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THURSDAY, JULY 29, 2021 www.warerivernews.turley.com A TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.com Fee Toto the Tornado Kitten Sewer increases rates and visits Warren betterments proposed discussed Agreements on By Paula Ouimette By Paula Ouimette Staff Writer ambulance Staff Writer service closer HARDWICK – The Board of WARREN – Over a dozen Selectmen met this past Monday children and their families vis- By Paula Ouimette night and discussed their appeal ited the Warren Common last Staff Writer options regarding USDA’s notifi- Thursday to meet Toto, the cation that it is canceling the finan- Tornado Kitten and his human cial assistance it originally agreed HARDWICK – The Board of counterpart, Jonathan Hall. Selectmen met this past Monday to provide for a revamped sewer This program was part of the system. The town was notified evening at 6 p.m., and discussed Warren Public Library’s Tails raising fees for building per- by the USDA on Friday, July 16, & Tales Summer Reading about the cancelation of the grant. mits with the building inspector Program. and increases for burials with the The town has three options Hall read two books he has to appeal, with the first being an Cemetery Commission. authored, “Toto, the Tornado informal administrative review. Building Inspector Bill Cantell Kitten,” and “Oh Toto! Where The request for this appeal option presented the board with suggest- Did You Go?” Both books must be received no later than 15 ed building permit fee increases. feature his beloved cat, Toto, calendar days from the date of Cantell said the town currently who was rescued from a tree the adverse decision letter. BOS charges $75 plus $0.50 per square in Brimfield following the June Chair Kelly Kemp said they have foot for an average new home, gen- 2011 tornado, when he was until the end of the week to send erating about $800 in permit fees. only a few weeks old. Hall their request, but they should He explained that Hardwick could sells the books to raise money send it as soon as possible. Town adjust their fee schedule to be sim- for the Animal Rescue League Administrator Nicole Parker will ilar to Brimfield or Wales. Both of of , where Toto received draft the request letter for Kemp those towns base their permit fees emergency care after being to sign. on the cost of construction, rather rescued from the tree. Hall than by the square foot. An average adopted Toto soon after and has Eagle Hill debt settlement been visiting libraries, schools, Turley Publications staff photo by Paula Ouimette One of the reasons given for McKenna Malvey, 7, and her brother Matthew Malvey, 8, traveled from Charlton to meet one of their canceling the funding was the Please see INCREASES, page 2 Please see TOTO, page 6 favorite book characters, Toto. “failure to execute the debt settle- ment agreement with Eagle Hill School” in the amount of $1.8 million. The town and Eagle Hill School agreed in 2015 that the Family-friendly, free and fun school would construct a sewer QHSUA student surveys main and pump station and transfer ownership to the town, in exchange – it’s National Night Out for free service until the cost of being analyzed for patterns the pipe had been repaid to the school. The $1.8 million represents By Eileen Kennedy area agencies and businesses who the amount of money owed to the Staff writer all come together,” Beckley said. school to settle the debt. It gives residents, particularly By Eileen Kennedy years, according to QHSUA Staff writer Coordinator Gail Gramarrosa. Kemp said they need to come WARE – Once again the town’s children, a chance to meet police, up with an agreement “everyone departments, area nonprofits and fire and other town employees WARE – The Quaboag Hills Naloxboxes is happy with and move forward.” agencies as well as local businesses as well as town officials, such as SelectBoard Vice-Chair Julie will come together Tuesday, Aug. SelectBoard members, who attend. Substance Use Alliance recent- Ware Regional Recovery ly discussed a survey regarding Center Coordinator Abaigeal Quink said they need to get in front 3, from 6 to 8 p.m., in Grenville Agencies and businesses will ONE OF THE THINGS of Eagle Hill and have a discus- Park, for residents to get to know have games, there are chances to substance use among eighth, Duda said Tapestry Inc., a non- th sion. “We cannot move forward them and to have fun. sit in cruisers and see big trucks 10 and 12th-graders that was WE’RE LOOKING AT profit that helps with recovery carried out last year, which has and healthcare issues, said the until the contract is signed,” she There will be free food, games and fire vehicles, businesses will IS HOW TO LOWER said. and a chance to touch big trucks provide information about them- been done in Ware and sur- center has received a grant to from the Department of Public selves and some fun swag, and the rounding Quaboag Hills towns THEIR (STUDENTS’) buy 12 Naloxboxes. They will each year for about five years. be available in a number of Rates and betterments Works, see police officers, cruisers Ware Lions Club and Knights of RISK OF USING Eagle Hill School Headmaster and police horses up close as well Columbus will provide free hot- The Drug-Free Communities “ towns and provide a drug that Dr. PJ McDonald said the school as firefighters and their equipment, dogs and popcorn, Beckley said. grant, which the town of Ware is SUBSTANCES.” temporarily blocks opioids so carrying out for Quaboag Hills those having an opioid overdose has agreed to increase their user according to Town Manager Stuart “We had really good turnouts at fees by the 15% as indicated by Beckley. our last two, and we expect it will town, allows the QHSUA to pro- MAEGAN BOUTOT can survive until they get medi- vide a substance use survey for cal help. RCAP Solutions and pay better- “It started out with public safety QUABOAG HILLS those grades, and then shares the She said there will be an ments as long as “it’s across the officers and now it has expanded to SUBSTANCE USE ALLIANCE board and fair.” McDonald said the many of the town’s departments, Please see NIGHT OUT, page 2 data with the schools and the open house in September for public. the center’s new location on board should hold a Special Town The Alliance usually dis- South Street. The WRRC is also Meeting to set the sewer rates and cusses the data during one of data and acknowledge that the sponsoring an art exhibit about betterments. its available at a meeting, and majority of students, parents, recovery, which will exhibited at Kemp voiced concern that the Maegan Boutot, epidemiolo- schools and communities are ArtWorks Gallery in September, board did not have enough infor- gist for an Alliance grant, said doing great, positive things and which is Recovery Awareness mation to set the rates or better- it would do so at an in-per- they should recognized and sup- Month. ments and said, “the agreement son meeting in September. At ported for their efforts,” Jenkins Duda said the center attended needs to be signed before anything the moment they are analyz- said. “However, we should also a Belchertown Farmers’ Market else.” McDonald said the review ing the data, and hope that the examine where we do need to one day this summer and got process could take some time and, results also show the impact of focus on our support and ener- a very positive response from in the meantime, they could hold COVID-19 on the health of stu- gies in areas where things are people who were glad they a STM. dents. not going well.” had opened, with many say- McDonald said he is ready to “One of the things we’re Boutot also said that this ing they or someone they knew sign the agreement at the Sewer looking at is how to lower their year they will also be survey- had issues with drugs or just Commission meeting scheduled (students’) risk of using sub- ing youth 19 to 26, and parents acknowledging the need for for Wednesday, July 28, once they stances,” she said. They asked of young adults with the same services. While there had been vote on how betterments will be about 1,000 students. “It’s a questions about substance use. some negative comments on paid. He said, as he sees it, they good sample size,” she said. An additional grant provided the Facebook about them attending, have three options to pay better- Q-Drug Coordinator Nekr money to extend the survey, she Gramarrosa said it shows that Jenkins said it is important to said. community compassion out- Please see HARDWICK, page 3 present the data in way that The Alliance is also wait- weighs negative talk on social File photo shows the majority of students ing to hear whether its orig- media. During the National Night Out held in 2019 in Ware, Daniel Comeau, 6, taking the survey are not using inal federal, five-year Drug- WRRC and the QHSUA of Ware, sits in a cruiser with Ware Police Officer John Cacela. This year’s substances. Free Communities grant will will attend Palmer and Ware will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 3, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Grenville Park. “It’s important to present the be renewed for another five National Night Outs on Aug. 3. NATIONAL NIGHT OUT sponsored by Town of Ware, Ware Police Department & Quaboag Hills Substance Use Alliance TUESDAY, AUGUST 3RD 6-8 P.M. GRENVILLE PARK, CHURCH STREET, WARE, MA A night of community building, featuring Ware Police, Fire & Public Works Departments along with many civic organizations, local businesses and local groups! Community information, kids activities, give-aways and much more! Public is invited to this free family based event for all ages! July 29, 2021, Ware River News, Page 7

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A TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.com SPORTSSEND US YOUR SPORTS SUBMISSIONS www.sports.turley.com Familiar faces meet Despite HOLYOKE – Though there has been some small amounts of in Legion matchup turnover in the past few years, year off, PeoplesBank still has many of By Tim Peterson “It feels great to clinch a its core that has led the team to Sports Correspondent berth in the Legion tournament,” seven consecutive playoff cham- Gaughan said. “I just kept throwing Bankers pionships before COVID-19 shut PALMER – Bi-County League strikes and I received plenty of sup- down the 2021 season. Now, rivals Ware and Granby faced each port from my offense in tonight’s PeoplesBank is cruising to anoth- other in a Western Mass. Division game.” er regular season title with a 10-1 4 semifinal baseball game, which The first game of the double- legacy record, three games better than was an old fashion classic pitcher’s header ended after five innings rival St. Joe’s. PeoplesBank took duel, at the end of June. because of the 10-run mercy rule. down rival Easthampton Savings Ware righthander Keith Smith, The second game went six Bank last week in a tight 2-1 who was a senior on this year’s innings and ended in a 3-3 tie. The continues game. Among notable additions, varsity baseball team, hurled a lights at Legion Field didn’t work Devin Slattery of Ware has joined two-hitter helping the Indians because they were hit by lightning. the bankers, playing second base. advance to the championship game Gaughan, who only pitched with a 1-0 win over the Rams. three innings in the first game The tough luck losing pitcher was against Monson, allowed only Granby righty Ryan Gaughan, who one base hit. He didn’t record any completed his junior season. He strikeouts or issue any walks. He allowed just one run on four base threw only 23 pitches. Lefty Zach hits. Jenks didn’t allow any hits in the “Losing to Ware in the semifi- final two innings. He did walk two Devin Slattery, of Ware, bats for the Bankers. Shortstop Dave Clark fires nals was a very tough loss for us,” and had two strikeouts. over to first for an out. Gaughan said. “I had ten strikeouts “Ryan and Zach pitched great in in that game, but they just made all the first game,” said Belchertown of the plays, which was the differ- manager E.J. Mills. “They com- ence in the final outcome.” bined for a one-hitter. It was an This summer, Gaughan is a outstanding performance by them. starting pitcher for the Belchertown We also swung the bat very well. Post 239 Legion team and Smith is We’re peaking at the right time of a starting pitcher for the Monson the season.” Post 241. It wasn’t a very memorable per- When the duo faced each other formance for Smith, who didn’t again in a Legion game, there receive very much support from his wasn’t very much drama. defense. He allowed 10 runs (four Belchertown clinched a berth earned) on seven hits in two earn- in the District 3 Legion playoffs ings. The Monson defense commit- with a 13-0 win against Monson ted four errors. in the first game of a doubleheader played at Legion Field in Palmer on July 19. Please see LEGION, page 8

Aaron Smith pitches for PeoplesBank last Devin Slattery fields a ball on the run. Photos by David Henry www.sweetdogphotos.com week against Easthampton Savings Bank. Sam Allen throws across the diamond to first. Patnode winds again, Pioneers punch ticket to takes 40-lap race Georgia for nationals By Tim Peterson WINCHESTER, N.H. – With simply blowing the competition Sports Correspondent the sizzling NEMA Midgets in away. Taking the lead from Scott town for their annual Iron Mike MacMichael on lap 15 of the LUDLOW—A day after cel- Memorial Race event, Modified caution-free event, he then left ebrating his birthday, Western Photos by David Henry www.sweetdogphotos.com rocketman Todd Patnode brought all followers far behind. Trevor Mass. Pioneers head coach some thunder of his own to Bleau was second in the fast- Federico Molinari celebrated one Coty Jameson makes his way Colin Doktor tries to sink a mid- the high banks of Monadnock paced affair, and MacMichael of the biggest wins of his coach- down the court. range shot. Speedway Saturday night. earned the bronze. ing career. Patnode blasted to his Street Stock powerhouse The Eastern Conference third win of the summer in the Tommy O’Sullivan doesn’t semifinal match between the PATHFINDER PARTICIPATES NHSTRA Modified 40-lapper. come to Monadnock every week, second-seeded Pioneers and On the same card, LMS hot shoe maybe a good thing for the sixth-seeded Seacoast United IN SUMMER LEAGUE was still scoreless at the end of Cole Littlewood won his first rest of the field. Saturday, the BELCHERTOWN – Players past year due to COVID-19 restric- regulation and the two 15-min- 2021 feature race, and Gordon Wilbraham, Mass. pilot nudged from Pathfinder High School tions, but is finally back and being ute overtime periods. The Farnum rocked the Minis. Kenny Thompson out of the way have come together to partici- played with few limits this sum- Pioneers advanced into the con- Street Stocker Tommy on lap 22 and rocketed off to his pate in a summer league being mer. More on the league will be in ference finals by outshooting O’Sullivan took his third 2021 third win of the summer. held in Belchertown this season. next week’s edition. the Phantoms 5-4 in the penal- victory lap Saturday; Nick Houle Thompson then said enough Basketball was limited during the dominated the Pure Stocks. and it to similar advances by Chris ty shootout on a soggy night at was business as usual for Young Buffone and claimed the run- in Ludlow last Gun Fast Eddie P, who won for ner-up hardware. Buffone was Saturday, July 17. the seventh time this year. strong in third, followed by “This is one of my best birth- Patnode, the veteran Swanzey Hillary Renaud and points leader day presents ever, and I’ve really , sent a message to the rest Nate Wenzel. enjoyed coaching the players on of the NHSTRA Modified field Heat race winner Nancy Muni- this year’s team,” said an elated Nicholas Oberrauch gets ready Saturday, putting them on notice Ruot led lap one of the LMS Molinari, who has been coaching to inbound the ball toward the that he’s the 2021 points leader feature but the rest of the way it the Pioneers since 2012. “It’s also goal. and he has no intention of giving was all Cole Littlewood, as the one of my biggest victories ever that up. Orange, Mass. hot shoe ended a as a coach. Our fans have always 15 minutes later because of a Patnode not only won his long victory lane drought with supported us no matter what the shower. Referee Daniel Aloi third event of the summer, and weather is and we’re hoping the halted the action at 32:58 of the second in a row, he did it by next round is also held here. This opening half because of a torren- Please see RACES, page 8 is a very special place.” tial thunderstorm that left pud- The Eastern Conference dles on the turf field, which is the finals and the USL League Two pride and joy of Tony Salvador, National semifinals were sched- who’s a member of the Board of uled to be held in Georgia. The Directors. The puddles were gone Nationals Finals will be held at about five minutes after the rain the highest remaining seed on had stopped. July 31. “I thought the wet field con- Just like they did last week- ditions helped Seacoast because end, the Pioneers submitted a bid they’re very good technically,” with the league to host this week- Molinari said. “We had trouble end’s matches, but were unsuc- controlling the ball like we nor- cessful. Pathfinder plays against Palmer Daven Williams tries to fight his Submitted photo Last Saturday’s match began Please see page 8 Todd Patnode picks up another win at Monadnock last Saturday night. PIONEERS, last week in summer league action. way to the basket.