SENIORS The Wilbraham-Hampden PRSRT STD MRHS U.S. POSTAGE prom PAID sparkles PALMER, MA PERMIT NO. 22 Page 10 SPORTS ECR-WSS Falcons LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER fall in quarterfinals Page 11 Dedicated to Improving the Quality of Life in the Communities We Serve A TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.comTIMESJULY 1, 2021 www.wilbrahamhampdentimes.turley.com Kane to retire from Wilbraham PD after 31 years serves as Children’s Librarian for a scene far different than the one In Los Angeles, Kane expe- Served communities the Wilbraham Public Library. he knew back home. The LAPD rienced the 1994 magnitude-6.7 on both coasts As an adolescent, Kane was featured 18 divisions, and seem- Northridge earthquake that killed eager to pursue a career in polic- ingly every call differed in na- 57 people. He was also a depart- By Dalton Zbierski ing, as he’d long admired his un- ture. ment member during the infa- Editor cle, a Chicopee Police Captain. “In LA, they had designated mous O.J. Simpson murder trial In 1989, Kane graduated detectives for every event; ju- in 1994. WILBRAHAM – Capt. Tim- from then-Westfield State Col- veniles, sex crimes, homicides, One of Kane’s most mem- othy Kane of the Wilbraham lege with a degree in Criminal robbery, burglaries. You would orable experiences in policing Police Department will retire on Justice. just answer the call and gather occurred on, and in the days July 5, marking the completion He searched for an opening in the witnesses for the detectives following, April 29, 1992, when of a 31-year law enforcement one of the many local police de- to come in. Then, you’d be all four police officers were found career. partments, but none were hiring; set and go to the next call be- not guilty of having used exces- Kane’s occupation took him many were suffering from mass cause a team would come in to sive force during the March 3, from coast to coast, as he wit- layoffs. take control of that scene,” said 1991 beating of Rodney King. Capt. Timothy Kane of the In the summer of 1989, Kane Kane, noting that in Wilbraham, What ensued is forever etched Wilbraham Police Department nessed history and served multi- ple communities. flew to Los Angeles, CA, where responding law enforcement per- in Kane’s mind, as some of the will retire on July 5, putting the earned employment with the Los sonnel are often responsible for most ferocious rioting in our na- finishing touches on a 31-year Kane grew up in Chicopee, where he attended high school Angeles Police Department. completing lengthy investiga- career in policing. Submitted by At age 23, Kane was entering tions pertaining to the incident. Please see KANE, page 5 Capt. Timothy Kane and met his wife Heidi, who now Scantic River Productions returns home Board of for “Brothers Wright” musical Selectmen By Dalton Zbierski honors Editor HAMPDEN, WILBRAHAM – Two young graduates of Minnechaug Regional High School are bringing their talents home this summer, as they launch an exciting heroes production at Fountain Park on Tinkham By Cara McCarthy Road in Wilbraham. Staff Writer Colby Herchel and Madelyn Wiley, owners of Scantic River Productions, WILBRAHAM – On June will lead three showings of the musical 28, the Wilbraham Board of Se- “Brothers Wright,” on July 30, 31 and lectmen signed a proclamation in Aug. 1 respectively at 4 p.m. honor of two Saudi-Arabian stu- Herchel and Wiley, former Hamp- dents who drowned saving peo- den residents, named their New York ple in the Chicopee River. City-based non-profit company after the Cynthia Fareed read a state- Scantic River in Hampden. ment on behalf of the families Herchel is excited to return home of Theeb al-Yami and Jaser al- with a production centered around the Rakah, two young men who relationship between Wilbur and Or- “saved the lives of total strang- ville Wright and the fishing community ers,” including children, who of Kitty Hawk, NC, where the brothers were taken by strong currents in achieved the planet’s first successful, the Chicopee River three years manned flight on Dec. 17, 1903. ago. “I was reading a biography of the Fareed thanked the board for Wright Brothers while I was on a road honoring their “courage, selfless- trip, and, then, it hit me; no one ever re- ness, and ultimate sacrifice.” ally talks about the Wright brothers from Fareed also shared the Arabic the perspective of the community,” said translations of al-Yami’s and al- Herchel. “When you’re thinking of a mu- Rakah’s first names. sical, you’re always looking for an envi- “In Arabic, the name ‘Theeb’ ronment, and this was such a unique envi- means wolf,” she said. “Wolves ronment that we had to go for it.” in the wild are known to sacrifice Herchel said that, at the Turn of the themselves to save others in their Century, North Carolina was a hot bed for An album will be released prior to the pack. sea shanties and folk music. Herchel first showing of “Brothers Wright” at Fountain “Theeb considered strangers produced the musical for a play several Park at the end of the month. Photos in distress to be members of his years ago, and Wiley encouraged him to submitted by Colby Herchel pack and he sacrificed himself bring it back to life this summer. for them,” Fareed added. The production team and cast for this Herchel. Similarly, Jaser in Arabic summer’s performances are set. Audi- For Herchel, the upcoming return to means ‘fearless,’ according to tions were held virtually, over Zoom. Hampden and Wilbraham is especial- Fareed. The talent for “Brothers Wright” ly meaningful. He credits Mark Giza, “Jaser certainly personified will arrive in Wilbraham from a variety founder of the Theatre Guild of Hamp- his name when he jumped in that of locations, as performers with ties to den, for helping spark his passion for mu- river with no thought for his own New York City will compliment those sicals when he was a teenager. safety or well-being,” Fareed from western Massachusetts; several cast On July 30-31 and Aug. 1, Herchel said. members will even travel up from North will look to inspire the next wave of writ- Fareed concluded her speech Carolina. ers, producers, actresses and actors from and said, “We are all brothers “What’s unique about this cast that Hampden and Wilbraham. and sisters, wherever we are we’ve put together is it’s half New York “We’re going to do it in Fountain Park from, and whatever our cultures. artists and half local, western Massa- in Wilbraham so that we can bring this Colby Herchel, a New York City-based producer of May today’s proclamations hon- chusetts artists, which is kind of what play home and turn it into a big, family musicals, formerly of Hampden, will return home oring the memories of Theeb I’m most excited for. It’s a real fusion of this summer, as he produces a musical at Fountain talents from all across the country,” said Please see MUSICAL, page 4 Park in Wilbraham on July 30, 31 and Aug. 1 Please see HEROES, page 5 Page 2 The Wilbraham-Hampden TIMES July 1, 2021 NEWS ABOUT TOWN All seniors, many local residents, Hampden Board approves Bias Free have a lifeline at the CSC Professional Policing policy By Jonah Snowden set of guests, we disinfect all high-touch By Dalton Zbierski that everything was in place and we had [email protected] surfaces.” Editor all of our issues worked out, which have Cassidy also said the Survival Center been. July 1 is the 100% switchover date INDIAN ORCHARD – The is currently looking for volunteers and HAMPDEN – At the onset of its June where we’ll have no dispatchers at the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be reced- someone to fill a part-time staff position. 28 meeting, the Hampden Board of Se- Hampden Police Department, and it will ing, but the economic fallout remains as “We had some staff leave and some lectmen handled several items relating to be 100% Wilbraham.” many area residents continue to rebuild volunteers leave, because several people the future of law enforcement in town. No progress was announced regard- their lives, including those who remain caught the virus and decided they were The board approved of a Bias Free Pro- ing the endeavor to install a crosswalk unemployed or re-entered the workforce done in February,” Cassidy said. “We fessional Policing policy that is required on Somers Road between Centennial with pandemic-related debt. want to have enough people working so by Mass. General Laws c.6 116G, which Commons and the Village Food Mart, but To help fill the void, the Community we can have the shops open from Mon- requires an in-service training program Markel proposed an idea that could con- Survival Center continues to offer a life- day through Friday.” for local law enforcement officials ad- tribute to the project’s efficiency and ulti- line to those in need. First-time recipients of the sur- dressing bias-free policing, de-escalation mate impact. Executive Director of the survival vival center must bring their current tactics and incidents impacted by mental “Some communities are putting in center Mary Cassidy said the pantry is postmarked mail for each adult in the health or developmental disability issues. what amounts to rumble strips prior to open from Monday to Thursday from household, along with verification of The statue was approved by Massa- their crosswalks as an additional warning.