Baystate Promises 'One-Stop Shopping' Healthcare
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INDEX The Opinion: 6 Sports: 9 Obituaries: 11 Notices: 13,15 Classifieds: 14 REGISTERLOCAL NEWS ❙ LOCAL STORIES ❙ LOCAL ADVERTISERS A TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.com November 25, 2020 ❙ Vol. 78, No. 28 www.register.turley.com NEWSLINE Knife- Local author publishing Baystate promises ‘one-stop book for kids wielding man shopping’ healthcare arrested after stand-off By Michael Harrison [email protected] LUDLOW — Police arrested a man Thursday night follow- ing a 90-minute stand-off at his SEE PAGE 2 home during which he barri- caded himself in a bedroom and threatened officers with a knife, Event calls out food according to a news release insecurity from Ludlow Chief Daniel Vala- das Friday morning. In the narrative Valadas provided, Ludlow Central Dis- patch received two 9-1-1 calls at around 6:30 p.m. from an elderly man who lives on Ever- green Circle and reported that he was assaulted by his stepson. The man told the dispatcher he was punched in the face. When officers arrived at the home, the SEE PAGE 5 suspect, a 46 year-old man who Courtesy photo Valadas did not identify, was OPINION The new Baystate Wing entrance. Soon, Baystate practices in Ludlow and Monson will move to the barricaded in a second-floor Baystate Wing Hospital in Palmer. bedroom. Learning to be in the By Michael Harrison year ’21 consolidation of Mon- planning for its Monson staff “The officers immediately moment [email protected] son and Ludlow practices to “coming over in mid-Decem- secured the scene and proceeded Palmer, providing stability and ber” to Palmer, followed by to locate the male suspect bar- REGION — Over the com- operational efficiency as well the Ludlow Primary Care staff ricaded in a second floor bed- ing months, Baystate Prima- as an improved patient expe- sometime in January, Gray said. room. The responding officers ry Care offices in Ludlow and rience,” Molly Gray, president The move is a direct re- made contact with the suspect Monson will be transitioning and chief administrative officer sponse to the Community in his bedroom where a stand- to Baystate Wing Hospital in for the Baystate Health Eastern Health Needs Assessment con- off initiated due to the suspect Palmer, which hospital officials Region, said. ducted in 2019. Gray said res- holding a large knife in his hand envision as becoming some- With the goal of operating idents in Ludlow and Monson while continuously yelling at the thing like a mall of healthcare “fewer, but more robust, ‘brick will only have to travel five and police officers that he was going services for the entire area. and mortar’ practices,” the not- “We are on target for a fiscal for-profit healthcare system is Please see BAYSTATE, Page 7 Please see ARREST, Page 5 SEE PAGE 6 IN SPORTS Pioneers begin road to GIVING THANKS Ludlow Police Chief: Wear masks return in public, observe new measures LUDLOW — Chief Daniel slightly due to the rise we’re Valadas and the Ludlow Police seeing across Massachusetts Department reminded residents of cases of COVID-19, and we late last week of the recent wanted to remind residents of changes Gov. Charlie Baker the new measures that have been made to the state’s gatherings put in place,” Chief Valadas order. said. On Nov. 2, Gov. Baker an- “It’s absolutely essential that nounced updated measures everyone does their part to re- to address a rise in positive duce the spread of COVID-19 COVID-19 cases statewide. The and keep themselves, their SEE PAGE 9 new statewide order went into loved ones and their community Courtesy photo effect on Nov. 6. Town officials and other volunteers gathered outside Town Please see LUDLOW POLICE, REGION “Recently, the state’s ex- Hall to distribute several dozen turkeys to local veterans for pectations of everyone changed Page 8 Our Hive Is Sick by Thanksgiving last week. Mary Ting virtual display Director of Veterans Ser- ends Dec. 5 Ludlow shows vices Eric Segundo, Event Grant aimed at preventing appreciation to Coordinator of Massachusetts Military Support Foundation overdoes deaths to be dispatched vets by handing out Ken Melanson and Selectman REGION — A rapid re- Comprehensive Opioid, Stim- Thanksgiving turkeys Derek DeBarge participated in sponse team of addiction spe- ulant and Substance Abuse Ludlow’s third annual turkey cialists and medical profes- Program (COSSAP). The mon- By Jonah Snowden drive on Nov. 16 outside Town sionals will soon be dispatched ey will help fund a Hampden [email protected] Hall to make sure local veter- to any household in Hampden County Addiction Task Force ans can celebrate a traditional County where an overdose is re- Program Coordinator position LUDLOW — Despite the Thanksgiving. ported, thanks to a grant secured and the launch of the Rapid cold, gloomy weather, local This event, “Turkey 4 Vets,” by the Hampden County Sher- Response and Connection Pro- officials lined up outdoors to took place not just in the town iff’s Department. gram. The Hampden County serve those who serve their The $900,000 grant is from SEE PAGE 12 country. Please see TURKEYS, Page 7 the U.S. Department of Justice Please see GRANT, Page 8 ◗ Page 2 ❙ November 25, 2020 ❙ The Register LUDLOW Author/speaker Kathy Picard working on book for children By Jonah Snowden them, that look where [I’ve] [email protected] been and helping them change the laws so that they’re able to LUDLOW – For over 20 You Served Us. go forward and get justice like I years, public speaker and au- did,” said Picard. thor Kathy Picard has contin- While she continues to com- ued to advocate for the aware- plete her book, Picard has con- ness of sexual abuse. tinued to conduct outreach ef- The author, alongside illus- forts and recently conducted a trator Deb Nicholson and ed- Zoom call in conjunction with itor Valerie Utton, is working Boston University with Sydney on a book geared toward young Kim, co-founder of the campus people who might have expe- chapter of It’s On Us, a social rienced sexual abuse but don’t NOW movement created by former know how to communicate President Barack Obama and their feelings. Picard, an abuse the White House Council on survivor herself, said she was Women and Girls. The orga- inspired by her experience with nization seeks to end sexual public speaking in places such assault on campus by raising Springfield Technical Commu- LET US awareness and educating men nity College and hearing other and women. victims’ stories. “It was really important and She also said she wants to I’m glad that I was able to [par- place a book like this “into the ticipate],” Picard said. hands of caretakers” of sexually “It’s about networking and abused children. SERVE the ability to be able to share all “I don’t want kids to have to these messages that everybody go through what I did as a kid,” has.” said Picard. She also said that although “Being sexually abused there are reports of fewer cases from [age] seven until I was 17, of sexual abuse recently, but the I think giving these adults more Courtesy Photo numbers probably don’t reflect resources is not going to hurt. It Kathy Picard is the November BusinessYOU. Focus person at Country Bank and has a table dedicated to the difficulty young victims gives them the ability to talk to material about her cause, including her memoir, “My Idiot Family.” have reporting abuse. T o these kids.” “I couldn’t ask forTo better thank “My Idiot you Family,” for written your by service,support from longtime Mass learn more about Picard and her Picard said she is till de- people,” Picard said. “People Picard and her husband Gary House Rep. Thomas M. Petro- work, as well as enter her raffle, ciding on a title. The release can get a book done in a month, Picard, Kathy said she has had lati (D-Ludlow), who had sent purchase an audio or physical date for the book is tentatively but I think it’s about goodveterans tim- other sexualwill abusereceive survivors 10%her several off* laminated articles copy of her book and more, scheduled for February. ing.” come forward and express their highlighting her outreach ef- visit kathypicard.com or email Picard praised Nicholson for Also, through public speakof- own the stories. first year’s rent.forts. kathychildadvocate@gmail. and Utton for their dedication. ing and sharing her memoir, She also said she even “It’s just an inspiration for com. 929 Memorial Drive • Chicopee, MA 01020 • Phone 413-593-0088 For more information, visit arborsassistedliving.com At Chicopee This Veteran discount program is effective March 1, 2020, may not be used in conjunction with any other programs offered by The Arbors Assisted LivingFREE Communities (“The WEBINAR Arbors”) or The Ivy Assisted Living Communities (“The Ivy”), and supersedes all prior programs and offers. 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