, though retiring from the PTO, says she stillplans on being in the schools and being a face to the committeeif she is appointed.“It would be nice to be a bridge to connect the parentswith the schools to the school committee. We all have thesame common goal…to make Belchertown a phenomenalschool system,” said French.The members of the Belchertown School Committeeand Board of Selectmen will decide on an appointmenttogether. Town Clerk and Board of Selectmen memberBill Barnett said the selectmen needed to be notified of thevacancy within one month of the actual vacancy, whichwould be June 1. Once notified of the vacancy the boardswould set a date to discuss those who have submitted lettersof interest. Those letters, according to a release bythe school department, have a deadline of Friday, June14 by the close of business. The letters should be sent to:Belchertown Public Schools, Office of the Superintendent,14 Maple St., P.O. Box 841, Belchertown, MA 01007.Barnett said a roll call vote will be held at the time ofthe decision, needing a majority of the two boards together.He said Weiss will not cast a vote, per MGL Chapter41 Section 11. The five selectmen and remaining fourschool committee members will make the appointment. 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