COMMUNITY CLASSROOM SPORTS Pet of the Ready to Palmer girls week launch win opener Page 3 Page 3 Page 7 SERVING PALMER, MONSON, BRIMFIELD, HOLLAND & WALES The Journal Register A TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.com February 11, 2021 ❙ Vol. CLXX, No. 3 ❙ $1.00 www.journalregister.turley.com COMMUNITY HOMICIDE INVESTIGATED Day tripping in Western Mass.: A winter day during the pandemic By Michael Harrison [email protected] REGION — Well, it’s going on seven months since I landed in Western Mass. and five as editor of the Register and the Journal Regis- ter. Typically, I’d know the area from Holland to Ludlow (with Wales, Brimfield, Monson and Palmer in between) like the back of my hand by now. For reasons that need no explanation (just a single word – COVID), it’s taking me a little lon- Turley Publications staff photo by Jonah Snowden ger to “learn the territory,” as our A butterfly garden at the Holland A police vehicle outside a Fox Street home where a suspected homicide friends in the sales world have put it Community Center will be nice occurred Monday morning. for centuries. to visit in spring! The center also Full disclosure: I quarantine as has a walking track, a giant out- much as possible. Until it’s safe, I door chessboard and set, offers programs and curbside meals for 1 found dead, 2 injured after TRIPPING ❙ page 6 seniors, and more. The Holland Library is working hard to offer patrons books and other me- incident at Fox St. home dia via curbside pickup and a variety of programs presented virtually. By Michael Harrison wounds to the person who died in [email protected] the apparent attack, Burns said “We can’t go there because we’re pro- PALMER – Authorities on hibited by statute from going into Wednesday were still investigating that.” what they are calling a homicide In addition to the Palmer Police that occurred at a Fox Street home Department, the Hampden District Monday morning. Attorney’s Office Murder Unit and One person was found dead the Massachusetts State Police De- inside the home. Two others were tective Unit are involved in the in- transported to Baystate hospitals in vestigation. Palmer and Springfield. Their con- According to a statement from ditions have not been disclosed. the Hampden District Attorney’s Palmer Police Chief Christo- Office released Tuesday, at 8:08 pher Burns, citing “an active in- a.m. Monday, “uniformed members vestigation,” said most details of of the Palmer Police Department re- the case are being withheld by au- sponded to Fox Street after receiv- thorities. Burns declined to disclose ing a 9-1-1 call reporting an incident the identity of the person who was that has left two people injured and Turley Publications photos by Michael Harrison Hitchcock Academy is a lovely place I’ll view from afar for now, though I found dead or the names the people one deceased. Responding officers Unless I get some snow shoes, this trail will have to wait until the weather do plan to check out some of their many programs and activities as soon transported to the hospitals. warms up before I explore it. as possible. Asked about the nature of the HOMICIDE ❙ page 5 EDUCATION GOVERNMENT GVS student’s Reflections poem advances to state level MONSON – A poem by Gran- Students submitted works of art in Again I ask myself “Why?!” Stars could be aligning ite Valley School fifth-grader Madi- one or all of the available arts cat- Choices need to be made. gan Graves-Harrison was selected egories: Dance Choreography, Film Know I am here. I am BLACK. for East-West rail project as the first-place winner in the Mon- Production, Literature, Music Com- I am STRONG. I am BEAU- son PTSA Reflections Arts Compe- position, Photography, Visual Arts. TIFUL. tition. With her poem, “Black Lives Love keeps me going. The love Reflections is an annual Na- Matter,” Madigan will be moving from my family. tional Arts Competition designed on to the state level of the competi- I’ll show the world that Black to provide opportunities for recog- tion. In her artist statement submit- Girl Magic. nition and access to the arts which ted with her work, Madigan wrote, Vote for freedom and equality. boost student confidence and suc- “My poem is based on my personal Every judgmental look that cess in the arts and in life. Student experiences and how it relates to the passes my way, winners from the local level have current events and history of our so- Spreads fear into me. “What if?” the opportunity to move up through ciety. I matter because I should not I cry. their district, region, council and be judged by the color of my skin More people of color bond to- state PTA programs to the national but by who I am.” gether. level. Her poem appears below: Acceptance of my blackness. National Reflections winners Too many have died… are announced in May and cele- BLACK LIVES MATTER Time to stand up for our rights. Courtesy photo brated annually through prizes and Empower other’s to use their Madigan Graves-Harrison holds up exhibition in a traveling exhibit for Because I should not be viewed voice because her first-place award in the 2020- the next year. as less. Right now is the time! ’21 Reflections Arts Competition. The theme for the 2020-’21 Looks of judgement pass my Her poem advanced to the state Courtesy photo Back in 2008, Harvard grads Pete Buttigieg (left) and Eric Lesser pose for a program is “I Matter Because…” way daily. — Madigan Graves-Harrison level of the national program. photo outside then candidate Barack Obama’s campaign plane. By Michael Harrison lives would continue to intersect. READING [email protected] Lesser, a state senator represent- ing the 1st Hampden and Hampshire EAST LONGMEADOW — District – including Ludlow, Wilbra- The Loft offers low-priced books to help fund library programs One day, two college buddies caught ham, Hampden, East Longmeadow, up while wrangling luggage from a Longmeadow, Granby, Belchertown, By Jonah Snowden library, patrons can sit and read plane in Gary, Ind. Chances are, nei- and parts of Chicopee and Spring- [email protected] when browsing through their books ther thought the vicissitudes of life field – is no stranger to Pete’s new – as long as you wear a mask and would lead one of them to a place boss, President Joe Biden. PALMER – Anyone interested socially distance. on the world’s stage before his 40th Pete – Pete Buttigieg, a.k.a. in sorting through a wide selection “We’re just so glad we can be birthday. Mayor Pete – started to make his of books at super-low prices are open for our patrons,” said Szlach- The plane they unloaded carried name as the second youngest mayor encouraged to visit “The Loft,” run etka. “What profit we make goes the belongings of then-presidential in South Bend history at age 29 in by the Friends of the Palmer Pub- back to the library, usually for chil- candidate and first-term U.S. Sena- 2012 and later as a rival to Biden in lic Library President Eleanor Sz- dren’s programming.” tor Barack Obama and his campaign the 2020 primaries. He now serves lachetka in the Schoolhouse Com- What Szlachetka said her pa- staff. Eric Lesser, a campaign aide in Biden’s cabinet as Secretary of mons Business Center at 1085 Park trons enjoy about The Loft is it’s who went on to serve in the White Transportation. Street. organized, the books are clean and House as special assistant to David For Lesser, who’s passionate Proceeds help the library meet labled. Axelrod, Obama’s chief advisor, had about the proposed East-West pas- its annual operating expenses. “It makes it easy for people, let his good friend “Pete,” a native of senger rail line from Boston to Pitts- Szlachetka said The Loft, if they’re interested in one specific South Bend, Ind., know he would be field with depots in Springfield and which has been in business for 22 category,” she said. in the Hoosier state and maybe they Palmer, it might not hurt to have years in April, was created to sub- “They know right where to go. could spend some time together. friends in high places. stitute for an annual book sale at We have lots of good loyal patrons Perhaps the two former Harvard the Palmer Public Library. and they appreciate getting a hard- students grabbed dinner or a beer lat- How they met? “Patrons can come in and cover for $1.” er. Friends for life at that point, they Taking a ‘brain break’ browse at their leisure,” said Sz- Szlachetka also encourages still get together when they can. Or, lachetka. “Everything is labeled.” Turley Publications staff photos by Jonah Snowden the idea of reading as a healthier President of the Friends of the Palmer Public Library, Eleanor Szlachetka. Pete being Pete, he may have used all They spent only one year as A variety of books are avail- alternative to other ways people the free time he had that day helping schoolmates, though Lesser and pass time. his old pal unload that plane. Even Buttigieg probably would have be- able, including hardcovers, soft- titles can be yours for pocket “I’d much rather pick up a covers, romance, fiction, cook- change. Also, since the inside of if that bit of trivia is confined to the come friends regardless of how they dustbin of history, it’s wholly incon- books, mysteries and more.