JULY 8, 2021 Entinelyour HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1915 a TURLEY PUBLICATIONS ❙ Volume 106 • Number 16
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PRSRT STD Belchertown, Granby & Amherst U.S. POSTAGE PAID PALMER, MA PERMIT NO. 22 ECR-WSS LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 ENTINELYOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1915 A TURLEY PUBLICATIONS ❙ www.turley.com Volume 106 • Number 16 www.sentinel.turley.com COMMUNITY FACES & PLACES SPORTS NEWS Senior Center has BCOA hosts Memory Orioles run ends in Local youth wins national soft opening...p. 2 Lane ...p. 9 finals...p. 10 dance title...p. 16 GRANBY Fourth of July Selectboard appoints parade for Day School interim police chief MELINA BOURDEAU incapacitated for some reason or Staff writer another. Chief Wishart and I talk- ed about it…we no longer have a GRANBY – An interim police chief due to a retirement,” Martin chief has been appointed by the said. Selectboard follow- Sexton then made ing the deparchure of the motion to appoint Chief Alan Wishart last Grady as interim chief. week. “Grady is second The board unani- in charge and, as of BELCHERTOWN – mously approved the today, he’s actually in In honor of the Fourth appointment of Lt. charge,” he said. of July, residents of Kevin Grady as interim Grady said he is Christopher Heights put chief until a permanent excited to take on the on a parade for the stu- replacement is hired. new role. dents at Belchertown Day During the meeting, “(Chief Wishart) School. Selectboard member showed me every- Marketing Director Glenn Sexton asked thing over the past Lorna Stone said the chil- why the position would Kevin Grady few years, so I feel dren at the school have need to be filled by the prepared to take on this been great neighbors board on July 1. role,” Grady said. “I’ve been and the residents want- “We have Lt. Grady who is shadowing him for the last eight ed to show their grat- basically in charge, the former to 10 months.” itude. chief retired,” Sexton said. “Is In a Facebook post, Wishart “They always do a there anything (Grady) would not gave parting remarks on his near parade for us, so one of be able to do as a lieutenant rath- three-decade career in Granby as our residents thought is er than acting chief?” well as Grady’s promotion. would be cute to do a Town Administrator Chris “Over the past several months parade for them,” Stone Martin responded that the based Kevin has been taking on the SEE MORE said. “They will be dec- on the policies and procedures, an lion’s share of the depart- PHOTOS ON orating their walkers or interim chief would be necessary. ment administrative load and PAGE 4 wheelchairs and singing “Inside the policies and pro- basically running the depart- and serving them snacks.” cedures of the department, dic- ment right beside me,” Wishart tate everything flows through wrote. “Kevin is uniquely qual- the chief,” he said. “The issue ified, trained and suited to run becomes if we don’t have a chief, our department. As the outgoing the department, in essence, can- Chief and a resident, I can tell Residents at not operate because it is the chief you with the utmost confidence Christopher who delegates everything.” Kevin O’Grady is the person to Heights held a Grady provided further infor- continue directing our department parade for the mation. in the right direction.” children of the “When you read the strong Martin said Wishart’s retire- Belchertown Day chief law, it says the Selectboard ment from the department is “a School in honor appoints the chief and the chief is loss to the community.” of the Fourth of in charge of the personnel and the “He did a wonderful job here,” July on Friday. equipment,” he said. “Everything he said. “He’s a great person with starts at the chief of police and a great personality.” Students at the that forms the department.” Wishart said the department Belchertown Sexton also asked what the dif- has been a joy to work alongside. Day School ference would be to have an inter- “I would like to take a moment made posters to im chief versus an acting chief. to thank all the department mem- wish residents “An acting chief is someone of Christopher who is acting on behalf of the Heights a happy chief due to the fact they are See CHIEF, page 5 • Fourth of July. BELCHERTOWN BOH talks COVID numbers, pen letter to Selectboard MELINA BOURDEAU ty well,” Bell said. “We’re still cluster at a wedding elsewhere potentially be a problem. We’re COVID-19 relief funding, the Staff writer even as far as the fully vaccinated and it was one whole group,” Bell going to pay attention to it, see health district was able to send rate in town. We’re about 65% said. “Our case numbers have how things go.” out over 4,000 mailers between BELCHERTOWN – The Board and about 73% having one dose. been pretty low, and it looks like Board of Health member Ken Pelham, Ware and Belchertown. of Health discussed the state of If people go back for the second that is going to continue.” Elstein created mailers to send to COVID-19, vaccinations and a dose, we should be up around He said the state overall looks members of the active voter list in COVID-19 funding group pandemic-related task force estab- 70% in the next few weeks.” like it’s been doing well as far as the age range of 18 to 29. Board of Health mem- lished by the Selectboard at last The lowest demographics get- COVID-19 cases. Bell said the mailers were get- ber Leeanne Connolly said she week’s meeting ting vaccinated are people with- He said he is concerned about ting to people, because one person believed the Board of Health in the 16 to 29-year-old range, the delta variant, which makes up called the health department to should be a part of a recently COVID-19 vaccinations which are about 49% vaccinated. a sizable portion of the new cases complain. established working group which and data Over the past couple of weeks, nationwide. “That should help at the very is working to make recommenda- Quabbin Health Director the town has seen a “steep decline “It is a low percentage in least it should put that into peo- tions for uses of COVID-19 relief Stephen Bell discussed the status in COVID-19 cases,” according Massachusetts, maybe 6 to 8% of ple’s minds that they should go funding. of the town’s COVID-19 numbers to Bell. new cases,” Bell said. “We don’t out and get (the vaccine) because Members of the board agreed, as well as the vaccination num- “Last week it was one case, the have it bad here yet. Later in the that demographic is less than 50% bers. week before it was six. That was summer or early fall, depend- vaccinated,” Bell said. “Belchertown is doing pret- an anomaly, it was related to a ing on vaccination rates it could Elstein said using last year’s See BOH, page 3 • PAGE 2 THE SENTINEL • THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 ❚ COMMUNITY Belchertown Senior Center has soft opening BELCHERTOWN – The Belchertown Senior Center reopened its doors with lim- ited programming and to Social Services assistance by appointment only. Although it is being requested that community members not stop in yet, as they are typically encouraged to do, those who are attending the scheduled pro- gramming are welcome to simply enter the building through the open front door. While repairs to the sprinkler system in the Freedom Center are underway, some of those activities have been moved to the main building, and others will return once that space is safe again to use. The Freedom Center houses and has halted the re-opening of the thrift shop and some groups, classes, programs and services. “Being able to plan events where those invited can finally be allowed to attend inside and in person, is a dream come true for a Program Coordinator! My goal is always to bring people togeth- er through programming so they can enjoy their time together having fun,” said Katy Martin, program and volunteer Crafters are happy to move back inside after meeting outside on the Jessica Langlois, Executive Director, proudly welcomes residents back to the coordinator for the center. “Although we lawn at the center since June. Belchertown Senior Center for limited programming. have made do with what we have, offer- ing everything possible outside, New ing July 1. Anyone wishing to receive after programming has ended for the day. the best we can, as we always try to do,” she England weather doesn’t always allow for assistance through social services can call There is a list of available programs in the said. “We’re happy to be here for people as the grand plans we try to implement. It’s Laurene or Heather to make an appoint- July newsletter which can be found online, we take these steps in the right direction.” very exciting to see familiar and friendly ment. The front door of the center will be on our website, or printed at the senior cen- Anyone wishing to subscribe for it by faces returning to the inside the building!” the only access into the center currently, ter for pick up. email or wishing to be added to the mailing Groups including healthy bones and bal- and doors will be unlocked throughout the Martin said while the center is beginning list can call Martin at 323-0420 extension ance exercise, tai chi, Zumba gold, crafts, hours of available programming.