http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/belchertown/ Belchertown, MA News http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/belchertown/content/13e8da9bb1618a9bc923a706703c9646.html One man dies and three are injured during highway crash yesterdayBy ELIZABETH ROMANeromanrepubcomHOLYOKE A man died and three were injured after the vehicle they were in crashed on Interstate 91 yesterdayState police in Northampton responded to the singlevehicle crash around 10:25 pm yesterdayPolice said a 1996 Honda Accord was traveling northbound on I91 in Holyoke when the vehicle left the roadway entered the median rolled over and landed upright on Reservation Road below There were four males in the car at the time of the crash One rear seat passenger suffered serious injuries in the crash and was transported by ambulance to Bay State Medical Center where he died last night The operator and two other passengers were also transported by ambulance to Bay State Medical Center with nonlife threatening injuries The names of the operator and passengers in the Honda are being withheld pending proper family notification police said The crash remains under investigation with the assistance of the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and the State Police Crime Scene Services Section The Holyoke Fire Department Holyoke Police Department and MassHighway assisted troopers at the scene Due to the investigation and vehicle removal I 91 northbound was closed between exits 15 and 16 for about three hours yesterday http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/belchertown/content/366dedc6836769065bd3bf03b4f1fdd1.html Associated Press TOLLAND Police are trying to figure out what that caused a 12yearold girl to fall out of a moving Sports Utility Vehicle in Tolland and suffer serious head injuries State Police Sgt Timothy Finn on Sunday said the girl was injured while riding in a vehicle with her grandmother and a friend on Saturday She was rushed by helicopter to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield for treatment but Finn says there was no immediate update on her condition Sunday Investigators are working to determine circumstances that led to her injuries and whether to file charges against any of the adults who were in the vehicle Finn said the girl's identity was being withheld http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/belchertown/content/b9e41f3de32f327d40cc83c2f9c0da86.html By JEANETTE DeFORGE jdeforgerepubcom CHICOPEE Students and teachers are complaining the science labs at the new 935 million Chicopee Comprehensive High School are inadequate for experiments School Committee members aired concerns last week that there are not enough stations in the biology and chemistry laboratories for an entire class to conduct experiments at the same time I'm growing concerned but I don't know what can be done now said Susan A Lecca a committee member who said students and teachers have told her about the problem The chemistry laboratories only have 12 stations and there are far more students in the classes The new Chicopee High School which was built four years earlier has 20 experiment stations in their labs she said She isn't alone in hearing the complaints member Sharon M Nawrocki said some told her the biology labs have 20 stations but classes are much larger with as many as 28 students Superintendent Richard W Rege Jr said he too has heard and investigated the complaints Eventually the chemistry teacher modified the way the course was instructed so students could take turns using the equipment It is working well he said Would I prefer to have one lab per student Yes School Committee vice chairman Donald J Lamothe asked if problems with the laboratories were discussed during school building commission meetings and asked if anyone knew how the mistake happened Member Marjorie A Wojcik who also serves on the commission said she has not heard the problem but said since the school is finished and there will be little extra money once construction on the playing fields is completed little can be done The commission carefully examined furniture and equipment orders and did not spot problems then I'm unsure how this fell though the cracks he said There has been a lot of problems with architect plans for the school which was originally budgeted at 74 million but is now 195 million over budget For example there was no electrical wiring in the swimming pool area and electrical outlets were missing from key areas After reviewing the building process Bissonnette said he learned it had been rushed by the previous administration and no experts review the plans before it went out to bids as is standard for a large building project http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/belchertown/content/3b442b22424770e56bfa8d993c8f7a8f.html By MICHAEL McAULIFFE mmcaulifferepubcom As the stock market collapses those in the business of helping those in need or enhancing a community's cultural life are watching and wondering From The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts to the United Way of Pioneer Valley to the Springfield Symphony Orchestra administrators seem to be sure of one thing: They can not predict what donors will do Andrew E Morehouse executive director of the Hatfieldbased Food Bank said about a quarter of the annual operating budget which this year is 25 million typically comes from individual donations And the heaviest individual giving is in the last quarter of the year We're bracing for what the outcome will be Morehouse said recently The Food Bank distributes more than six million pounds of food annually much of which is donated by manufacturers wholesalers supermarkets and restaurants However the impact of individual donors can hardly be overlooked and Morehouse said that anecdotally he is hearing some people will give less this year and some will give more They understand the crisis and basic needs will be a priority in their philanthropy Morehouse said of those who will increase their giving With the Food Bank facing a dramatic increase in fuel and energy costs Morehouse said the organization is also looking to forge partnerships with companies to obtain help in storage and delivery of food This is all uncharted territory for everyone he said of the current economic situation Every year the Springfieldbased United Way of Pioneer Valley attempts to improve on its annual fundraising campaign from the year before Last year 7 million was raised and this year's effort began late last month not the most propitious time to begin to ask individuals and companies for money I am optimistic that they will come through said Joel F Weiss president and chief executive officer of the United Way But the United Way is doing more facetoface solicitation and is seeking to expand its partnerships and work more collaboratively this year Among the beneficiaries of the United Way's work is the American Red Cross the YMCA and the YWCA Boys Girls clubs and The AIDS Foundation of Western Massachusetts We are trying todeliver a story that is compelling Weiss said Michael Jonnes executive director of the 65yearold nonprofit Springfield Symphony Orchestra said the economy will perhaps result in a reduction in administrative staff and the size of the orchestra for the 200910 season as the organization seeks to retain the same number of concerts as the approximately two dozen scheduled for this season The budget for the fiscal year that began June 1 is almost 2 million but Jonnes said foundations that provide grants will have less to give and about 15 percent of the orchestra's endowment of approximately 7 million is invested in the stock market It's going to be really tough these next couple of years said Jonnes who added: Every line of expense has to be looked at Bob Cilman director of the Northampton Arts Council thinks a lot of groups are going to have a harder time getting donations Cilman said the council which puts on dance concerts and other performances throughout the year said advertising by small businesses is a key source of support that could diminish That's where we could feel a real crunch this year Cilman said I'm not looking forward to asking people for money he added Kent W Faerber president of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts said donors may be thinking twice about giving additional money to the foundation It's more likely that donors are hesitating now about giving us more money he said But Faerber explained the foundation makes grants from a permanent fund of about 55 million to 60 million and that the yearly distributions are calculated based on market value over a period of years We are such longterm players we don't value our portfolio daily Faerber said In fact Michael J Riley the foundation's chief financial officer said the organization which is located in Springfield will be a presence in the region in perpetuity We're going to be here forever Riley said http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/belchertown/content/fc99f40b5f3e0b12a18fec1566769e83.html A meeting was called to explore the feasibility of creating a regional vocationaltechnical schoolphoto by Michael S Gordon The RepublicanMeeting of school leaders at Smith Vocational Technical High School From left: Shirley Alvira Westfield Schools superintendent Paul R Petit assistant superintendent of schools for business for the SouthwickTolland and the Granville School Districts Gerald L Paist superintendent of Pathfinder Vocational Technical Regional District Westfield Mayor Michael R Boulanger David B Hopson superintendent of the Gateway Regional School District and Hilary Weisgerber director of Smith VokeBy TED LaBORDEtlaborderepubcomWESTFIELD An initial meeting to explore the feasibility of creating a regional vocationaltechnical school district raised more questions than it answered but did not diminish the interest of local state and regional officialsThe group consisting of educators from Westfield SouthwickTolland and Gateway regional districts Mayor Michael R Boulanger state Sen Michael R Knapik RWestfield and state Rep Donald F Humason Jr RWestfield have agreed to seek additional information from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education before proceeding with the regional vocational school conceptThere are huge questions that have been raised and our next meeting hopefully will answer some Boulanger said at the close of Friday's meeting at Westfield VocationalTechnical High School Westfield Superintendent Shirley Alvira called the meeting to explore converting the city's vocational school into a regional facilityThis was a brainstorming session The next meeting should provide answers to some of the questions that surfaced today she saidQuestions raised concern costs; benefits that will be available to communities that join a regional vocationaltechnical school district; the status of Westfield's VocationalTechnical High School building; status of current staff and teachers at the school; and the extent of representation member communities will have on a regional school cdommittee that must be appointed or electedDavid B Hopson superintendent of the Gateway Regional School District said cost and financial benefit to communities will be an important factor in consideration of the proposal by Gateway member townsPaul R Petit business manager for SouthwickTolland Regional School District said representation on the School Committee will also be important in many communitiesMany of those at Friday's meeting agreed information from state education representatives will determine whether they continue their factfinding effort and pursue the regional conceptGerald L Paist Westfield resident and superintendent of Pathfinder Regional VocationalTechnical High School outlined the process of creating the regional concept That includes creation of the current steering committee establishment of a planning committee which will then be followed by meetings with prospective communities decisions on building and location election of a regional School Committee and determination of member town assessments to finance the new districtAlvira and Hiliary M Weisgerber Westfield's vocational director said towns currently under consideration for the regional district include Blandford Chester Granville Southwick Russell Central Berkshire communities Agawam and Easthampton which already send students under tuition to Westfield for vocational training Others will be included based on interest Weisgerber saidCurrently those towns send 75 students to Westfield for vocationaltechnical training http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/belchertown/content/0425772b2d366380c3c97499347de959.html HOLYOKE A limousine driver who struck a bicylist on Northampton Street collapsed and died Sunday when he got out of his limo to check on the bicyclist police said A bride and her family were being driven in a limo to a wedding at St Mary's in Westfield when they crashed into a bicyclist around 1:50 pm said Holyoke Police Sgt Isaiah Cruz The driver of the limo got out to check on the guy he hit and then collapsed Cruz said The accident occurred at 960 Northampton St After attempting cardiopulmonary resuscitation emergency personnel declared the 67 year old driver dead at the scene The bicyclist was taken to Holyoke Medical Center with minor injuries Police did not release the identity or any information about the limousine driver http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/belchertown/content/c7fa362cf14509bb6f9824bb9ef47efa.html Chet's Wrecking Auto Parts has two months to correct code violationsBy MIKE PLAISANCEmplaisancerepubcomSPRINGFIELD Chet's Wrecking Auto Parts Co 1571 Page Blvd has two months to correct code violations the License Commission saidPolice and a city zoning inspector said Thursday at City Hall the violations at the property involve receiving stolen property noise odors visible stacks of junk and poor paperworkA lawyer said the business owned by Kenneth Bousquet of Springfield has been operating here for 40 years and the problems either are being corrected or were misunderstandings He's been an outstanding corporate citizen in the city of Springfield Forty years he's never been cited for anything lawyer Richard A Sypek saidThe commission whose penalizing authority includes suspending and revoking licenses voted 30 to revisit the issue in two monthsSypek and Bousquet said the receipt of three cars police said were stolen was inadvertent It was at least partially due to confusing laws of various states governing what proof of ownership is required for cars set to be scrapped they saidNone of this was done deliberately Bousquet saidStill he said until such laws get clarified he will cease accepting vehicles that don't have certificates of titleIssues regarding the business were outlined by Zoning Inspector Jerry La Rose and police officers Richard J Goodreau and Daniel T MahoneyGoodreau said state law requires that when a vehicle is brought to a scrap yard for disposal the yard must keep a log of all vehicles taken in Records must include each vehicle's certificate of title and how each vehicle was disposed of he saidAnd you have found that Chet's Wrecking Auto Parts Co were not doing that commission Chairman Peter L Sygnator saidNo they were not Goodreau saidGoodreau and Mahoney said police are investigating the cases of the three stolen carsAs for the other problems Sypek said odors cannot necessarily be blamed on Chet's Wrecking Auto Parts Other plants and businesses are nearby and what someone catches as an odor depends on how the wind is blowing he said La Rose said one odor was perhaps diesel fuelRegarding noise Bousquet said he will abide by the commission's directive to begin crushing vehicles after 8 amThe stacks of junk will be lowered beneath the fence he saidLa Rose said complaints from neighbors included that work was being done on Sundays Sypek said that happened once because a Sunday was the only day Bousquet could get equipment repaired http://www.axtora.com/homesites/us/massachusetts/belchertown/content/699c0ee31544dc66d7092dda4c4e271f.html When new shutters are installed Quinn says the change will be mostly aestheticfile photo by Dave Roback The RepublicanLaura L Quinn the director of the Stone House Museum in Belchertown By JOHN APPLETONjappletonrepubcomBELCHERTOWN When the windows at the Stone House Museum were replaced over the past year Director Laura L Quinn saw the change as important aesthetically and functionallyWhen new shutters are installed for each window in the spring Quinn says the change will be mostly aesthetic although the shutters could be closedIt looks rather naked now We had to remove the shutters that were on there because they were literally falling off Quinn said There are historic objects inside the Stone House but Quinn said the building itself is considered the centerpiece of the collection and should look good and reflect the style of its early daysThe house itself we are proud of as we would be for any historic object she saidA 39936 grant from the town's Community Preservation account was provided in 2007 for the Stone House window replacement and a 13693 Community Preservation grant is available for the shutter replacementWe deeply appreciate the grants Quinn said The funding source is extremely important to us especially when grants are very limited these days It might not otherwise not have been able to be done and that would be a loss for the whole districtCommunity Preservation Committee Chairman Kenneth E Elstein said his committee and the Town Meeting voters who approved both grants recognize the Stone House as historically importantAnd the new wooden windows were much tighter than the ones they replaced and have glass designed to better insulate the building and protect the museum collection withinThe wooden shutters that will be installed will be designed to look like those used in the early 1800s and will meet guidelines of the Massachusetts Historical CommissionThe shutters they had were originally for function Quinn saidThat's not so much the case these days The Stone House has museum quality shades inside the windows that can keep out light for the protection of the collectionThey could be closed Quinn said of the shutters Will they be I doubt it unless we have a hurricane In the event of a hurricane they will be securely fastened