RECREATION LOCAL SPORTS Six Flags New Spring opening business practices PAGE 3 PAGE 3 PAGE 7 AGAWAM ADVERTISER NEWS A TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.com May 6, 2021 ❙ Vol. 43, No. 10 ❙ $1.00 www.agawamadvertisernews.turley.com Emphasis on capital Library renovations continue improvements shown in updated plan By Gregory A. Scibelli was also completed last year by [email protected] the state, making the intersection much safer with wider lanes, turn AGAWAM – In the past few lanes that make the traffic flow years, the Town of Agawam has more efficiently, and updated traf- seen a number of big projects get fic lights. seen to completion, a few of them According to the five-year Cap- coming from the state level. ital Improvement Plan submitted In the past week, the Mor- by Mayor William Sapelli, the ad- gan-Sullivan Bridge has come ministration “is continuing to rec- back online with second half of ommend a greater emphasis be the bridge completed. There are placed on capital improvements.” still some final parts to the project The town has done a lot of road being completed, but for the most resurfacing as well as installed part, traffic is flowing with two several new sidewalks. lanes now back and forth across The capital plan is commonly the bridge. On the Agawam side, called a “wishlist” and all pro- there will some median and side- posals and projects are subject to walk work also being completed. Work continues to the interior of the Agawam Public Library. Work got underway two weeks ago and is expected to go for The Feeding Hills intersection PLAN ❙ page 11 several more weeks. More photos of ongoing work on page 6. PHOTO BY SHELBY MACRI Senate moves Spring sports spike Plenty of questions Soldiers’ Home bill forward about school budget A budget presentation Hoffman said. “Will we continue HOLYOKE – On Thursday, Apr. 29, to purchase personal protective the Massachusetts State Senate unani- was made last week and equipment, will masks be man- mously voted to pass a bill authorizing certain expenses for PPE dated? If so, will we continue $400 million in bonds for the design and to rent tents for outside mask construction of a new facility for the sol- are still unknown breaks and additional teaching diers’ home in Holyoke. It also authoriz- spaces?” es the issuance of $200 million in general By Shelby Macri There are plenty of questions obligation bonds to increase geographic [email protected] on how the school year will need equity and accessibility related to the to be ran and if there will be dif- continuum of long-term care services AGAWAM – Superintendent ferent guidelines or needs. for those Massachusetts veterans not Shelia Hoffman gave a presen- Hoffman addressed other primarily served by the soldiers’ homes tation on the proposed FY’22 questions like medical waiting in Chelsea or Holyoke. school budget last week, with a rooms in schools and staffing “Massachusetts has always been a budget increase of 1.68% from them, along with the project- leader for Veteran services, and this bill last year and it was tentatively ed enrollment numbers and if reflects the Senate’s deep commitment approved. they’ll be accurate during the to those who have served our nation,” During the School Commit- upcoming academic year. The stated Senator John Velis (D-Westfield), tee meeting on Tuesday, April proposed budget listed the as- Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on 27 the requested school budget sumption that full staff and stu- Veterans and Federal Affairs. “While our for next year was $47,830,861 dents would return to in-person Veteran population and their medical which is only $788,781 more schooling and the enrollment needs are changing, the Holyoke Sol- than the approved budget for levels would resemble those of diers’ Home’s mission remains the same: last year. “Developing the FY’22 FY’20. to provide care with honor and dignity. school budget has again chal- There will also be redistrict- This bond bill will ensure that the next PHOTOS BY DAVID HENRY WWW.SWEETDOGPHOTOS.COM lenged us with the unknown of ing at the Robinson Park and generation of residents at the Home re- Kannon Behrens works out at practice last week. The Agawam High School what lies ahead, and the addi- Phelps school street listings, volleyball team gets their season underway this week. More spring practice tional obstacles brought forth BILL ❙ page 11 photos are on page 7. by the COVID-19 pandemic,” BUDGET ❙ page 11 413.283.8393 • Facebook: @AgawamAdvertiserNews • Email: [email protected] Find Your Perfect Color 10 Springfield St. | Agawam, MA (413) 786-6776 | Rockys.com Page 2 ❙ AGAWAM ADVERTISER NEWS ❙ May 6, 2021 Library recognizes Mental Health Awareness Month AGAWAM – May is Mental Health library would like support our community on Zoom. Please register on our online log their donated seeds. Awareness Month and the Agawam Li- and recognize wellness in all its forms. calendar www.agawamlibrary.org. These Please pardon our appearance while brary will be hosting two programs that Join us on Monday, May 10 at 7 p.m. programs are open to the public and all are our library roof repair project gets un- focus on the wellness of our community. for Journaling for Wellness. Writer Lara welcome. derway. We will remain open during con- All month long, library visitors will be in- Tupper will lead a meaningful discussion Our Seed Library and Exchange con- struction, but there may be days and times vited to contribute to our Beautiful Bonds about the benefits of health journaling tinues in the month of May. Visitors are when collections or areas of the library will Chain. Whenever patrons visit the library, and tips on how to sustain self-awareness welcome to browse for flower, herb and be inaccessible. We will do our best to pro- take a moment to become aware of your through writing. No previous writing expe- vegetable seeds. They may take desired vide our patrons with as much notice as mental state. Are you nervous? Excited? rience is needed. On Thursday, May 13 at seed from a labeled container and pack- possible when collections are closed. We Happy? Leave a link with your answer -or 7 p.m., Bernice Drumheller from The Na- et (please do not take the whole packet.) ask for your patience in the coming weeks a message of support- and we will add it tional Alliance of Mental Health of Western Envelopes are available to carry the seeds and we apologize for the inconvenience. to our chain. There will be colorful slips of Massachusetts (NAMI-WM) will discuss home. Visitors are asked to sign-out their The Agawam Library is open Mon- paper at our public services desk. Our goal the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on seeds in the sign-out folder to the left of the day-Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday 10 is to link these sentiments together to ac- mental health. Learn the signs and symp- display. Those wishing to donate seeds are a.m. to 6 p.m. The library vestibule is open knowledge that mental health issues affect toms of anxiety and depression and un- asked to put them in an envelope with the Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for pick-up only everyone at different times and in different derstand when to seek help. Both of these date, growing instructions and type of seed through the month of May. Please call the ways. As we emerge from the past year, the programs are virtual and will take place (bean, pea, etc) Donors are also asked to library with any questions 413-789-1550. ‘Historic’ tag sale set Agawam resident Gilbert named VP of Commercial Lending for May 16 and 17 FLORENCE – Florence Bank, a mutual- who earned an undergraduate degree from ly-owned savings bank serving the Pioneer Westfield State University and a master’s in AGAWAM – The situation in which the Valley through 12 branch locations, today business administration from the Univer- historic Captain Charles Leonard House announced the appointment of Douglas sity of Connecticut. He also serves on the in Agawam currently finds itself is not Gilbert of Agawam to the position of vice board of the Quaboag Valley Business As- unique among nonprofit organizations president / commercial lending. sistance Corporation. or event venues – both have been partic- Gilbert comes to Florence Bank with Gilbert said, “It is a great opportunity ularly hard hit by restrictions imposed by more than 27 years of banking experience, to be affiliated with Florence Bank, which the coronavirus pandemic. The Captain most recently at Country Bank, where he has such an excellent reputation and does Leonard House, which has served as Aga- served as first vice president and team so much good in the community. Everyone wam’s Community House for more than A tradition of hospitality: the historic Captain Charles Leonard House, built as a stage tavern leader in the Commercial Lending Depart- here has made me feel right at home from eight decades, has struggled financially ment. His duties there included managing the beginning.” over the past twelve months due to a year in 1805, has served as the Town of Agawam and neighboring towns as a community house since the commercial lending team and an ex- Kevin R. Day, president and CEO of Flor- of lost bookings and fundraisers. 1939. tensive loan portfolio. His experience also ence Bank, said, “Doug is a great addition In its first public event in over a year, includes serving as vice president and head to the Florence Bank team.