PRSRT STD Belchertown, Granby & Amherst U.S. POSTAGE PAID PALMER, MA PERMIT NO. 22 ECR-WSS LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 ENTINELYOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER SINCE 1915 A TURLEY PUBLICATIONS ❙ www.turley.com Volume 106 • Number 14 www.sentinel.turley.com COMMUNITY OPINION AGRICULTURE SPORTS Dreamer the Lemur...p. 4 A missed sign spoils Finger licking Orioles enter the surprise...p. 6 picking...p. 8 tournament...p. 11 GOVERNMENT Rustic Fusion, owned by Chris Snow, was one of COVID relief four food trucks that came to Food Truck Fridays funds coming; on June 18. How it will be used is TBD JONAH SNOWDEN [email protected] REGION – As the Mass. Senate and House work to reconcile differences and craft a new state bud- get to send on to Gov. Charlie Baker, the Baker administration last week announced a plan to spread approximately $2.815 billion in direct federal aid among local municipalities to target communities that could use an economic boost. “Key priorities” include housing and homeowner- Finally, it’s ship, economic development, local downtowns, job training, workforce development, health care, and infrastructure, Baker said. The money was doled out to states in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the negative impact it has had on local economies. “Our proposal will immediately invest $2.8 bil- FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS lion toward key priorities that will help jump-start our economic recovery, with a particular focus on CARA McCARTHY those hit hardest by COVID-19, such as communi- Staff writer ties of color,” Baker said in a statement. “With over four million people fully vaccinated, Massachusetts BELCHERTOWN -- Food Truck Tess Mathewson, is getting back to normal and back to work, but it is Fridays have made a return to the Parker Mas, and critical that we act now to make these critical invest- Town Common as the COVID-19 Olive Smith coor- ments to keep our recovery moving. Our administra- pandemic slowly starts to come to an dinated the Spark Pride, Make Art tion appreciates the collaboration of the legislature end. event June 18 at and local government in responding to the pandem- For the last few years, the Food Truck Friday. ic, and we all must work together to distribute fund- Belchertown Cultural Council has ing quickly and efficiently to ensure those hard-hit funded Food Truck Fridays, an event by the virus receive relief as quickly as possible.” that takes place on the third week of It’s too early to specify how and where the money every month in the summer, accord- will be used locally, but elected officials represent- ing to Jennifer Whitehead, Head of ing area towns in the legislature have some ideas of Children’s Services at the CLAPP their own. Rep. Orlando Ramos, D-Springfield, for Memorial Library. example, said he would “like to see a more equi- In addition to Food Truck Friday, table distribution of resources to assist black and the Belchertown Cultural Council also brown businesses across the city of Springfield.” hosted an event in conjunction with Ramos contends that decades of laws and policy the Belchertown Justice Collaborative positions put segments of the populations, such as See FOOD TRUCK, page 3 • TURLEY PUBLICATIONS STAFF PHOTOS BY CARA MCCARTHY See COVID MONEY, page 4 • Belchertown Lions Club to hold golf tournament BELCHERTOWN – The [email protected] or Belchertown Lions Club will Bob Henrichon at Halfbark2@ hold its Belchertown Annual AOL.com. Memorial Golf Tournament, The event includes 18 holes on July 24 at the Mill Valley of golf with cart, lunch and Golf Links. The cost is $50 for snacks, closest to the pin on two a Lions Club member and $75 holes, optional raffles including for a non-member. Sign-up is 50/50, lottery tree raffles and at the golf course or by send- a $1,000 cash prize for a hole- ing an email to Mike Pease at in-one. Farmers’ Market every Sunday SEE MORE BELCHERTOWN – The lotions and The Grown Up PROM PHOTOS Belchertown Farmers’ Market Farms will offer several differ- ON PAGE 16 has reopened for 2021 at the ent types of mushrooms and Town Common. It is open salad mixes. There are also Post-grads enjoy prom Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. locally raised beef and pork, BELCHERTOWN – This year, the Starting Gate at GreatHorse in PHOTO BY MELINA BOURDEAU Two new vendors, Lavender sausages, organic produce, members of the class of 2021 were Hampden. Trinity Skutnik, Jaron Deich, Carlie Woods and The Grown Up cheese, eggs, strawberries, hot able to enjoy their only prom after The prom was held after gradu- Howe, Cassie Roy, Avery Avezzie Farms, have joined the mar- sauce, apple butter, handmade graduation. ation, so that in the case someone and Sheyenne McCullough sat ket. Lavender Woods will offer soap and new maple products, In attendance were 122 for- was to get COVID-19, they wouldn’t inside at the Belchertown High an array of flowers, herbs and including maple cotton candy. mer students and their guests at have to miss graduation. School senior prom. PAGE 2 THE SENTINEL • THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 ❚ COMMUNITY BCTV Schedule June 24 • 8 a.m. SelectBoard – June 21 • 10 a.m. Planning Board – June 22 PHONE • 12 p .m. Energy Sustainability Committee – June 18 • 5:30 p.m. Council on Aging – Channel 191 413.283.8393 • 6:30 p.m. School Committee – Channel 192 Fax: 413.289.1977 • 7 p.m. SelectBoard – June 21 Subscriptions: 413.283.8393 • 9 p.m. Planning Board – June 22 • 11 p.m. Energy Sustainability – June 18 EMAIL Advertising Sales June 25 Maureen McGarrett Hall • 8 a.m. Conversation with Pakman [email protected] • 7 p.m. Conversation with Pakman Editor June 26 Melina Bourdeau • 8 a.m. Curious Giraffe [email protected] • 9 a.m. Belchertown Community Garden 2021 • 10 a.m. Belchertown School Garden 2021 Subscriptions • 11 a.m. Belchertown Pollinator Garden 2021 $31 per year pre-paid • 7 p.m. Belchertown Community Garden 2021 ($36 out of state) • 8 p.m. Belchertown School Garden 2021 • 9 p.m. Belchertown Pollinator Garden 2021 WEB www.sentinel.turley.com June 27 Farm Manager Shawn McIntire, Rep. • 4:30 p.m. St. Francis Roman Catholic Church Jake Oliviera (D-Ludlow) and Assistant @ The Sentinel • 6 p.m. Christ Community Church Farm Manager/Orchard Administrator • 7 p.m. Hope United Methodist Church Kristen Hanley took a tour of Cold Spring Orchard. The Sentinel is published by June 28 Turley Publications, Inc. • www.turley.com • 8 a.m. Conversation with Pakman • 5 p.m. Conversation with Pakman Rep. takes • 6:30 p.m. SelectBoard – Channel 191 NOTICE a bite out • 7 p.m. Conservation Commission – Channel 192 ERRORS: Each advertiser is June 29 requested to check their ad- of local • 8 a.m. Curious Giraffe vertisement the first time it • 7 p.m. Community Preservation Committee – appears. This paper will not Channel 191 be responsible for more than agriculture one corrected insertion, nor June 30 will be liable for any error in RIGHT: Recently, Rep. Jake Oliveira • 8 a.m. Conversation with Pakman an advertisement to a greater (D-Ludlow) met with managers of • 1 p.m. Meditation with Lori extent than the cost of the the University of Massachusetts space occupied by the item Cold Spring Orchard for a tour of the • 7 p.m. Conversation with Pakman PHOTOS BY MELINA BOURDEAU in the advertisement. orchard. CORRECTION I’ve got my bank at Juliana Dennehy my fingertips and my Hofstra University future in my hands. COURTESY PHOTO Due to an error, Juliana Dennehy was omitted from the Belchertown High School graduation spread. The Library Loft Schoolhouse Commons Historical Center • 1085 Park Street, Palmer We are celebrating our 20th year at the Schoolhouse Commons. Thanks to our wonderful “friends,” volunteers and patrons. Hours: Tues. 10am - 4pm • Wed. 10am - 4pm Tomorrow is already on its way, and our job is to help you make Thurs. 10am - 4pm • Fri. 10am-4pm • Sat. 10am-2pm the most of it. With our on-the-go banking tools like Zelle®, Face Hope to see you there and Touch ID and Mobile Deposit, you can safely send, receive Book donations will be accepted at the Palmer Public and manage your money on your own terms. Library or the Library Loft during open hours. Please, no magazines or Reader's Digest Condensed Books. We accept books only in good, clean condition. For more information call 283-3330 ext. 100 Member FDIC | Member DIF Learn more at bankESB.com or call 855.527.4111 Proceeds To Benefit the Palmer Public Library THE SENTINEL • THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 PAGE 3 Summer concert series starts July 1 SOUTH HADLEY – Summer Concert Series is set to begin on Thursday, July 1. This year’s series is funded by the Village Commons and a grant through the South Hadley Art’s Council. The concerts will be on the Town Commons on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m. South Hadley Recreation Department Director Andy Rogers said the annual tradition was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but will be back on schedule this year. “This series is a great partnership with sponsors, it’s really nice to have,” Rogers said. “It’s a quintessential New England event.” He said this year’s schedule brings bands and per- formers who were supposed to play in 2020. “There are different types of music for all groups of listeners,” Rogers said. “Every performer has some connection to town – whether they taught here, coached here, grew up here or live here now.” The events are bring your own chair or blanket.