Agawam Feeding Hills - Turley Publications, Inc.

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& Feeding Hills
Agawam
Where
We
Live
a community handbook for
longtime residents,
newcomers & visitors
a supplement to the agawam advertiser news – a turley publication –
A letter from your editor
A town of traditions
I
t was a break with tradition when several annual events moved last year,
to take advantage of the new School
Street Park band shell and pavilion. But the
new space only made it more convenient for
spectators to attend such annual favorites
as the SummerFest concert series, National
Night Out and Harvest Festival, among other
events, and participate in the Relay for Life.
There was never any doubt that they would
thrive in their new location. Agawam loves
its community events, and those events are
some of the best reasons to love Agawam.
It’s not just the almost weekly summer
events at School Street Park. Veterans Green
— a park, gazebo and war memorial at Main
and School streets, adjacent to Phelps School
— comes alive for KidsFest programs in the
summer and annual commemorations of Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Agawam residents are proud of their veterans and a good
number always take time out of their “day off,”
in good weather and bad, to show it.
Come Christmas time, the Agawam Junior
Women’s Club’s Breakfast with Santa is the
place to be, but if you miss the Jolly Old Elf’s
visit early in December, there are always several opportunities to see Mr. and Mrs. Claus,
hosted by church groups in town. Bethany
Assembly of God offers several performances
of the “singing Christmas tree,” a free pageant
and musical revue that draws a crowd from
around the region, year after year. In the past
few years, Church of Redemption has welcomed its neighbors of all denominations for
its own holiday tradition, a live Nativity tableau outdoors on Maple Street.
Agawam also plays a role in two of the Pioneer Valley’s most anticipated annual events
— the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Holyoke every march, and the Eastern States Exposition
in August and September. Like many of the
larger towns in the region, Agawam has its
own division in the Holyoke parade, and the
town’s St. Patrick’s Day Committee names a
parade marshal, citizen of the year and a court
of Agawam Colleens — young ladies to represent the town’s Irish heritage.
The town takes center stage for one day
each year in the Big E’s two-week run, but Agawam is part of “New England’s great state fair”
from start to finish. With the fairgrounds literally just over the bridge in West Springfield,
Agawam gets Big E traffic and some parking.
Many of the volunteers at the fair come from
Agawam. The town’s Lions Club runs a popu-
lar barbecue stand throughout the fair as its
major fundraiser for the year. Agawam has
been part of the fair since it began, 100 years
ago — as we’ll surely see when the Historical
and Fire House Museum on Elm Street opens
its showcase exhibit on the history of the Big
E this spring.
Recent years have seen a few new traditions crop up: the Turkey Trot road race has
become a much-anticipated Roberta Doering
School fixture in the week before Thanksgiving. The Historical Society’s tractor show — a
fundraiser that the group hopes to turn into
an annual event — was quite the spectacle.
There’s always room for more on the calendar, and local nonprofits, the Parks and Recreation Department, the library, the schools and
the Cultural Council are constantly coming up
with new reasons to get out of the house on
a Saturday and have a good time with neighbors. For more information, pick up any issue
of the Agawam Advertiser News.
This is where we live — a town where gathering for a good cause, or simply for a good
time, is a grand tradition in itself.
Michael J. Ballway
Editor, Agawam Advertiser News
Inside Where We Live
Letter from Your Mayor........................................................ 3
City Council......................................................................................5
Letter from Your Superintendent..................................7
Community Organizations ...............................................9
Letter from Your State Senator ...................................13
Letter from Your State Representative ............... 15
Town Departments.................................................................16
Elections in Agawam..............................................................24
School Committee..................................................................29
Schools in Agawam.................................................................29
Churches in Agawam............................................................30
A Taste of Agawam.................................................................31
W h e r e W e L i v e A G AWA M 2 0 1 6
Where We Live is a supplement to the
Agawam Advertiser News,
a Turley publication, www.turley.com
Editor: Michael J. Ballway
Advertising Sales: John Baskin
Photography: Michael J. Ballway (MB),
Ted Glanzer (TG), Kimberly Hatch (KH),
Mike Lydick (ML), Gregory A. Scibelli (GS)
A letter from YOUR mayor
The town we live in
A
gawam is a wonderful community full of tradition and opportunity. Our convenient location,
affordable land and buildings, along with our
low tax rate, allow residents to build quality
lives for ourselves and
our children. From
Agawam’s rural past,
we have retained the
warmth, safety and
comfort of a small
town, where friendly
people from a diverse
range of backgrounds
Mayor
know each other and
Richard A. Cohen
participate in civic
activities, school affairs and sporting events,
while simultaneously maintaining a steady
level of strategic commercial development.
Agawam places a premium on those attributes that maintain an excellent quality of life.
Agawam’s schools are fully funded and boast
a high graduation rate. Agawam provides a
wide variety of recreational and civic activities for residents of all ages. Agawam’s School
Street Park, a 50-acre town-wide facility, provides active and passive recreational activities,
including a splash park, volleyball, picnicking,
disk golf and a band shell that hosts open air
concerts during the summer months. Agawam’s Senior Center, Public Library and Parks
and Recreation Department programs provide limitless educational, cultural and recreational programs throughout the year. We
also opened the wildly popular Agawam Dog
Park in 2015! Also, we are currently working
on a plan to redevelop Wade Park in Feeding
Hills and building pickleball courts at Borgatti
Field for the residents of all ages to enjoy.
Physical location and access to transportation, telecommunication, and water/sewer infrastructure supports Agawam’s strong industrial sector. Agawam is home to many national
and international manufacturing companies
and the average wage for manufacturing jobs
is higher than the regional and state-wide average. Agawam’s “business friendly” attitude is
reflected in its low tax rate, expedited permitting and excellent roads and utilities. And our
industrial parks are routinely operating at 100
percent capacity.
The town is involved in a bundle of synergistic new projects designed to invigorate the
center of town located near the intersection
www. t u r l e y. co m
A letter from YOUR mayor
of Suffield, Springfield and Main Streets. Site
Development Technologies signed a purchaseand-sale agreement for the Games and Lanes
property. They plan to clean up the contamination in the area and redevelop the parcel.
We are also working with a team of consultants who are redesigning the Walnut Street
Extension streetscape with an eye toward creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment
that will host outdoor activities and events.
We look forward to restoring that entire area
to its former glory when Agawam residents
could shop, dine and recreate all in one location. The town is also working with the town
of West Springfield and the commonwealth of
Massachusetts, MassDOT, on the Morgan-Sullivan Bridge redesign project, which will result
in a safer and more fluid intersection complete
with dedicated bicycle lanes, pedestrian crosswalks, coordinated traffic signals, and wider
travel and turn lanes and new sidewalks, too.
This project is federally funded and is on the
Transportation Improvement Program and
scheduled to begin in the spring of 2017.
The town of Agawam is also currently working with Milone and MacBroom Inc. (MMI,
Inc.) and MassDOT on the design for improvements for the Feeding Hills intersection. The
new design will reduce congestion for both local and regional traffic. It will also improve safety for all modes of transportation, including
pedestrians, bicyclists and transit, by adopting
a “complete streets” approach to the design.
The town is working to include improvements
to the Granger School into the project so that
traffic generated from pickup and dropoff procedures will have much less of an impact on
the traffic in the area. The town and MMI, Inc.,
will be holding a public meeting in the near
future to discuss the project and gather input
from residents. The project is currently on the
fiscalyYear 2017 Transportation Improvement
Program. If you have any questions or would
like to know more about this project, please
contact, Michelle Chase, the town engineer, at
413-821-0625.
With many new and exciting positive projects in process, I look forward to continuing
to work with our City Council, School Committee, city employees, the West of the River
Chamber of Commerce, our elected federal
and state officials and all of our residents to
keep Agawam a wonderful place to live, work
and raise a family.
Always in Service,
Richard A. Cohen
Mayor of Agawam
Main Street
The West of the River Chamber of Commerce
represents Agawam and West Springfield and
strives to offer the best benefits to its members.
The organization provides legislative advocacy,
marketing and sponsorship opportunities,
networking, and educational and informational
programs for businesses.
WRC is affiliated with the Mass Chamber and is
committed to enhancing its community.
Don’t Miss the WRC
Legislative Breakfast!
Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016
7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Storrowton Tavern’s
Carriage House,
West Springfield
$25 - member price
$30 - non member price
For more information contact the WRC at 413-426-3880 or
[email protected]
GRILLE
Breakfast & Lunch
Homemade Soups
Daily Specials
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Breakfast All Day
Monday - Friday 6 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday 6 a.m. - 1 p.m.
369 Main Street, Agawam 789-2020
YOUR agawam city council
Eleven city councilors are
elected every other year, in
odd-numbered years, along
with the mayor and School
Committee members.
All seats are at large.
The councilors elected in
November 2015 took office in
January 2016 and will be up for
re-election in November 2017.
The full council typically meets
on the first and third Monday
of the month, at 7 p.m. in the
Doering School auditorium;
agendas are usually printed in
the previous Thursday’s
Agawam Advertiser News.
James P. Cichetti
Council President
46 Roberta Circle
Agawam MA 01001
413-786-2726
[email protected]
Joseph Mineo
Council Vice President
33 Maple Meadows Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
413-789-4356
[email protected]
George Bitzas
Chairman, Community
Relations Subcommittee
33 Fernwood Drive
Agawam, MA 01001
413-789-1464
[email protected]
Cecilia P. Calabrese
75 Wagon Wheel Drive
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
413-786-4731
[email protected]
Paul C. Cavallo
6D Castle Hill Road
Agawam, MA 01001
413-786-7682
[email protected]
Robert E. Rossi
44 Colemore St.
413-786-2160
[email protected]
Christopher C. Johnson
Chairman, Finance
Subcommittee
88 Morningside Circle
413-786-6297
[email protected]
Anthony R. Suffriti
Chairman, Administrative
Subcommittee
39 Belvidere Ave.
413-342-4015
[email protected]
Gina M. Letellier
76 Beekman Drive
Agawam, MA 01001
413-786-6882
[email protected]
Richard Theroux
Chairman, Legislative
Subcommittee
30 Ley St.
Agawam, MA 01001
413-786-2526
[email protected]
Donald M. Rheault
536 Mill St.
413-786-4043
[email protected]
Council Office
Agawam Town Hall
36 Main St., Lower Level
Agawam, MA 01001
Tel. 413-726-9716
Fax 413-726-9717
Improving people’s lives, one smile at a time
Christopher J. Magiera, DMD
200 Silver Street • Agawam, MA 01001
Ph. 413-786-0171
www.christophermagiera.com
LETTER FROM YOUR SUPERINTENDENT
State of the schools
Dear Students, Parents, and
Community Members:
I
t is with great pride that I write this
year’s “State of the Schools” report.
As a district, we are committed to providing the very best educational experience
possible to those children who are placed in
our care. To that goal, our focus continues to
be on increasing student achievement. It is
our expectation that every student is present
daily and ready to learn from an instructional
staff who is dedicated to ensuring that all students learn to the best of their ability.
Safety
Safety will continue to be one of this
district’s main priorities. Last year, we implemented and trained school personnel regard-
ing the Safety & Security Task Force
district, who may have “direct and
Guidelines. Because we know that
unmonitored contact with chilchildren who do not feel safe in
dren,” to submit to “a state and
school suffer academically, these
national fingerprint-based criminal
guidelines are assisting us with probackground check.” This law perviding a safe learning environment
tains to all newly hired administraso teachers can focus on closing
tors, teachers, long or short-term
achievement gasps and increasing
substitutes, tutors, paraprofessionWilliam P. Sapelli,
opportunities for students to excel.
als, administrative assistants, nursC.A.G.S.
In addition, the district’s Emergenes, custodians and cafeteria workcy Preparedness Procedures were
ers. We are committed to ensuring
reviewed and updated with input from the
that all of our students attend schools that
Agawam Police and Fire departments, as well
are safe, welcoming and nurturing.
as from the Emergency Management Office.
In addition, Agawam Public Schools is
Technology
complying with the requirement of Chapter
Academic technologies have continued to
459 of the Acts of 2012, “An Act Relative to
grow exponentially in the district. Presently,
Background Checks,” which requires everyAgawam High School is using 65-inch InFoone employed by a Massachusetts school
cus, JTouch, touch-screen, LCD monitors in
Providing
Security
Solutions For
Over 100 Years
Commercial
Residential
◗ Home Security Systems
Intrusions-Video-Access
◗ Keyless Entry Systems
◗ Deadbolts Installed
◗ Decorative Door & Cabinet
Hardware
◗ Locks Rekeyed-Repaired-Replaced
Welcome
NEW
Residents
◗ Auto Chip Keys Cut
& Programmed
◗ Duplicate Keys
◗ Counter Service
◗ Extensive Showroom
◗ Safes & Vaults
All Brands Sold & Serviced
16 Ramah Circle South, Agawam
786-0429
Mon.-Fri. 8am-5pm, Thurs. til 8pm or by appt.
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Alarm Systems
Access Control
CCTV
Safes & Vaults
ADA Compliant
Hardware
Doors & Frames
English language arts, science, and social studies classrooms, as well as in the school’s library.
These units allow the teacher and students to
operate the computer from the front of the
classroom just by touch. They also have the
ability to annotate and save notes to a shared
hard drive. In addition, the high-definition
screen allows for better student viewing of
curriculum online videos. To date, approximately 20 of these JTouch units are located in
our high school classrooms with more scheduled to be added in the near future.
In addition to increasing the number of
Chromebooks for student use, our IT Department continues the integration of secure
cloud technology and wireless access points
for increased wi-fi accessibility. This technology enables our students to embrace 21st
century skills. In addition, Bright Links Interactive Units are available in all of our elementary
classrooms, as well as those at the Doering
School and junior high school.
Curriculum and Instruction
Last year, I reported that the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education mandated that all districts develop District Determined Measures (DDMs),
which are assessments that districts will use
to determine student growth. Results from
these assessments will be used to drive district
instruction, as well as being part of the performance evaluations educators will receive. We
have established DDMs and will continue to
monitor and improve them as necessary.
Another state mandate requires that all
core academic teachers who have English Language Learners in their classrooms complete
the Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) coursework. This coursework is being provided free
of charge to teachers by the district and/or
the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Agawam has over 100 teachers participating in this rigorous coursework,
which provides them with skills and strategies
that can be used with students who primary
language is not English.
During the summer, teachers were involved
with curriculum mapping in content areas utilizing the Atlas Rubicon software program in
order to enhance our curriculum. In addition,
preschool and elementary Math and Literacy
Teacher Leaders and Common Core Facilitators for grades 5 through 12 have participated
in regional and state training to improve skills
and to enrich strategies.
Once again this year, textbooks continue
to be a main focus, with the latest materials
replacing those that are outdated and no longer relevant. Technology has also been integrated, with the new textbooks purchased to
further augment access to the curriculum.
Due to the success of the district’s beforeand after-school tutoring program, students
are receiving instruction in a safe, structured
learning environment at each of our elementary schools and at the Doering School.
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Improvement of Buildings and Grounds
One of our main priorities is to investigate and pursue funding sources in order
to build a new, freestanding school that will
house preschool and kindergarten students,
as overcrowded conditions exist at both the
preschool and elementary levels. Because of
overcrowding, two preschool classrooms
were relocated to the Clifford Granger School,
and, at the elementary schools, some teachers must travel from classroom to classroom
with their instructional materials on a cart.
The Feasibility Study Committee is actively
pursuing all and every means by which to secure funding in order to go forward with this
much-needed building project.
The condition of our schools and grounds
reflects the district’s commitment to offering
students an educational environment that is
conducive to learning both in the classroom
and on the playing fields. The New AHS
Athletic and Track Facilities Project is on
target with construction scheduled to begin
Parent volunteer Danielle Elias runs an outdoor activity with a group of Granger School second and third
graders during the annual Field Day in June 2015. (ML)
sometime this spring.
We have also installed a second set of
security doors to the main entrance of Agawam High School, which not only will help
to reduce energy costs, but also provide another layer of safety for students and staff.
Moreover, the school’s auditorium has been
made handicap accessible as the result of re-
moving several rows of seats in the rear of
the auditorium and creating a platform with
railings whereby those in wheelchairs will be
able to view and listen to programs presented on stage.
Turn to page 28
AUTO • HOME
BUSINESS • BENEFITS
1070 Suffield Street, Agawam, MA 01001 • 413-781-2410 • www.ICNE.com
Business and Civic Organizations
Agawam Lions Club
The Agawam Lions were chartered in 1944,
with 85 charter members. Membership has
swelled as high a 250 and is currently at approximately 85, making it one of the largest
Lions clubs in Massachusetts.
Over the years, the club ran and sponsored
dozens of fundraising events to benefit town
organizations, school activities and regional
and national groups. The chicken barbecue at
the Big E started in 1961 and has become the
club’s largest fundraising initiative. By 2010,
the club had donated over $467,000 to the
Massachusetts Eye Research Foundation.
The funds raised over the years (over $1
million) have gone to literally hundreds of
groups, projects, charities, individuals, schools
and countless civic projects. A small sample
of recipients include Shriners Hospital, the
American Heart Association, Willie Ross
School for the Deaf, local Boy Scouts and Girl
Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, Rosie Robotics,
Agawam DARE program, Parish Cupboard,
Fidelco and many other organizations. The
club maintains a scholarship fund for college-bound high school seniors and a separate Sight and Hearing Fund to provide aid to
those in need of eyeglasses and hearing aids.
The Agawam Lions are governed by a board
of directors, elected annually, operating under
bylaws, and maintain close relationships with
Lions district, state and international entities.
For more information, contact president John
Walsh at 413-786-8524; or membership chair
Ron Wieners, 413-786-6633 or arwienerssr@
comcast.net. On the web at www.agawamlionsorg.
The Lions mascot tries to drum up
some business at the Lions Club’s largest
fundraiser, a barbecue takeout window at the
Big E in September and October. (MB)
357 Main Street ❙ Agawam
AUTO SERVICE
Since 1975
786-0959
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Agawam Rotary Club
Rotary is a service organization comprising
professional men and women who have ties
with Agawam. The club meets weekly at 12:15
p.m. Wednesdays at Storrowton Tavern, 1305
Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Contact Rotary President Gina Letellier at 413-786-5300,
[email protected] or visit www.agawamrotary.org.
The Agawam Junior Women’s Club holds the First Time Bus Riders program every year. Women’s Club
member Christina Beauchemin leads students across the street in the August 2015 program. (MB)
West of the River
Chamber of Commerce
The WRC provides legislative advocacy,
marketing and sponsorship opportunities,
networking and educational and information
programs for businesses in Agawam and West
Springfield. The WRC is affiliated with the
Massachusetts Chamber of Business and Industry. Contact the West of the River Chamber of Commerce at P.O. Box 48, W. Springfield, MA 01090-0048; call 413-426-3880; fax
888-649-7077; email info@westoftheriver-
On The Hill Family Restaurant
37 Southwick Street • Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Breakfast & Lunch served all day !
Mon.
6a.m. -- 22p.m.
Sat.-- Sun.
Sun. 5a.m.
6a.m.- -1p.m.
1p.m.
Mon. -- Fri.
Fri. 5a.m.
p.m. Sat.
Dine-in or take-out
Gluten Free
Options
Available
Fast, friendly service in a clean hometown atmosphere
Some of our daily homemade specials:
Corned Beef & Cabbage
Bacon Mac & Cheese
Homemade Lasagna
Grinders & Sandwiches
the BEST Potato Salad
Homemade muffin specialties:
Come in and try a
fresh-baked muffin
or our Famous
Cheeseburg Chowder !!
Strawberry Cheesecake
Apple • Gingerbread
Corn • Cranberry Nut
Chocolate Peanut Butter
Blueberry
413-786-2252 • www.on-the-hill-restaurant.com
10
chamber.com; or visit www.ourwrc.com. John
Weiss is the chairman of the WRC.
Cultural Organizations
Agawam Cultural Council
The ACC is an all-volunteer local partner
of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state
agency, and is funded in part by the MCC.
The ACC is charged with bringing engaging,
entertaining and educational events and opportunities in the arts, humanities and sciences to children and adults from Agawam and
surrounding communities. Contact the ACC
Chairman Bob Kadis by mail at Town Hall, 36
Main St., Agawam; by telephone at 413-7894814; by email at [email protected]; or visit
www.agawamcc.org.
Agawam Dog Owners Group
ADOG is a not-for-profit organization
made up of volunteers dedicated to our fourlegged friends. Our mission is to help create
and maintain an off-leash recreational space in
partnership with the town of Agawam where
well-behaved canine citizens can exercise and
socialize in a clean, safe environment.
The group continues to raise funds to support the development of the park, which is
expected to break ground in the spring of
2015. Visit www.AgawamDogPark.com for
info on upcoming events. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Agawam Historical Association
The Agawam Historical Association is a private, nonprofit organization working to preserve historic materials, documents, and landmarks pertaining to the town of Agawam,
and to provide educational opportunities
concerning Agawam’s history. The Agawam
Historical Association hosts speakers on a variety of topics at its regular meetings and Annual Banquet. The Association operates the
Agawam Historical and Fire House Museum
MELCHIORI
at 35 Elm St., Agawam, and the Thomas Smith
House (c. 1757) at 251 N. West St., Feeding
Hills.
The Historical and Fire House Museum is
open to the public on select weekend days
throughout the year. Dates will be published
in the Agawam Advertiser News. This year’s
featured exhibit is a look at 100-year history
of the Eastern States Exposition, the “Big E.”
A membership application and additional
information can be found at agawamhistoricalassoc.webs.com. For more information,
contact association president Marilyn Curry
at 413-786-1452, association archivist Anne
Liptak at 413-786-3031, or write to Agawam
Historical Association, P.O. Box 552, Agawam,
MA 01001.
GFWC Agawam
Junior Women’s Club
The Junior Women’s Club is a community service organization committed to the
Call today 786-0302 for info & tour
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betterment of the community through
special projects supporting the arts, natural
resources, education, healthy lifestyles, international causes and civic involvement. It was
organized in 1957 as a division of the GFWC
Agawam Women’s Club. It is a member of
the General Federation of Women’s Clubs of
Massachusetts, Junior Membership.
All regular meetings are held at 7 p.m. on
the third Tuesday of the month from September to June at Agawam Senior Center, 954
Main St., Agawam. Contact President Mary
O’Connell at [email protected] or visit
www.agawamgfwc.com.
Agawam St. Patrick’s Committee
Starting with a small group of Agawam residents of Irish descent in the fall of 2000, the
St. Patrick’s Committee has sponsored the
Colleen Coronation Brunch and the town’s
award-winning floats in the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade since 2001. Subsequent years
saw the creation of the Anne Sullivan Award,
presented annually to a committee member
who has gone above and beyond the call of
duty in contributing to the progress of the
group; and the Citizenship Award, honoring
the contributions of a member of the community who is not a St. Patrick’s Committee
member.
The Colleen competition is open each year
to single ladies ages 17-22, with no children,
residing in Agawam and claiming Irish ancestry. The Colleen receives a $1,000 grant toward her continuing education. Each Colleen
contestant is also invited to write a 200-300
word essay about a person of Irish descent
who has made a significant difference in her
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life. The winning essay writer is awarded the
Bill Pfau Cultural Award, named for a founding member and past president of the St.
Patrick’s Committee.
Presidents of the St. Patrick’s Committee
through the years were Lowell McLane 2002,
William Pfau 2003-2004, Sue O’Hare 2005,
Jude O’Hare 2006, Barbara Lussier 2007, Abbe
McLane 2008, Maurice Casey 2009, Barbara
Lussier 2010, Rita Moore 2011, Jude O’Hare
2012, John O’Brien 2013, Rosemary Sandlin
2014 and Barbara Foley 2015.
The St. Patrick’s Committee meets at St.
John Parish Hall on the third Wednesday of
every month except June, July and August.
For more information, contact P.O. Box 825,
Agawam, MA 01001-0825.
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505-9244
281-5378
Vitaly Dzhenzherukha 250-2367 Lisa Pessolano
237-8455
Betty Grimaldi
789-0310 Maritza Smidy
519-2837
Jeffrey Klotz
564-9468 Marie Von Hollander 374-7220
431 Springfield Street
Agawam, MA 01001
Office: (413) 789-0310 • Fax: (413) 789-0402
Email: [email protected]
A letter from your state senator
Proud to serve Agawam
in the Senate
Hello Agawam!
M
y name is Senator Don Humason
and I am honored
to serve Agawam, Southwick,
Granville, Tolland, Russell,
Montgomery, Southampton,
Easthampton, Chicopee, Holyoke, and Westfield in the Massachusetts State Senate.
I am the Senate Minority Whip
and sit on the Senate Committee
on Ways and Means. I also sit on
the Senate’s Bonding
Committee and Intergovernmental Affairs
Committee, as well as
the joint committees
on Veterans and Federal Affairs; Children,
Families, and Persons
with Disabilities; Education; and Public Service.
It has been a real breath of
fresh air having Governor Charlie
Baker and Lieutenant Governor
Karyn Polito leading the Execu-
tive Branch. I think
they are off to a great
start, and I’m glad to
have a good personal
relationship as well as
a business relationship
with them.
Working with your
State Representative,
Nick Boldyga, it is my job to represent the interests of Agawam and
her citizens at the State House on
Beacon Hill. I’m excited to work
with you, Representative Boldy-
ga, Mayor Cohen and your City
Council and School Committee
for the good of Agawam and the
commonwealth.
I invite you to contact me if I
may ever be of service to you.
My district office is at 64 Noble
St., Westfield, MA 01085. The
number is 413-568-1366. My
State House office is Room 313A,
Boston, MA 02133. The number
is 617-722-1415. My email is DonTurn to page 24
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[email protected]
13
State and federal elected officials
President Barack
Obama
D-Ill.
Four-year term up for
election in November
2016
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.,
N.W.
Washington, DC 20500
202-456-1111
U.S. Sen. Edward Markey
D-Malden
Six-year term up for
re-election in November
2020
Gov. Charlie Baker
R-Swampscott
Four-year term up for
2018
617-725-4015, ext. 8
403 Maple Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
413-525-4438
218 Russell Senate Office
Building
202-224-2742
Office of the Governor,
Room 280
Massachusetts State
House
Boston, MA 02133
617-725-4005
State Sen. Donald
Humason Jr.
R-Westfield
Two-year term up for
2016
Donald.Humason@
masenate.gov
1550 Main St., Fourth Floor
Springfield, MA 01103
413-785-4610
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth
Warren
D-Cambridge
Six-year term up for
2018
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal
D-Springfield
Two-year term up for r
e-election in November
2016
317 Hart Senate Office
Building
202-224-4543
341 Cannon House Office
Building
202-225-5601
1550 Main St., Suite 406
413-788-2690
300 State St., Suite 200
413-785-0325
State Office Building
436 Dwight St., Suite 300
413-784-1200
Governor’s Councilor
Michael J. Albano
D-Longmeadow
Two-year term up for reelection in November 2016
[email protected]
Room 213A
Massachusetts State
House
Boston, MA 02133
617-722-1415
State Rep. Nicholas
Boldyga
R-Southwick
Two-year term up for
2016
[email protected]
Room 167
Massachusetts State
House
Boston, MA 02133
617-722-2810
Cooper’s Commons
159 Main St., Suite M
Agawam, MA 01001
413-455-3007
64 Noble St.
Westfield, MA 01085
413-568-1366
Room 360
Massachusetts State
House
Boston, MA 02133
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A letter from your state Representative
Your full-time representative
Dear Friends,
H
appy New Year!
Thank you for your
continued support as
we welcome in 2016 and the second session of the 189th General
Court. As your full-time representative, I will continue to put “People Before Politics” while serving
the people of Agawam, Granville
and Southwick and across the
commonwealth. I strongly believe
that being a hard-working and
present legislator is simply part of
the job. That’s why I’m proud to
share with you that I achieved a
100 percent voting record in the House for
2015 and took an active
part in every vote that
was taken on the House
floor.
As a member of the
Ways and Means Committee, I was able to attend a number of hearings and
budget discussions throughout
the commonwealth last year and
I’m looking forward to continuing
those discussions as we begin our
2016 budget cycle. We have a way
to go on common sense reforms
and I’m committed to ensuring
we continue to put
forward a practical
budget without raising
taxes.
The House recently
took up a bill aimed
at combating the rising opioid crisis in this
state. The bill passed
unanimously after several hours
of debate. It will limit first-time
prescriptions of opioid pain pills
to seven days. It also requires that
patients admitted for an overdose
undergo a mental health evaluation to see if they need treatment
for substance abuse.
Over the past several years,
I’ve advocated for our district
to receive the much-needed attention it deserves. I’m pleased
to say that capital projects in all
three towns have received funding from the state. For the town
of Agawam, I was able to secure a
$75,000 safety grant for the Agawam High School and a $100,000
grant for Agawam Junior High
School to completely renovate
their auditorium. For the town
of Granville, Sen. Humason and I
were able to assist them receive a
Turn to page 24
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town government
Animal Control
1000 Suffield St., Agawam
Business hours: 413-726-9754
Emergencies after hours: 9-1-1
Staff
Animal Control Officer
Alison Strong
Hours
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.
to 4 p.m.
Assessor
Town Hall, first floor
Tel. 413-786-0400, ext. 8205
Fax 413-726-2828
Staff
Assessor Kevin Baldini, ext. 8704
Principal Clerk Donna Ruccio,
ext. 8700
Administrative Assistant
Charlotte Grondin, ext. 8701
Hours
Monday through Friday, 8:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Computers available for record
cards and maps, 8:45 a.m. to 4:15
p.m.
Services
The assessor’s office is responsible
for uniformly an accurately valuing
all property, both real and personal, located within the town. The
valuation date is Jan. 1. The values
generated by assessors are reviewed
and certified triennially by the state
Department of Revenue. The next
certification process of the approximately 12,000 parcels of real estate
and 1,300 accounts of personal
property will occur in fiscal 2019.
Tax rates
Real estate tax bills are due Aug.
1, Nov. 1, Feb. 1 and May 1 every
year. The rates for fiscal 2016 are
$16.18 per $1,000 assessed value
for residential properties; $29.98 for
commercial properties. The following are the tax rates for the previous
five years:
Year
Residential Commercial
FY ’15
FY ’14
FY ’13
FY ’12
FY ’11
$15.74
$15.55
$15.60
$14.40
$14.00
$28.29
$27.93
$27.79
$28.46
$28.32
Town Clerk
Tel. 413-786-0400, ext. 8215
Fax 413-786-9927
Staff
Town Clerk (vacant), ext. 8744
Assistant Clerk Margaret McCarthy, ext. 8745
Principal Clerk Beth Ceccarini,
ext. 8746
Part-Time Clerk Linda Bowers,
ext 8747
Hours
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Services
The town clerk’s office is responsible for maintaining all of the town’s
official records and documents, and
exercises responsibility for the operation of elections together with the
maintenance of election records. In
addition, it issues fishing, trapping,
hunting and marriage licenses, along
with death and business certificates.
mOBMEFTUJOBUJPOmUOFTTDPN
28 Southwick Street • Feeding Hills
Council on Aging
Tel. 413-821-0604 or
413-821-0605
Fax 413-789-4092
Staff
Executive Director
Joan Linnehan, ext. 1
Deputy Director
Kristina Lynch, ext. 2
Outreach Coordinator
Lori Arsenault, ext. 3
Principal Clerk Lynn
Kaczman, ext. 8837
Hours
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.
to 9 p.m.
Weekend activities as scheduled
Services
The Council on Aging is responsible for coordinating and conducting programs dealing with the
elderly and to promote facilities for
the health, education, welfare and
recreation of these citizens. It is also
responsible for oversight and operation of the Agawam Senior Center.
Friends of Agawam Senior Center
The Friends of Agawam Senior
Center raises funds to buy and repair
anything that the Senior Center
needs. The group holds dinners
and other functions to fund raise.
President Patricia Murphy can be
contacted at 413-301-4972.
Fire Department
Headquarters: 800 Main St.,
Agawam
Station 2: 1200 Springfield St.,
Feeding Hills
Emergency 9-1-1
Administration tel. 413-786-0657
Administration fax 413-786-1241
Headquarters tel. 413-786-2662
Headquarters fax 413-726-2882
Staff
Chief Alan Sirois
[email protected]
Deputy Chief Bernard J. Calvi
[email protected]
Fire Inspector Jacob N.G.
Dushane
[email protected]
Training Officer Frank Matuszczak [email protected]
Pauline Berthiaume
[email protected]
Hours
Emergency services available 24
hours a day, seven days a week
Administrative office: Monday
through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Services
Fire suppression, prevention, fire
code enforcement, fire education,
emergency medical services
David A. Ladizki, P.C.
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46 Suffield St., Agawam, MA
town government
Health Department
Town Hall, second floor
Tel. 413-786-0400, ext. 8207
Staff
Director Randall White, ext. 8721
Principal Clerk June Quinn, ext.
8720
Nurse Sherry Petrucci, ext. 8722
Hours
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Services
The Health Department is responsible for providing educational
and personal services to Agawam
residents in order to improve the
public health of the community. It
is also responsible for the provision
of public health services in the Agawam public schools via the school
nursing program.
Inspection Services
Tel. 413-821-0632
Fax 413-821-0637
Staff
Inspector Erik Wight
Head Clerk Pamela Cross
Barbara Brizzolari
Plumbing Inspector Michael Day
Code Enforcement
Michael Theroux
Electrical Inspector
Gary Turnball
Hours
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Services
The Inspection Services Department is responsible for the enforcement of the building and zoning
codes for the purposes of promoting
the health, safety, convenience and
welfare of the inhabitants of the
community, as well as for testing of
all weighing and measuring devices
used in town. Services include building inspections, electrical inspections, plumbing inspections, code
enforcement and sealing of weights
and measures, as well as support
for the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The ZBA is responsible for handling
appeals regarding land use.
Building permits
A permit is required for any type
of construction or installation of
an accessory structure. All permits
must be applied for, with fees, by a
licensed building contractor, plumbing contractor (including lawn
irrigation), gas fitter or electrical
Ronald A.
Pahl, Jr., D.M.D.
Agawam Dental Care P.C.
413.786.7313
www.AgawamDentalCare.com
contractor. Fines will be assessed for
any work done without a permit.
Permits are required for pellet and
wood stoves. Permits are required
for siding, roofing and windows.
Permits are required for any signs or
tents. No permit is required to install
a fence. Call the Inspectional Services
Department for fencing regulations.
Parks and Recreation
Tel. 413-821-0514
Fax 413-821-0637
Staff
Director Chris Sparks, [email protected]
Administrative Assistant Missy
Blackack
Hours
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m.
Planning and Community
Development
Town Hall, second floor
Tel. 413-786-0400, ext. 8245
Staff
Director of Planning and
Community Development
Marc Strange, ext. 8738
Principal Clerk Pamela Kerr,
ext. 8737, planning@agawam.
ma.us
Hours
Monday through Friday,
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Services
The office of Planning and Community Development is a multitask
department assisting in the overall
growth of the community in an orderly and managed approach to promote economic development, natural
resources and community character.
The office oversees the preparation
of comprehensive plans, studies
which guide growth while balancing
community needs and resources, and
provides a fair and efficient system of
application processing and permitting. The office serves the Agawam
Planning Board; the Agawam
Conservation Commission; and the
Ad Hoc Redevelopment Committee.
It also advises and provides assistance
to the Agawam Beautification Committee and the Agawam Historical
Commission. Planning Board services
at this office include site plan review,
subdivision review and approval-notrequired (ANR) review (Form A).
Conservation Commission services
at this office include notices of intent
and certificates of compliance.
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town government
Police Department
681 Springfield St., Feeding Hills
Emergency 9-1-1
Tel. 413-786-4767
Fax 413-786-4821
Staff
Police Chief Eric Gillis
Patricia Brennan
Records: Amanda Boissonneault
Hours
Emergency services available 24
hours a day, seven days a week
Records Bureau open Monday to
Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m.
Services
The Agawam Police Department
is a full-time, full-service department
of about 50 sworn officers and eight
civilian employees in the following
divisions:
Patrol Division
Traffic Bureau
Detective Bureau
Records Bureau
DARE/School Resource Division
Animal Control Officer
Records fees
The following fees apply to any
public record in the custody of the
Agawam Police Department:
Accident reports in hand or by
mail, $5 per copy
Incident or miscellaneous reports
in hand, 50 cents per page; by mail,
$1 per page
Reports for victims of domestic
violence: No charge, per law
Other fees
License to carry a firearm (LTC):
$100, non-refundable
Firearm identification cards (FID):
$100, non-refundable
FID for self-defense spray, ages
15-17: $25 (no permit is required
to carry mace or pepper spray over
age 18)
Lost or stolen permits: No charge
for replacement
All photos: $10, non-refundable
The Agawam Police Department
accepts cash or checks made out to
City of Agawam.
Public Library
750 Cooper St., Agawam
Tel. 413-789-1550
Staff
Library Director Judith Clini, ext.
8855, [email protected]
Assistant Director Jolene Mercadante, ext. 8866, jmercadante@
agawamlibrary.org
Reference Librarian Jerome Walczak, ext. 8852, [email protected]
Adult Services Librarian Cher
Collins, ext. 8851, [email protected]
Youth Services Librarian Pamela
Weingart, ext. 8857, pweingart@
agawamlibrary.org
Hours
Monday through Thursday, 9
a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday (except summer), 10
a.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed on Sundays and on Saturdays in the summer
Services
The Agawam Public Library is
much more than books. The library
offers music, movies, magazines,
digital content and a local history
collection. The library also provides
meeting rooms for groups big and
small, quiet study rooms, ESL and
computer classes, programs for
young children, teens and adults,
homebound delivery service and
museum passes for local attractions.
The library has Facebook, Twitter
and Instagram for citizens to follow.
Any Massachusetts citizen is eligible
for an Agawam library card and any
cards from the C/WMARS automated library network can be used
to take out items.
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NEWS
published!
We’ve made it more convenient
to submit your news to the Agawam Advertiser News.
Log on to www.agawamadvertisernews.turley.com.
You can submit press releases, photos, calendar items, letters to
the editor and more! It’s quick and easy!!
Submissions are also accepted via email at [email protected].
town government
Friends of the
Agawam Public Library
The Friends engage in fundraising
activities and volunteering activities
to augment the library’s offerings.
Funds raised through the annual
book sale, sponsorship of speakers and sale of publications help
the library purchase materials and
equipment it might not otherwise
have been able to obtain. Volunteers help the library staff carry out
their professional responsibilities.
The Friends of the Agawam Public
Library meet at the library at 7 p.m.
on the first Thursday of each month,
except July and August. For more information, contact President Marcia
Capuano at 413-786-5506; P.O. Box
478, Feeding Hills, MA 01030-0478;
[email protected]; or www.agawamlibrary.org/about/friends.htm.
New members are always welcome.
Public Works
Tel. 413-821-0600
Fax 413-821-0631
Public Works Staff
Supterintendent Christopher
Golba, ext. 8623
Deputy Superintendent of Water
Department John Decker, ext. 8627
Deputy Superintendent of Highways and Grounds Steve Bonesteel,
ext. 8626
Administrative Assistant Hope
Goff, ext. 8621
Principal Clerk Elisa Dagenais,
ext. 8622
Principal Clerk Barbara Dobek,
ext. 8811
Solid Waste and Stormwater Coordinator Tracy DeMaio, ext. 8624
Engineering Staff
Town Engineer Michelle Chase,
ext. 8625
Assistant Town Engineer Michael
Albro, ext. 8803
Civil Engineer 1 Roland Barbeito,
ttds
ds
ext. 8816
Civil Engineer 1 Vladimir Caceres, ext. 8805
Hours
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Highway and Grounds
The Highway Division of the
Agawam DPW is responsible for
maintaining the road system, providing snow and ice control, traffic and
regulatory sign maintenance and
other various programs involved
in the maintenance and upkeep of
existing road systems, and public
grounds and athletic fields.
Wastewater
This division is responsible for
maintaining all the town sewage
system, including public sewers,
building sewers, force mains and
pumping stations. The DPW is available around the clock (including
weekends and holidays) to respond
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Many people are not aware that technology is also
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to blocked sewers and related
backups. If the problem is located in
the public sewer, there is no charge
for the service. The following fees
are charged to clear a blockage in
the building sewer serving individual
properteis: $97 from 7:30 a.m. to
3:30 p.m. on normal work days; $239
during other hours and weekends
and holidays. DPW emergency
employees can be reached by calling
the Police Department at 413786-4767. The property owner is
responsible for the cost of cleaning
blockages on the building sewer that
serves only his house, regardless of
whether the blockage is in the street
or on his property. The department guarantees the work it does
for a three-month period unless
the problem is from roots; then
the guarantee is for six months if a
private tree, or two years if a public
shade tree.
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The web has a global reach
Community papers remain your best local resource
A recent study showed that 71% of the respondents read a community newspaper at least once a week, 75% read all or most of their
newspaper and 43.8% keep their paper for more than 10 days.
Those numbers indicate the level of connectedness people have
with their community newspaper.
Today, printed products thrive, and community publications continue to be the best resource to advertise your business, website or
facebook page.
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town government
Treasurer and collector
Tel. 413-786-0400, ext. 8218
Treasurer staff
Treasurer-Collector
Laurel Placzek, ext. 8712
Principal Clerk
Mackenzie Cassidy, ext. 8713
Principal Clerk
Karen Drane, ext. 8714
Collector staff
Assistant Collector
Ann Marie Hartmann, ext. 8710
Principal Clerk
Sue Ellsworth, ext. 8711
Senior Clerk Amy Boyd, ext. 8708
Principal Clerk
Carolyn LaChappelle, ext. 8715
Hours
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
processing town and school payrolls,
initiating temporary and permanent
borrowing, and performing other
statutory functions required by state
law. The treasurer’s section is responsible for the safe keeping of all funds,
including investing to ensure safety
and liquidity while obtaining a maximum yield, and maintaining a cash
book to reflect all disbursement,
receipts and cash balances; and
providing this and other information
to the auditor and state Department
of Revenue. The collector’s section
is responsible for the collection of
real estate, motor vehicle excise and
personal property taxes, sewer assessments, water and sewer bills, and
any other money committed to the
department for collection.
Services
The treasurer’s section is charged
with receiving and accounting for all
the monies belonging to the town,
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*National Newspaper
Association Reader Survey
786-4289
“We Meet By Accident”
Stories and photos by Gregory A. Scibelli
More than words
Agawam Public Library’s offerings go beyond just books
W
ith the emergence of more
technology, you can think of the
Agawam Public Library as more
than just a place to borrow books.
It can a place of social gathering, the modern version of Blockbuster Video, or that place
you go when you need a little bit of quiet time.
Libraries have evolved over time to include
so many more offerings and activities than
just your standard hardcover and paperback
books.
Library Director Judith Clini has seen it all,
with her tenure working in libraries dating
back to the 1970s, when she worked part-time
in high school.
She said the library has adjusted to all
the same trends many other places do, and
because of the great support from the com-
munity, the Agawam Public Library is still a fun
destination for people of all ages.
Located right next to Agawam High School
at the end of Cooper Street, students do make
their way to the facility in force many days a
week, whether it is to do research, check out a
book, or participate in some of the teen activities offered by the youth services department.
It does take a lot of work to make all of that
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21
Meet the new
librarians
Calvin Johnson, 3, checks out a book in the children’s section.
happen. While librarians still work
at the different types of cataloging
and checking in and out of books
that has existed for years, Clini says
her staff has many other functions,
as well.
“We have widely expanded the
amount of items we have to offer
people,” said Clini. “People can come
here and get magazines and DVDs
and activity kits.”
Clini said Agawam, like most
libraries in the region, have adopted
the C/WMARS system, which stands
for Central and Western Massachusetts Automated Resource Sharing.
Clini said the library has one staff
member dedicated to taking care
of interlibrary loans, a need that is
growing every day.
“We get a pretty sizable list each
day,” said Clini. “And our interlibrary
loan librarian has to go through and
prepare all of the books and other
materials that will go out to other
libraries.”
She said Agawam has a reputa-
22
tion with the region as a “net lender.”
“This means that we lend more
items out to other libraries than we
take in,” she said.
Clini says a courier-type vehicle
comes by the library every day to
pick up and drop off items for other
library patrons throughout the
region.
Other book services available
include a homebound delivery
service. The service is available to
anyone who is elderly and cannot
leave the home, or people who have
a disability or injury that prevents
them from leaving the library.
“It’s something not a lot of people
know about,” said Clini. “But we are
happy to help anyone who is seeking
books or materials that cannot leave
their home.”
The service is limited to Agawam
residents only.
And for that person who is unable or simply does not have time to
get to the library, there are resources
online, including a wide selection of
Cher Collins
adult services – pg. 23
Pamela Weingart
youth services – pg. 25
online books available.
Now, anyone with an Agawam library card can “take out” an e-book.
The book is downloaded to a reading device, such as a Kindle or Nook,
and then “returned” by being erased
from the device at the designated
time it must be sent back.
Social hub
The library is also a hub for social
activity. There is a calendar full of activities for youths, teens, and adults.
There are numerous storytimes
available for smaller children, book
clubs for all ages, and presentations
and other activities for adults to
enjoy.
Many clubs and organizations
also utilize the library for their gatherings or meetings. Almost every
day, the library is booked for some
time of meeting. Meetings can be
held in one of three spaces, includ-
ing a larger “community” room.
Regularly, subcommittees of the
Agawam City Council, the Planning
Board, Conservation Commission,
and Zoning Board of Appeals utilize
the rooms. It is a win for the library.
“The people that come to these
meetings are generating foot traffic
for the library, and we get more
people that way,” said Clini.
And if that was not enough of
an attraction, the library is always
beautifully decorated, with changing
art exhibits and displays throughout
the year. A juried art show is also
held at the library yearly.
With the recent additions of
a new youth services and adult
services librarians, the library is now
fully staffed.
For more information about the
myriad of activities, go to www.
agawamlibrary.org.
Gregory A. Scibelli is a correspondent for the Agawam Advertiser
News.
ADULT SERVICES LIBRARIAN
‘What I love … working with people’
C
her Collins happily wears
her New England Patriots
jersey in a show of team
unity as she works the adult services desk at the Agawam Public
Library on Jan. 15.
She enjoys the positive environment that makes it a great place to
work, and a great decision she made
last year.
Collins was hired in June 2015 to
be the new adult services librarian
after working for many years in
libraries in Springfield, Enfield and
most recently in Westfield.
She credits an opportunity she
was given right after college to work
in a library in Springfield as the
catalyst for her love of libraries and
people.
“I went back and got my master’s
degree in library science,” she said.
Collins worked for 10 years as
the reference librarian at the Enfield
Public Library in Connecticut, then
Stefanie D. Aquilina, DMD
“Dr. Stefanie”
Dr. Aquilina will be our pediatric dental specialist at
Cornerstone Kids Dentistry. A New York native, Dr.
Aquilina studied biology at Cornell University, where
she graduated with Distinction in All Subjects. She
went on to receive her dental degree from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. At
UConn, Dr. Aquilina was inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental
Honor Society and received the Pierre Fauchard Academy Award, the Quintessence Award, the UConn Alumni Research Award, and the NIDCR Dental Student
Research Award. Currently, she is nearing completion of her pediatric dentistry
residency at UConn and CT Children’s Medical Center, where she has undergone advanced training in pediatric medicine, emergency dental management,
treatment of children with special health care needs, and sedation dentistry. Dr.
Aquilina also holds certification in Pediatric Advanced Life Support.
When not in the office, Dr. Aquilina enjoys spending time with family and
friends. She also likes staying active by practicing yoga, hiking and skiing.
Dr. Aquilina chose to become a pediatric dentist because she was fearful of
the dentist as a child. She understands the importance of creating a comfortable
environment and treating her patients with compassion, patience, and respect.
She hopes to inspire children to achieve and maintain excellent oral health for
life. Dr. Aquilina is looking forward to opening the doors to Cornerstone
Kids Dentistry this summer and meeting you and your kids!
Cornerstone Kids Dentistry
332 Suffield St., Agawam • 786-0077
came to Westfield, where she was
reference librarian and soon after, the
director for a brief period of time.
She came to Agawam to run
adult services because her family life
dictated that she take a step back.
The move has been a great fit for her.
“I just enjoy the staff here and I
am really back to doing what I love,
and that’s working with people
directly,” said Collins.
She offers many services to patrons of the library, in addition to the
standard finding and checking out
books and reference materials.
The adult section includes
computers that can be used for such
purposes as career exploration.
“I find a lot of people came here
to work on materials and look for
jobs and apply for jobs,” said Collins.
“We try to help with that when we
can.”
She also is available for help with
printing services and is in charge of
keeping the adult book collection
fresh for the patrons. She is regularly
evaluating the collection, and says
many would be surprised at some of
the old systems that are still in use.
“We may not use date stamps
and cards for checking out books
anymore,” she said. “But we still
utilize the Dewey decimal system
for cataloging and categorizing the
books we have.”
Collins regularly works with Wendy McAnanama, who is in charge of
adult programs and volunteers, and
hopes that role will expand as time
goes on.
She is also working with Agawam
resident Richard Morassi on a
one-book program where a group
of adults read and discuss the same
book at a workshop. The first one
was held last June right when Collins
was hired. She is hoping to have
more this year.
Meet Our
Real Estate
Family
From left to right: Anne DePalma, Kathy Masciotra, Tom Mathes,
Gail Mathes, Kathy Ayre, Lindsey DeFilipi, Tom Roberts, Mike
Butler and Chris Martin
644 Main St, Agawam • 789-0812
www.ayrerealestate.com
23
When to vote
Agawam registered voters go to the
polls every year in November, on the first
Tuesday after the first Monday of the
month.
The ballot in even-numbered years
features state and federal races such as
congressman, state representative and
state senator (every two years); president
(years evenly divisible by four, such as 2016);
governor and other state constitutional
offices (other even-numbered years, such
as 2018); and U.S. Senator and county
sheriff (staggered six-year terms). The ballot
on odd-numbered years features races
for town offices: mayor, City Council and
School Committee.
Additionally, like all Massachusetts
towns, Agawam participates in the state’s
presidential primary elections in the spring
of presidential election years; the primary
election for all other state and federal races
in September of even-numbered years; and
special elections to fill mid-term vacancies
as needed.
Where to vote
Agawam has eight precincts and seven
polling places — all at local schools, which
are ordinarily closed on Election Day to
accommodate voting. To determine your
precinct, visit wheredoivotema.com or call
the town clerk’s office at 413-786-0400, ext.
8215.
Precinct 1: Robinson Park School, 65
Begley St.
Precinct 2: Granger School, 31 S. Westfield St.
Precinct 3: Agawam High School, 760
Cooper St.
Precinct 4: Doering School, 68 Main St.
Precinct 5: Phelps School, 689 Main St.
Precincts 6 and 8: Clark School, 65
Oxford St.
Precinct 7: Agawam Junior High School,
1305 Springfield St.
24
A letter from your state senator, from page 13
[email protected]. My website is
www.DonHumason.org.
My wife Janice and I, along with our son
Quinn, have become quite fond of Agawam. We
love going to the Agawam Cinemas and eating at
some of our favorite restaurants in town. During
the summer we frequently use the Gerald Mason
Memorial Pool in Feeding Hills. And of course
there is Six Flags, too. I am so proud to have the
opportunity to be Agawam’s state senator.
Thank you for that!
Very truly yours,
Don Humason
Massachusetts State Senate
2nd Hampden & Hampshire District
Don Humason, R-Westfield, represents Agawam, Chicopee, Holyoke, Easthampton, Granville, Montgomery, Russell, Southampton, Southwick, Tolland and Westfield in the state Senate.
A letter from your state Representative, from page 15
grant of $1,000,000 from MassWorks to address
Route 57’s environmental and safety concerns.
For the town of Southwick, I was able work with
the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs
to secure a grant for $425,000 to build a new salt
shed on the grounds of their DPW building, as
they had been facing environmental challenges
with a dilapidated salt shed and had advocated
for assistance from the state.
I’m excited to hear from you, I’m looking
forward to continue working with Sen. Donald
Humason Jr., Mayor Richard Cohen, and the City
Council to keep Agawam moving in the right
direction.
My family and I have enjoyed being a part of
the community and I’m pleased to share with
you that my wife Jessica and I welcomed our
third child, Marin Cynthia, to our family this
summer!
Thank you for allowing me to proudly serve
as your full-time representative. Please visit my
office to discuss any concerns. I’m always available! My full-time district office is located at
Cooper’s Commons, 159 Main St. in Agawam. I
can be reached at 413-455-3007, via email [email protected] and my website is
www.NickBoldyga.com.
Sincerely,
Nicholas A. Boldyga
Massachusetts House of
Representatives
3rd Hampden District
Nicholas Boldyga, R-Southwick, represents
Agawam, Granville and Southwick in the state
House of Representatives.
youth SERVICES LIBRARIAN
Building a community for youth
I
t’s a happy day for Pamela Weingart
when she sees groups of children
coming in and out of the youth section of the Agawam Public Library.
She is even happier when she connects a
youngster with the right book or activities
to take home and try.
Weingart is in charge of both youth and
teen services at the library. She was hired
at the end of September 2015, and says the
experience has been excellent.
“This library is an admired building
throughout the region,” said Weingart. “It is
a great library.”
When the position opened up last
year, Weingart said she viewed the facility
and collection and knew it was where she
wanted to be.
“There is such a great collection of
books here, wonderful activities, and a high
level of service,” she said. “I really wanted to
be a part of all that.”
While the youth services department
has been offering storytimes, youth crafts,
and teen book clubs, Weingart added her
own touch and started the “Crazy Eights
Math Club” for children who enjoy math
and like playing math games.
She is in the process of updating the
teen offerings to hopefully attract more
to the library with the high school being
so close. She also offers reading clubs for
middle and high school students.
“It’s all about staying fresh with the
teenagers because their interests are always
changing,” said Weingart. “You have to be
able to adjust to that or you will lose them.
It is important to embrace change.”
Among the fresh changes, she is looking
at starting a coloring club for teenagers
thanks to the emergence of “adult coloring
books.”
One of her favorite parts of the
children’s section are the discovery kits
that are now offered spanning a range of
interests.
A child who uses their library card to
rent a kit will receive a couple of books, activity sheets, movies, and games dedicated
to a specific topic, such as gardening, or
fairy tales or magnets.
“The kits really help expand learning for
the children,” she said.
Her goal in the future is to market the
youth library as a “community center” and
as a safe place for recreation and participate in great programs.
(right) Youth Services Librarian Pamela Weingart shows off the many
“discovery kits” available to children at the Agawam Public Library.
(below) Librarian Leslee Landry puts some books away.
25
we love
AGAWAM
David Delancey scoops popcorn at the Rotary Club’s concession at School
Street Park in July. Behind him is Rotary Club member and City Councilor
George Bitzas. (MB)
Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts march by the Veterans Green on Memorial Day in
May 2015. (MB)
On Our Cover
(top right) Avery
Gordon, Arianna Michaelis and Makayla
Barcomb get ready
Agawam
Feeding
Hills
&
for a swim at Perry
Lane Camp last July.
(GS)
(top left) Agawam High School
seniors Erbling
Nuhii, left, and
Sasha Papova check
out their 2015 yearbooks before picking
up their graduation caps and gowns in June. (ML)
(middle left) Agawam farmer Al Finni talks with
Mary Ellen and John Konopka about his all-original
1945 Farmall tractor during a “tractor rally” to benefit
the Historical Society, held in August at E. Cecchi Farm
in Feeding Hills. (ML)
(below) From left, Marine Corps veterans Francis
Curnow, Christopher Sanchez and Ron Hamel participate in Veterans Day exercises in November. (MB)
8)&3&
8&
-*7&
a community handbook for
longtime residents,
newcomers & visitors
a supplement to the agawam advertiser news – a turley publication –
Agawam High School Band Director William Hueglin leads the Marching Mohawks’ percussion
section at band camp in August 2015. (GS)
Members of the Church of Redemption stage a “Live Nativity” tableau
every December. The 2015 event also included carolers, hot beverages Cancer survivors carried a Relay for Life banner around the sports field at School
Street Park on the ceremonial first lap of the annual fundraiser event in May 2015.
and baked goods, and barn animals loaned from the Zoo at Forest
(ML)
Park. (MB)
26
Family, Friends, Neighbors
People at the St. David’s Episcopal Church and
Lighthouse Community Church end-of-summer
party enjoy a parachute game in August 2015.
(TG)
Amber and Tim Steiner and their daughter, Gianna, decorate their car trunk at Granger
School’s 2015 Trunk-or-Treat, an annual Halloween tradition at several Agawam schools.
(GS)
The town’s Parks and Recreation Department held its fourth
annual Easter Egg hunt on the grounds of Agawam High
School in March 2015. (KH)
27
LETTER FROM YOUR SUPERINTENDENT, from page 8
Grants
I’m pleased to report that, due to the efforts
of state Rep. Nicolas Boldyga and state Sen.
Donald Humason, our district was awarded
a $100,000 grant, which allowed us to make
improvements to the junior high school auditorium, such as new stage curtains, lighting,
and an upgraded sound system
The objective of the Agawam Family and
Community Enrichment Grant Program is
to act as a community-based information
and resource hub for all families. This grant
enables the district to target “hard to reach”
families and support them through early
childhood transitions. Some of the programs
available through this grant include parent
cafes, parent education events, author events,
family playgroups, parent & child date nights,
monthly memory book events, a home lending library, and a community fair.
Food Service
Our Food Service Director, Mr. Joel Illouz,
has extensive knowledge about the new federal nutrition standards for school meals. Consequently, he has ensured that the district’s
school meals are healthy, well-balanced, and
provide students with all the nutrition they
need to succeed in school. I’m also pleased to
report that the Food Service Department has
expanded the “School Breakfast Program” to
all four elementary schools, Doering School,
and the junior high school. Mr. Illouz firmly
believes that students who eat a good breakfast perform better in school and require less
visits to the school nurse.
Ongoing Programs
The Positive Behavior Instructional Support (PBIS) program continues to flourish at
all of our schools. This year, we are offering
a Peer Mediation program to students at the
Doering School, as this program has had great
success at the senior and junior high schools.
The District-Wide Support Team continues
to meet monthly to educate and communicate what is being done in the area of prevention for substance, drug, and alcohol abuse, as
28
Classes meet weekdays on the STCC campus.
Professional Learning Communities is a
format whereby teachers and administrators
meet before or after school hours to discuss
instructional practices, curriculum, and substantive issues.
well as the social aspects and issues impacting our community. Participation has grown
to include more community organizations,
and attendance at monthly meetings now
includes student participation. The group is
presently investigating how to disseminate
more information to parents regarding Social
Media concerns and is contemplating utilizing the new educational Channel 12 to reach
more parents and residents.
Response to Intervention is a program
which identifies elementary students via a
variety of assessments. Once identified, these
students are placed into groups with students
who have similar strengths and weaknesses,
so that teachers can address them during a
block of time set aside for that purpose each
day.
Gateway to College is a year-long, nationally
recognized dropout prevention and recovery
initiative. Designed for young adults ages 16
to 20 who have dropped out of high school,
are underperforming academically, or are significantly behind in credits and unlikely to
graduate on time, this program enables them
to complete their high school requirements
while simultaneously earning college credits.
I’m pleased to report that our district is working in partnership with Springfield Technical
Community College where, in addition to academics, students can take a college success
course or one for overcoming life obstacles.
School Budget
We are presently in the process of developing the fiscal 2017 school budget. To date, the
process has been cooperative and collaborative in nature, with all parties participating in
open and honest discussions. It is our hope
that the school district will be able to retain
all staff, services, and programs. Although we
are in the beginning stages of developing the
fiscal ’17 school budget, I would like to thank
the School Committee’s Budget/Finance Subcommittee, chaired by Anthony Bonavita, and
members Diane Juzba and Carmino Mineo, as
well as the entire School Committee for their
input and support. Moreover, we look forward to collaborating with the City Council’s
School Budget Subcommittee members who
take time from their busy schedules to attend
our Budget/Finance Subcommittee meetings
and provide thoughtful input during the budget process.
Summary
Agawam Public Schools is a district rich in
tradition and history. We have an uncompromising staff who are second to none and who
have historically made a daily difference in the
lives of children, for which I am profoundly
grateful. I also want to extend a special thank
you to Agawam residents and parents, Mayor
Richard A. Cohen, the Agawam School Committee, and the Agawam City Council for their
unwavering support and commitment to the
education of our children. Our community is
what sets us apart and that will continue to
be our true measure of success.
Yours in education,
William P. Sapelli, C.A.G.S.
Superintendent of Schools
Agawam’s public schools
Agawam Early Childhood Center
108 Perry Lane, Agawam
Tel. 413-821-0597
Fax 413-821-0596
Robin Fernandes, director
Preschool (ages 3 to 5)
Benjamin J. Phelps School
Tel. 413-821-0586
Fax 413-786-0497
Noelle Colbert, principal
Grades K-4
PTO President April Oyler,
[email protected]
Clifford M. Granger School
31 S. Westfield St., Feeding Hills
Tel. 413-821-0580
Fax 413-821-0595
Cheryl Salomao, principal
Grades K-4
PTO President Diane Sarrazin,
[email protected]
Roberta G. Doering School
68 Main St., Agawam
Tel. 413-789-1400, ext. 448
Fax 413-789-7337
Susan Federico, principal
Chad Joyal, assistant principal
Grades 5-6
PTO President Erin Woods, 413-789-1400,
[email protected]
Agawam Junior High School
Tel. 413-821-0542
Fax 413-786-4240
Norman C. Robbins, principal
Michael Donovan, assistant principal
Grades 7-8
PTO President Sarah Santucci,
[email protected]
James Clark Elementary School
65 Oxford St., Agawam
Tel. 413-821-0576
Fax 413-821-0594
Shelley Russell, principal
Grades K-4
PTO President Shannon Page, 413-789-6558
Agawam High School
760 Cooper St., Agawam
Tel. 413-821-0530
Fax 413-821-0536
Steven P. Lemanski, principal
Thomas Schnepp, assistant principal
Susan Schoenberger, Assistant Principal
Susan Feyre, assistant principal
Grades 9-12
PTSO President Joelle Phillips, 413-821-0521,
[email protected]
Robinson Park Elementary School
65 Begley St., Agawam
Tel. 413-821-0582
Fax 413-786-8793
Cynthia Palazzi, principal
Grades K-4
PTO President Kathy St. Pierre,
[email protected]
School Committee 2016-17
Six School Committee members are elected every other year, in
odd-numbered years, along with the mayor and city councilors.
All seats are at large. Along with the six elected members, the
mayor sits on the School Committee, acting as chairman. The
mayor and School Committee members elected in November
2015 took office in January 2016 and will be up for re-election in
November 2017. School Committee meetings are typically held
the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7 p.m. in the
Doering School auditorium. School Committee agendas are usually printed in the previous Thursday’s Agawam Advertiser News.
PEOPLE/MILESTONE NEWS
As a free service for our readers, we will print all births,
weddings, engagements, milestone anniversaries, major
birthdays, military achievements, honors and awards. We
have a “people news” form available for you to submit these
listings. This material is provided to us by our readers and local institutions and we do not charge to print this content.
For more information, or to submit people or milestone
news for Agawam Advertiser News, please email mballway@
turley.com.
Ricard Cohen
Mayor and Chairman
36 Main St.
Agawam MA 01001
413-786-0400, ext. 200
[email protected]
Carmino Mineo
196 Meadow St.
Agawam, MA 01001
413-627-5538
carminojmineo4356@
gmail.com
Anthony Bonavita
Vice Chairman
683 Cooper St.
Agawam, MA 01001
413-786-2079
anthonybonavita@
hotmail.com
Shelley Reed
10 Shelley Lane
413-786-4960
[email protected]
Roberta Doering
919 River Road
Agawam, MA 01001
413-786-1852
[email protected]
Diane Juzba
1898 S. Westfield St.
413-789-0804
[email protected]
Wendy Rua
173 N. Westfield St.
413-786-0454
[email protected]
Central Office
1305 Springfield St., Suite 1
Tel. 413-821-0552
Fax 413-789-1835
29
Church Directory
AGAWAM CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
786-7111
Pastor: Rev. Greg E. Dawson
[email protected]
www.agawamcongregationalchurch.com
SUNDAY SERVICES at 10 a.m.
Communion on the first Sunday
of the month
Church school is in session and
fellowship coffee hour follows the
service.
“A place to call home ~ A people
to call family”
AGAWAM UNITED
METHODIST CHURCH
459 Mill St., Feeding Hills
413-786-4174
Pastor: Ken Blanchard
email [email protected]
www.agawamworship.org
WORSHIP SERVICES
Sunday 10 a.m.
Holy Communion served 1st and
3rd Sundays.
Coffee hour after worship; Bible
Study after fellowship.
Prepare Meal for Samaritan Inn
Homeless Shelter 2nd Saturdays
2-5 p.m.
Offsite Worship:
Heritage East, 1st Mondays, 11 a.m.
Heritage North, 1st Tuesdays,
11 a.m.
Heritage Woods, 1st Mondays,
11 a.m.
Country Estates, 2nd and 5th
Thursdays, 11 a.m.
BETHANY ASSEMBLY OF GOD
(413) 789-2930
www.bethany-ag.org
Senior Pastor: Rev. Richard E.
Adams
WORSHIP SERVICES
Sunday 9am & 10:45am
Christian Education offered during
both services.
Nightlife Contemporary Service:
Sunday 6 p.m.
Wednesday Family Night: 7 p.m.
30
CHURCH OF REDEMPTION
50 Maple St., Agawam
(413) 304-2313
churchor.org
HOPE COMMUNITY CHURCH
152 South Westfield St.
Feeding Hills
789-2026
WORSHIP SERVICES
Summer Schedule
Sunday Services, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Sunday school for children and
nursery for younger children
SUNDAY SERVICES
Men’s & Women’s Bible Study
Groups and Children’s Sunday
School Worship Service at 10 a.m.
Children’s Church for age 3 to high
school takes place after the service.
Nursery available for younger
children. A time for fellowship after
the service.
FAITH BIBLE CHURCH
370 Shoemaker Lane
Agawam
(413) 786-1681
[email protected]
Church Website: www.faithbible
-church.org
Pastor: Rick Donofrio
SERVICES
Sunday School for all ages 9:30 a.m.
Worship Service 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday Night Prayer
Meeting and Bible Study - 6:30 p.m.
FEEDING HILLS
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
UCC
“An Open and Affirming
Congregation.”
21 N. Westfield St., Feeding Hills
P.O. Box 264
(413) 786-5061
[email protected]
Pastor: The Rev. Robert C.
Donaldson
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP
Church School 10:15 a.m.
Worship Service 10 a.m.
Infant and child care provided.
Handicap accessible.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF
AGAWAM
[email protected]
www.firstbaptistagawam.org
Pastor: Rev. George Thomson
SUNDAY SERVICES
Worship 9:30 a.m.
Sunday School (grades K - 5)
following Children’s Message until
10:45
Youth Group meets at 11 a.m.
Coffee & Conversation following
worship service
LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN
CHURCH
522 Springfield Street
413-821-0937
Senior Elders Bob and Barbara
Olmstead
Web: www.lighthousema.com
WORSHIP SERVICE
Saturday evening Celebration
at 6 to 8 PM
Saturday evening Prayer from 5
– 5:45 PM
1-hour classes for children ages
3 to 12 during service
Nursery available for younger
children
SMALL GROUP MEETINGS in
homes during the week
(call or see website for more
information)
MARANATHA BAPTIST
CHURCH
Feeding Hills, MA
478-9484
David L. Short, Pastor
Sunday Familly Bible Study Hour,
9:45 a.m.
Sunday Morning Service, 11 a.m.
Sunday Night Service, 6 p.m.
Wednesday Bible Study & Prayer,
7 p.m.
SACRED HEART CHURCH
(413) 786-8200
www.SacredHeartFeedingHills.org
Fr. Steven Amo
WEEKLY SERVICES
Lord’s Day Masses: Saturday, 4 p.m.;
Sunday, 7:15 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m.
Confessions: Saturdays, 3:15 p.m.
Weekday Masses: Monday, Tuesday,
Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m.
Special Devotions: Perpetual
Novena to the
Sacred Heart following the
Friday 9 a.m. Mass
ST. DAVID’S EPISCOPAL
CHURCH
Rector: The Rev. Dr. Harvey Hill
699 Springfield St.
Feeding Hills
(413) 786-6133
[email protected]
www.stdavidsagawam.org
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Sunday 8 a.m. Rite I and Holy
Eucharist
10 a.m. Rite II and Holy Eucharist
Sunday school and Nursery during
10 a.m. service
Coffee hour following the 10 a.m.
service
Handicap Accessible
OFFSITE WORSHIP
Church without Walls, 2nd Sunday
of the month at 12 p.m. at
Parish Pantry, West Springfield
Holy Eucharist and distribution of
bag lunches
ST. JOHN’S CHURCH
786-8105
[email protected].
www.stjohnagawam.org
SCHEDULE OF MASSES
Saturdays: 5 p.m. Sundays:
8 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Reconciliation: Fridays, 7:15 to 8
a.m., Saturdays, 4 to 4:45 p.m.
Weekdays: Mon., Tues.,
Wed. & Fri., 8 a.m.
Thursday: Communion Service
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455-3297
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RELAY FOR LIFE
Cancer event looks
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FUNDRAISER
Donors sought to
help Aimee walk, Page 3
AGAWAM
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A TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.com
EDITORIAL
Making
Mike Ballway
January 14, 2016 ❙ Vol. 37, No. 45 ❙ $1.00
413-786-7747
[email protected]
Ar right, Sydney Seo, 9, puts some
photos in her journal.
Partners Restaurant
485 Springfield St.
Feeding Hills
786-0975
www.parthenonagawam.com
ADVERTISER
NEWS
www.agawamadvertiser.turley.com
ADVERTISING
POLICE DEPT.
Lieutenant
John Baskin
fined for
413-786-7747
ethics law
[email protected]
violation
[email protected]
BY GREGORY A. SCIBELLI
www.on-the-hill-restaurant.com
HOCKEY
Longmeadow loss
adds to skid, Page 10
By Gregory A. Scibelli
Above, Lori Saroglou works with her
son, Camryn, 5, to create a “memory
journal” during a monthly craft program sponsored by the Agawam
Family and Community Program at
the library on Tuesday. More photos
on page 16. TURLEY PUBLICATIONS PHOTOS
www.mainstgrillagawam.com
ADVERTISER
NEWS
On The Hill
Restaurant
37 Southwick St.
Feeding Hills
786-2252
An Agawam police lieutenant
has been fined $7,500 by the Massachusetts Ethics Commission for
his handling of a drunk-driving
incident in 2012. The Ethics Commission released a report in 2014
stating it believed Lt. Edward McGovern had used his position in
the Police Department to direct
his subordinate officers to act in
an inappropriate manner.
A hearing was held in September 2015 and closing arguments
were made in late November. The
ruling was handed down on Dec.
16.
In making the decision, the
Ethics Commission ruled McGovern had violated Massachusetts General Law Chapter 268A,
section 23(b)(2)(ii), in giving an
officer, Danielle Petrangelo, preferential treatment.
According to the decision, the
law prohibits public employees
from knowingly, or with reason
to know, using or attempting
to use their official positions to
secure for themselves or others
POLICE ❙ page 6
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AGAWAM
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A TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.com
HOCKEY
Longmeadow loss
adds to skid, Page 10
RELAY FOR LIFE
Cancer event looks
for superheroes, Page 9
FUNDRAISER
Donors sought to
help Aimee walk, Page 3
ADVERTISER
NEWS
January 14, 2016 ❙ Vol. 37, No. 45 ❙ $1.00
www.agawamadvertiser.turley.com
Making
POLICE DEPT.
Lieutenant
fined for
ethics law
violation
[email protected]
An Agawam police lieutenant
has been fined $7,500 by the Massachusetts Ethics Commission for
his handling of a drunk-driving
incident in 2012. The Ethics Commission released a report in 2014
stating it believed Lt. Edward McGovern had used his position in
the Police Department to direct
his subordinate officers to act in
an inappropriate manner.
A hearing was held in September 2015 and closing arguments
were made in late November. The
ruling was handed down on Dec.
16.
In making the decision, the
Ethics Commission ruled McGovern had violated Massachusetts General Law Chapter 268A,
section 23(b)(2)(ii), in giving an
officer, Danielle Petrangelo, preferential treatment.
According to the decision, the
law prohibits public employees
from knowingly, or with reason
to know, using or attempting
to use their official positions to
secure for themselves or others
Above, Lori Saroglou works with her
son, Camryn, 5, to create a “memory
journal” during a monthly craft program sponsored by the Agawam
Family and Community Program at
the library on Tuesday. More photos
on page 16. TURLEY PUBLICATIONS PHOTOS
BY GREGORY A. SCIBELLI
Ar right, Sydney Seo, 9, puts some
photos in her journal.
POLICE ❙ page 6
WALNUT STREET EXT.
Downtown plan now has rotary
Businesses objected to proposed pedestrian mall, parkland
[email protected]
Planners hope businesses
on Walnut Street Extension will
agree to a beautification plan
that keeps cars on the street but
moves some parking.
Merchants in the neighborhood near the corner of Springfield and Suffield streets in Agawam, which is being targeted for
redevelopment as a “walkable
downtown,” recently rejected a
town Planning and Community
Development Department proposal that would have turned the
street into a park and pedestrian
promenade. Under the new plan,
to be presented at a property
owners’ meeting this month, the
street remains open, but parking spaces will be sacrificed to
give pedestrians more room. The
plan also envisions turning the
intersection of Walnut Street Extension and Ramah Circle into a
roundabout, a kind of rotary.
Whether the changes — particularly the shift of some parking spaces away from the road-
The corner of Walnut Street Extension and Ramah Circle would be reconfigured
as a rotary under the latest plan to develop a “downtown” area there. TURLEY
PUBLICATIONS PHOTO BY MICHAEL J. BALLWAY
side — meet with approval from
the businesses remains to be
seen.
“There was some concern
among the business owners that
have older clientele,” said Planning and Community Develop-
ment Director Marc Strange.
“They are concerned those folks
may have a longer walk to access
some of the businesses. Several of
the businesses there have parking
WALNUT ❙ page 6
ADVERTISER
NEWS
PARANORMAL SOCIETY
Group finds spirits at Smith House
[email protected]
The Agawam Paranormal Society has brought its talents back
home and presented its findings
of an investigation in the historic
Thomas Smith House.
Last Friday night, Agawam
Paranormal Founder Rob Goff
presented “Who Goes There?”
to a group of approximately 150
paranormal enthusiasts at the
Agawam Senior Center.
Goff, who did the presentation
for the Agawam Cultural Council
free of charge, talked about starting his ninth year of paranormal
investigations, and gave an overview of his crew and some details
on their process for investigations.
Goff started out nine years ago
using the investigations as simply
a family activity.
“It was just something we really wanted to do together,” said
Goff. “We watched the investigations on television as a family and
I thought it was something we
could go out and do a few times
a year.”
He said nine years have really
flown by and he is so happy to be
doing investigations all over the
region. He shared his experiences
at locations in Holyoke, South
Hadley and West Springfield.
Most recently, Goff ’s crew investigated Southwick Town Hall
and the old Southwick Public Library. He said the response to the
investigations was huge.
“We had a ‘grand reveal’ of our
findings and there was 350 people
at their town hall,” said Goff. “We
had to get a couple of police officers down there to manage the
crowd.”
Goff says his roster includes
more than 30 people, with several
of them specializing in certain
aspects of paranormal investigations. He has a psychic who is not
informed of the spaces she will be
investigating to ensure a neutral
reading of the psychic energies a
location may have.
Goff ’s presentation for the Senior Center crowd was custom
made. Goff said he makes presentations throughout the region,
and has been to more than 40 different libraries.
For the Agawam presentation,
he geared video clips and some
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PARANORMAL ❙ page 6
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Agawam Feeding Hills - Turley Publications, Inc.

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