Belchertown-News.com Publisher To Focus On Real Estate Career
Publisher publishes new blog, WesternMassProperties.com

Belchertown EDIC: Town Investment For Road Extension Essential To Redevelopment Of Former Belchertown State School Site
The Belchertown Board of Selectmen will be seeking approval at Town Meeting for a $1.25 million dollar bond to extend Front Street and utilities through the former Belchertown State School campus.

NESFI And Hyperion Systems Withdraw Application For Dual-Use Solar Array; Plans To Resubmit Them
New England Small Farm Institute (NESFI) and Hyperion Systems have withdrawn their application to install a dual-use solar array on a NESFI field at the corner of George Hannum Road and Hamilton Street.

Belchertown School Committee Approves $25 Million Dollar Budget That Cuts Several Sports Programs And Elementary School Teaching Positions
The Belchertown School Committee held one of the most well-attended public hearings in recent history regarding a $25,138,282 proposed school budget.  About 100 people attended the public hearing with concerns about cuts to sports programs.  Belchertown voters will have the final say, however, at Town Meeting in May.

Reader's Digest Recognizes Belchertown Resident For Heroic Deed (Includes video)
Belchertown residents Jeremie Wentworth and Donald Lubeck are featured in the latest edition of Reader’s Digest, which selected Jeremie for its “Hometown Heroes” series that profiles ordinary people across the country and their extraordinary deeds.

North Andover-Based Nexamp Tees Up Plan To Build Commercial Solar Array At Local Driving Range
Evergreene Golf on Route 9 has closed the driving range after 7 years of offering golfers a local spot to work on their swing. North Andover-based Nexamp has teed up a plan to build and maintain a 1.5 megawatt solar array at the former Belchertown driving range and on a portion of the gravel pit at the rear of the property.  PGA Teaching Professional Frank Leja said that he will continue to offer lessons in Palmer at Campbell’s Golf Center on Route 32 near Rondeau‘s Ice Cream.

Clapp Memorial Library Hosts Reading At Town Hall
David Ira Rottenberg reads his book;  Gwendolyn, the Graceful Pig  Wednesday, April 18th @ 1:30pm in Lawrence Memorial Hall.

Massachusetts Communications Supervisors Association Celebrates National Public Safety Telecommunications Week
The Massachusetts Communications Supervisors Association and first responders across the country are recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.   Every year during the second week of April, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International honors the thousands of men and women who respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving assistance to the world’s citizens.

Belchertown Man Arraigned On Child Pornography Charge As Part Of Statewide Sweep "Operation Corral"
As part of Operation Corral, a statewide sweep of child pornography suspects, a team of investigators led by Massachusetts State Police Sgt.
Thomas Bakey executed a search warrant at 418 Chauncey Walker Rd., Belchertown on Thursday, April 5, and arrested Craig Cilley, age 27, of that
address.

Aponte, Elstein, and Grasso Vie For Two Seats On Board Of Selectmen; Anziano Will Not Seek Another Term On School Committee
Voters will have the same choices for selectmen in 2012 that they had in 2009.  Ronald Aponte, Kenneth Elstein, and Gerald Grasso will all be appearing on the ballot.  Paul Anziano has decided not to run for re-election for the school committee, leaving an unchallenged race to incumbent Clare Popowich and newcomer Richard Fritsch.

Annual Putt-A-Thon Prepares For 8th Event
Annual event has raised over $280,000 for cancer research since it began eight years ago.  

Belchertown Police Charge Darnell Ross For Friday Morning Burglary; Continue Search For Accomplice
One man has been charged and another is still at large after a Belchertown woman returned home to find two burglars loading the trunk of a black Mercury Cougar in her driveway and her front door open.

Belchertown Incident Reports And Arrests: 4/23/12-4/29/12
Police received 212 calls, responded to 12 incidents, and made 3 arrests.

Belchertown Incident Reports And Arrests: 4/16/12-4/22/12
Police received 203 calls, responded to 10 incidents, and made one arrest.  All individuals are innocent until proven guilty in court.

Belchertown Incident Reports And Arrests: 4/9/12-4/15/12
There were 198 calls, 9 incidents, and 2 arrests during this week.

Belchertown Incident Reports And Arrests: 4/2/2012-4/8/2012
There were 5 incidents and 4 arrests during this week.

Belchertown Incident Reports And Arrests: 3/26/12-4/1/12
Police received 214 calls, responded to 5 incidents, and made 2 arrests. Suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Belchertown Home Sales And Property Transfers: 4/16/12-4/20/12
There were 2 home sales and a single property transfer during this week.

Belchertown Home Sales And Property Transfers: 4/9/12-4/13/12
There were 2 sales during this week.

Belchertown Home Sales And Property Transfers: 4/2/12-4/6/12
There were 3 sales and 3 property transfers during this week.

Belchertown Home Sales And Property Transfers: 3/26/12-3/30/12
There were 8 sales and 3 transfers during this week.

Templeton Resident Rick Schober Announces Independent Candidacy for Massachusetts State Representative, 2nd Franklin District
TEMPLETON, MA, February 24, 2012 -- Rick Schober recently announced his candidacy for State Representative in the newly configured 2nd Franklin District which, effective next year, will comprise the central Massachusetts towns of Athol, Erving, Gill, New Salem, Orange, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Templeton, Warwick, and Wendell, as well as Precinct A of Belchertown. Running without any party affiliation, he promises to be a much needed independent voice for working-class families on Beacon Hill.

Hampshire Council of Governments Hires Director of Electricity
The Hampshire Council of Governments (Council) is pleased to announce that John P. O’Rourke is the new Director of Electricity.

Legendary Television Newsman Ted Koppel Will Speak, Receive Honorary Degree at UMass Amherst Commencement May 11
Ted Koppel, one of the nation’s most highly respected and honored television journalists, will be the featured speaker at undergraduate commencement at the University of Massachusetts Amherst on May 11.

Mount Holyoke College Will Not Raise Tuitition Fees for 2012-2013
Mount Holyoke College, long committed to academic excellence and access for academically talented students from all socioeconomic backgrounds, will not raise tuition or room and board for the 2012-2013 academic year, holding prices at the 2011-2012 rate and making next year the first since 1968 that the College has not experienced an increase in the cost of attendance.

Rachel Maddow to Speak at MHC March 31
National television commentator Rachel Maddow will read from her new book during an appearance at Mount Holyoke on Saturday, March 31 in Chapin Auditorium.

Massachusetts Jobs Increase By 9,100
February unemployment holds at 6.9%

Massachusetts Attorney General Among 36 Attorneys General Send Letter to Google Chief Regarding New Privacy Policy
Concerned that recent changes to Google’s privacy policy increase the risk of identity theft and fraud, Attorney General Martha Coakley joined other Attorneys General today in sending a letter to Google Chief Executive Larry Page outlining several issues with the new guidelines.

Massachusetts Contraception Coverage Laws Fact Sheet
With all the talk about contraception during this election year, Governor Patrick's office released this fact sheet regarding contraception coverage laws as they apply to Massachusetts.

Governor Signs Executive Order Requiring Performance Management Across State Government, Mandates Strategic Plans And Performance Reporting For All Executive Agencies
Comprehensive effort aims to make Massachusetts a national-leader in results-driven management

Attorney General Martha Coakley: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Should "Change Course" and Allow Principal Loan Forgiveness for Homeowners
Concerned that the refusal by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to engage in principal forgiveness and loan modifications for struggling homeowners is slowing the nation’s economic recovery, Attorney General Martha Coakley has sent a letter urging Fannie and Freddie to reverse this stance

Governor Patrick And Governor Cuomo Announce Friendly Super Bowl Wager
Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced a friendly wager in advance of Sunday’s Super Bowl rematch between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants.

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