Feeding the Front Lines
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TOWNS The Wilbraham-Hampden PRSRT STD Family seeks U.S. POSTAGE help PAID finding cat PALMER, MA PERMIT NO. 22 Page 5 SPORTS ECR-WSS LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER Pioneers TURLEY PUBLICATIONS season shut down Page 11 Dedicated to Improving the Quality of Life in the Communities We Serve A TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.comTIMESAPRIL 23, 2020 www.wilbrahamhampdentimes.turley.com Feeding the front lines Turtle times!… Frank Gencarelli, owner of the Village Store & Cafe in Wilbraham, makes a sandwich wrap for Luca Jenne, 7, of Wilbraham poses with his hometown paper April customer. Gencarelli, with the help of customers through a GoFundMe campaign, will be donating 16 after scanning the pages for Turley the Turtle. Luca correctly sandwiches, cookies and chips to first responders throughout the area. TIMES STAFF PHOTO BY TYLER S. found Turley 12 times. How many did you find? See this week’s WITKOP submissions on page 4. Look hard for Turley this week and send your count along with your name and town of residence to tyler@ heart-warming way: raising do- Last Thursday, April 16, turley.com. TIMES PHOTO SUBMITTED Local business nations from the community to Gencarelli launched the Go- providing lunches for help feed the front-line crews. FundMe campaign, “Lunches “This is my way of saying, For Western Mass First Re- responders ‘We appreciate what you do,’” sponders,” with a goal of $400 said Frank Gencarelli, owner of that would cover the cost to pre- By Tyler S. Witkop the Village Store & Cafe. pare 50 sandwiches as well as Staff Writer Gencarelli said a fair num- pasta salads, chips and cookies. ber of his customers are essen- By the end of the day, a hand- WILBRAHAM – During tial workers in the response to ful of donors contributed $105 the current public health emer- the new coronavirus, including and by the end of the next, he gency sparked by the novel doctors, nurses, firefighters and secured enough funds to make coronavirus, front line workers police officers. Realizing that the meals. like doctors and nurses, police many of these individuals are As The Times goes to press, and firefighters have been work- working 12-hour shifts with lit- the campaign secured $705, ing non-stop treating patients tle time for meal breaks at work with folks still able to contrib- infected with the new virus as – and limited time at home to ute. Additional funds will mean well as everyday emergencies. acquire and prepare meals – he more meals for more workers. Inspired by these individ- decided to put the cafe’s kitchen “A local resident approached uals, one Wilbraham business to work and help fuel his friends owner stepped up in a small but and neighbors. Please see FEEDING, page 9 Selectmen close to dispatch decision By Tyler S. Witkop braham. erational costs for three years, Staff Writer “Hampden today remains a 75 percent in year four and 25 single dispatch center with one percent in year five. In year six, HAMPDEN – After near- of the lowest call volumes in the Hampden would be responsible Each week boxes of food are available to veterans in need through ly a decade of discussions, the state,” Davenport said during for the full cost. the Western Massachusetts Veteran Service Officer’s Association, town of Hampden is nearing a the Board’s April 13 meeting Hampden’s projected costs the Salvation Army and Red Cross. For more information, contact decision regarding the future of using the web-based meeting for fiscal 2021 are $403,000 to Jered Sasen, Wilbraham’s director of veteran services, at 596-8379 emergency dispatch service. site Zoom. keep services in town. The town or [email protected]. TIMES PHOTO COURTESY WILBRAHAM The Board of Selectmen – He said, providing back- currently employs five full-time VETERAN SERVICES Chairman Donald Davenport, ground to the issue, there are 29 ad two part-time dispatchers. If John D. Flynn and Mary Ellen regional centers statewide rang- the town joined with WEST- Glover – were set to make a ing in size between two and 25 COMM, the town would be as- Services available to decision as The Times went to communities. Hampden, which sessed a minimum of $100,000. press April 21, whether to stick operates a single dispatch site Should WESTCOMM not re- veterans during shutdown with town’s current emergency for police, fire and emergency ceive state funds, the maximum medical calls, is set to have the assessment to the town would out are the daily needs of human dispatchers who work in the By Tyler S. Witkop second lowest call volume in be 11.35 percent of the oper- beings, like food, shelter and a Hampden Police Department or Staff Writer the state. ating budget or $356,900 in means to cover living expenses, partner with another communi- Driving the push for a de- FY21. and especially so, with those who ty or provider. The two options WILBRAHAM – Life during cision this year, according to WESTCOMM has the ca- fought to preserve the American selectmen have looked into are the current public health emer- officials, is a state grant dead- pacity to partner with one more way of life. joining the WESTCOMM re- gency has seemingly turned up- line of May 4, issued through community at the current facil- While the Wilbraham Senior gional 911 dispatch center lo- side down as government offices, the 911 Department, that would ity. The center is looking to ex- Center, which houses the office cated in the Chicopee Police social gatherings and many busi- fully reimburse Hampden for its pand at a larger site in Chicopee of Wilbraham’s Director of Vet- Department and that consists of nesses have been forced to close costs to join another communi- that could take on up to 25 com- eran Services Jered Sasen, has Chicopee, Longmeadow, East doors. Longmeadow and Monson, or ty. The five-year grant would re- Remaining constant through- Please see VETERANS, page 5 partnering with the town of Wil- imburse 100 percent of the op- Please see DISPATCH, page 5 Page 2 The Wilbraham-Hampden TIMES April 23, 2020 Under New Ownership!“Mountain View Drive In is a family-owned seasonal restaurant in Hampden, Massachusetts. It has been part of the local community for over 60 years. As lifelong customers we are proud to be the new owners and we are fully committed to 25 Allen St Hampden, MA 01036 • 413-566-5376 maintaining the traditions of Hours are currently 7am-8pm daily until after covid19 Quarantine this very special place.” Take out Breakfast Take out Lunch Take Out Dinner -The Bond Family Served daily from 7am-12pm. Burgers - Hot Dogs Seafood – Spaghetti Pancakes Grinders – Sandwiches Salads – Wings & More! Breakfast Sandwiches - We use only Ice cream flavors change weekly. Breakfast Plates - Kids Menu BOARS HEAD deli meats! Visit our Facebook page or website for full menu and updates www.mtviewhampden.com HAMPDEN SEPTIC WE’RE STILL TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS! Time to get your septic pumped, call about our Spring Specials! All our Title 5 inspections are dug by hand, leaving your lawn as good as it was when we first arrived. Selling your home? To avoid any financial hardship we will install your system now and get paid at closing. WE ARE A LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED BUSINESS Pumping • Installation • Title 5 Inspections • Perc Tests SEWER PUMP REPAIRS • FULLY INSURED • FAMILY OWNED Evening & Weekend Appointments Available! Evening & Weekend Appointments Available! 566-2916 April 23, 2020 The Wilbraham-Hampden TIMES Page 3 THE BEST FRESH NEWS ABOUT TOWN FOR SPRING! Earth Day 57 test positive for COVID-19 April 22nd Cluster at Wilbraham minimum. ters for Disease Control and Preven- Arbor Day Previously, Andrews told select- tion, may develop between two and April 24th nursing home men there were two fire personnel in 14 days after exposure. The CDC 14-day quarantine and one who was advises folks seek immediate medi- Think Globally By Tyler S. Witkop to be tested. Those two individuals cal attention if they experience such Buy Locally Staff Writer are now back to work and the test symptoms as trouble breathing, per- came back negative “so we’re now sistent pain or pressure in the chest, Think Green ~ Plant A Tree WILBRAHAM – The number of back to full strength at this point,” he new confusion or inability to arouse, confirmed cases of the new coronavi- said. and/or bluish lips or face. Fruit Trees, Evergreens, rus continues to grow throughout the He cautions all residents to be Board of Health Agent Lorri Spring Blooming Trees & Shrubs, state, including here in Wilbraham. aware that emergency medical re- McCool told selectmen in Wilbra- Perennial Plants Each week, officials update the sponders are now responding in ham, the situation remains “status Board of Selectmen as to the coro- gowns, masks and gloves for protec- quo,” with regular conference calls navirus response. In her report tion, and not to be alarmed. between the town’s Board of Health Dig In! Plant! to the selectmen April 13, Public According to the official report and the state’s Department of Public Health Nurse Jill Conselino said from the state, which released it’s Health. Cool Weather Vegetables the town now has 57 positive cases town-by-town breakdown of the vi- She did caution that while still Lettuce, Broccoli, of COVID-19, with a cluster at one rus Wednesday, April 15, Wilbraham open, grocery stores are allowed to nursing home that she did not iden- had 42 cases of the coronavirus. operate at 40 percent of their max- Cabbage, Spinach, tify.