COMMUNITY OUTDOORS SPORTS Pet of the week: Backpacking Oliveira Meet Franny in the mountains remembered Page 2 Page 4 Page 7 SERVING PALMER, MONSON, BRIMFIELD, HOLLAND & WALES The Journal Register A TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.com June 24, 2021 ❙ Vol. CLXX, No. 21 ❙ $1.00 www.journalregister.turley.com COMMUNITY TOWN MEETING Brimfield voters decide to keep electing health board members Turley Publications staff photo by Jonah Snowden Voters decide one of several articles at the 2021 Brimfield Town Meeting on June 16. By Jonah Snowden fied people on that board, but again, [email protected] it’s been left up to a popularity con- test for the last 30 years since it was BRIMFIELD – Tensions were changed by the current chairman.” high during the annual Brimfield He also said as a selectman, he Town Meeting on June 16, where has received numerous complaints discussions on single-action teams about the fee structure that has been ranged from five minutes to half an assessed by the Board of Health. hour. “When it comes time to setting One of the most pressing topics standards, whether it’s septic or at the meeting was Article 27, which food trucks, they’re just not getting Turley Publications photos by Michael Harrison asked registered voters to approve a answers or feel that they’re getting Officials (from left) Palmer Police Chief Chris Burns, Town Council President Lorinda Baker, Sen. Anne Gobi, Palmer Health Inspector and Commonwealth motion for an article to be inserted tossed around,” Olszta said. Unsung Heroine Chrissy Florence, Rep. Todd Smola, and Councilman Bob Lavoie at Town Hall Monday to celebrate Florence ahead of the June 24 official into the warrant of the next annual “This is simply to send them to awards ceremony. Gobi and Smola presented Florence with state proclimations. town meeting. This article would a majority vote, to see if the Board determine if the town would have its of Health will be switched back to elected Board of Health become an a board which would ultimately be appointed department in town. appointed by the board of select- Town’s top health official is among After the By-Law committee men.” made a recommendation for no Richard E. Costa, chairman of action to be taken on Article 27, the Board of Health, provided a re- Brimfield Selectman Ryan Olsz- sponse to these claims by reminding this year’s ‘Unsung Heroines’ ta chimed in and said he felt there the voters of how the board handled By Michael Harrison Massachusetts Commission on the even if they don’t realize it. led a multi-town effort to open a are some issues within the Board of the COVID-19 pandemic which [email protected] Status of Women, but the agency When it came time earlier vaccination clinic inside the former Health in need of addressing, such showcased the importance of hav- relies on the judgment of elected this year to consider her choice, Converse Middle School build- as accountability. ing an independent and experienced PALMER — Once a year officials who know the rhythms of Sen. Anne Gobi didn’t need long ing that has inoculated more than “Myself and numerous other health board. During his remarks, since 2003, state legislators nomi- the communities they serve – and to think. Christina “Chrissy” Flor- 10,000 people, including home- citizens felt the Board of Health Costa also said they work very nate a woman from their district for more. They understand the back- ence, Palmer’s soft-spoken and bound residents served by mobile should be a specialized position,” closely with the State Department recognition as a Commonwealth beat, the sound behind the sound. unassuming health inspector, was teams based at the site, and even Olszta said. of Public Health for extra guidance Unsung Heroine. Or in this case, the people behind the tip of the spear in the region’s “ (The health board) currently The honor comes from the the scenes residents depend on battle against COVID-19. Florence HEROINE ❙ page 2 do have some very more than quali- BRIMFIELD ❙ page 5 GOVERNMENT ENVIRONMENT More COVID relief Chestnut Forest Project continues money coming; How it and volunteers are welcome By Jonah Snowden repopulate Mt. Ella in Flynt Park enth grade Science Teacher Jes- [email protected] with blight-resistant American se Greene and fellow volunteers will be used is TBD Chestnuts. This in response to the planted American Chestnuts at the By Jonah Snowden ments to keep our recovery moving. MONSON – Six years ago, 1904 American Chestnut Blight, summit of Mt. Ella. In 2020, the [email protected] Our administration appreciates the the Monson Chestnut Forest Proj- which caused a near extinction team worked at the bottom of the collaboration of the legislature and ect, which began as a collaboration of American Chestnut Trees at REGION – As the Mass. Sen- local government in responding to between seventh grade students the park. The 2011 EF-3 tornado, CHESTNUT ❙ page 5 ate and House work to reconcile the pandemic, and we all must work and science teachers at Tantasqua which also removed forest canopy differences and craft a new state together to distribute funding quick- Regional Junior High School, is across Mt. Ella, was also a contrib- Elliott and Tobias Greene posing budget to send on to Gov. Charlie ly and efficiently to ensure those now in its third planting phase and uting factor to the cause. Baker, the Baker administration last hard-hit by the virus receive relief next to a planted chestnut tree at volunteers are welcome. In summer of 2019, Tanta- the Summit of Mt. Ella. week announced a plan to spread as quickly as possible.” The project’s main goal is to squa Regional Junior High sev- approximately $2.815 billion in di- It’s too early to specify how rect federal aid among local munic- and where the money will be used ipalities to target communities that locally, but elected officials repre- could use an economic boost. senting area towns in the legislature “Key priorities” include hous- have some ideas of their own. ing and homeownership, economic Sen. Anne Gobi said using ART IMITATING LIFE development, local downtowns, job some of the money to boost public training, workforce development, projects and private manufacturing health care, and infrastructure, Bak- could benefit the entire region by er said. The money was doled out to creating jobs and providing greater states in response to the COVID-19 mobility. pandemic and the negative impact it “There could be a lot of bene- has had on local economies. fits, especially on the transportation “Our proposal will immedi- side of things which seem like they ately invest $2.8 billion toward key will be quite good,” Gobi said. priorities that will help jump-start “The other kind of thought I’m our economic recovery, with a par- looking at is, the president is talking ticular focus on those hit hardest by about a big manufacturing bill that COVID-19, such as communities of should be coming out shortly as color,” Baker said in a statement. well. I think for the manufacturers “With over four million people in this area there will be a lot of op- fully vaccinated, Massachusetts is portunities and some partnerships, getting back to normal and back to so I think we’re going to be in great work, but it is critical that we act shape,” Gobi said. now to make these critical invest- Rep. Todd Smola said he would like to see some of the money spent on education and for town-level officials to have a voice on how to Recently, Monson resident and historian Patrick Duquette photographed local artists Elisabeth Dean (left) and Linda Grondin while they painted the COVID ❙ page 3 spectacular Quabbin view from their vantage point on Enfield Lookout. Courtesy photos PAGE 2 June 24, 2021 ❙ THE JOURNAL REGISTER Travel writing of the class for kids and teens offered MONSON – An introductory class for kids and teens age 12 and older interested in travel writing will be held June 26 at Travelnitch. Chrissy Florence, The nonprofit headquartered in Monson will be Palmer’s health hosting classes all summer long with one goal in mind: inspector who or- to inspire the next generation of explorers. ganized a regional “This has been on my to-do list since pre-COVID, vaccination site on but it really needs to happen face to face,” says Amanda Converse Street, Renna, founder and CEO. holds the state “We finally have the ability to make that happen.” proclamations she Two more classes will be held in Wales and Ware received in honor in coming weeks. of being named a This series is about giving aspiring young writers 2021 Massachu- the chance to learn from real-world experience. Partic- setts Commission ipants will meet “On the Road” to explore their sur- on the Status of roundings and craft their very own travel story. This Women Common- two-hour excursion will offer tips for becoming a better wealth Unsung writer through direct observation and hands-on activity. Heroine. Families with kids under 12 can participate in a slightly different way: choose a destination and bring along the whole gang to explore the world of travel HEROINE ❙ from page 1 Baker administration shifted doses people who wanted to work for me FRANNY writing together, during a private outdoor session. back to regional sites. at the site who were ready to go. “We really want this to be an adventure that ev- international travelers who hap- “At the start of vaccinations, The partnership created for this is A Pit bull/Staffordshire mix rescue who lives in ery member of the family can enjoy, from six to sixty,” pened to be in the area.