Brewer: Casino vote could come this year

By Douglas Farmer
Staff Writer

MONSON — In a time when the state Legislature is desperate for money, the prospect of licensed resort casinos become all the more appealing, State Sen. Stephen M. Brewer (D-Barre) told the Western Mass. Casino Task Force last week. Therefore, he expects some form of casino legislation to be on the desk of Gov. Deval Patrick before the end of this year.
However, before it even gets to that point, he told task force members – officials attending represented the towns of Palmer, Monson, Brimfield, Belchertown, Wilbraham and Holland as well as the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) – that he would fight for a number of protective amendments to any such legislation to alleviate effects on the towns’ quality of life. And he encouraged area leaders and residents to communicate with their respective legislators about what their concerns were, from traffic to local aid.
“Don’t be shy when it comes to letting us know how you feel,” he said. “There really isn’t any bill that’s out there now that will be the final product, in my opinion. No one really knows what’s going to happen.
“But that’s when we should be weighing in on this – when it’s still soft clay to be formed.”
Officials on the task force, the Palmer Citizens Casino Impact Study Committee that cited expanded infrastructure, public safety and counseling needs in its recent report on casinos, and numerous other boards in the region followed closely a proposal by Patrick last year to establish a statewide gaming authority to license three destination casinos – one on the north shore, one on the south shore and one in western Massachusetts – though the bill was effectively killed in committee. One major change from last year in this year’s legislative cycle, however, is that while former House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi was an outspoken opponent of such facilities, current Speaker Robert DeLeo has indicated his support for casino gaming at racetracks and slot machines.
Brewer noted that simply because much publicity has centered around the proposal by Mohegan Sun to construct a resort casino, hotel, events center and retail shops on 150 acres they have leased from Northeast Realty adjacent to the Massachusetts Turnpike Exit 8 in Palmer, that was not the only plan in the works. He pointed to 300 acres owned by the Mass Turnpike Authority in Warren that has been cited by some as a potential casino site.
“To me, it seems like it’s the plan below the radar screen you have to worry about,” he said.
Brewer addressed the task force gathering held at the Town Office Building in Monson April 22.
Prior to the discussion with Brewer, former Monson Selectman Kathleen Norbut related a meeting she and others had in recent weeks with state Sen. Stanley Rosenberg (D-Amherst), who has been labeled as a key liaison on the issue of casinos by Senate President Therese Murray. She said that while Timothy Brennan, executive director of the PVPC, had envisioned a feasibility study for each site prior to any legislative approval, Rosenberg said local research would be imbedded within any proposed bill language.
“While he said the governor’s proposal had the highest level of mitigation of any such legislation, we expressed our concern that there was a lack of accounting of employees that would end up on the state health insurance rolls or the rights given to host communities,” she said. “And we had some discussion of the economic downturn, and what protections would be afforded to towns if they built up their infrastructure but the casinos didn’t provide the revenue they were expecting.”
Both Norbut and Brennan said last week that in their communication with officials in Connecticut in towns near the Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos, that those south of the state line had expressed regret to not include the region in negotiations prior to their construction.
Along those lines, Belchertown Selectman Michael Reardon said he was hopeful there would be substantial local authority granted in any legislation, and not simply have proposals subject to the whims of a coterie of state-appointed figures. And Holland Planning Board Chair Lynn Arnold said that it wasn’t just a question of local control, but local understanding of the significance of proposals based on the unique characteristics of the region.
“Holland is such a little town, and we can’t support a local workforce and our school system can’t take much more, either,” she said. “It’s not just the host or abutting towns that will be affected.”
And both Norbut and Palmer Town Council Vice President Paul Burns said they had concerns about how the presence of a casino (and the theoretical revenues to the state one could generate) would affect the state formula for local aid. In any case, Brewer said that projections he had seen indicated the state lottery upon which municipalities depend for allocations of aid would be diminished for several years should casinos be established.
“We have a lot of people looking at these questions, including the two planning agencies of the PVPC and the Central Mass Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC),” he said. “With everything that’s on the table and the attention given to it, this casino issue reminds me of siting a nuclear power plant.”

Goodwill to close April 18

By Melissa Fales
Turley Publications Reporter

WARE – Another storefront on Main Street will soon be vacant. The Goodwill Store, a staple in the Bijou building at the corner of North Street, is closing after close to 20 years of operation.
“I feel extremely bad about closing the store,” said Julie Gornell, retail vice president for Goodwill Industries of the Springfield/Hartford area, “but I can’t continue to run a store that’s not making money.”
Gornell said the lack of parking for the store’s customers has been a constant problem.
“That store always relied a lot on foot traffic,” she said.
She said the store was severely affected by the Nov. 2008 fire at the Main Street branch of Country Bank.
“Once the bank closed down after that fire, the foot traffic for the store just wasn’t there,” Gornell said. “The sales were down quite a bit from what we saw the previous year.”
Gornell said she’s aware of the recession and people’s need for reasonably-priced clothing and other items. However, she said even with the downturn in the economy the store was not turning a profit. “We have a bottom line, like everyone else,” Gornell said. “The bottom line is that the sales were not making it.”
Gornell hopes that many of the clientele from the Ware store will visit the Palmer store, located on Thorndike Street.
“We feel that with the Palmer store only nine miles away, we will still be able to serve the Ware community,” she said.
She pointed out that none of the Ware store employees were losing their jobs. When the decision was made to close the store, Rhea Lord had already given her notice. Lord agreed to stay on to help out until the store closed. Store Manager Patricia Johnson will be shifting to the Palmer location, where she will be responsible for sorting through donations to decide what gets put out on the racks.
“With Pat in that role, I can guarantee that the quality of the merchandise at the Palmer store will be impeccable,” Gornell said.
Customers browsing through the store’s dwindling merchandise during the 50 percent off closing sale said they were dismayed to lose a favorite place to shop.
“I wish who’s ever in charge would change their mind about this place,” said Allison Kwasniewski of Ware, who said she’s been shopping at the store for at least 20 years. Living just two blocks away, she said it was extremely convenient for her to shop on Main Street, but she hopes to visit the Palmer store occasionally.
Melanie Pariseau of Ware said she was surprised the Goodwill Store would close in this economic climate.
“I didn’t believe it when I heard it,” she said.
Pariseau said she would especially miss the employees and volunteers at the store who dedicated their service. Patti Russell of West Warren was also disappointed about the store closing.
“It’s been so convenient to have this store here,” she said, adding that she has two young boys who go through their clothes quickly. “I work in town so I would stop by after work, pick up something for the boys, and maybe get something for me, too. I guess I took it for granted that it would be here, because it’s been here forever.”

Local Route 9 road resurfacing plan gets green light from stimulus funds

BOSTON – As part of Gov. Deval Patrick’s Massachusetts Recovery Plan to secure the state’s economic future, the Patrick Administration and local legislators today announced this week that a Route 9 resurfacing project was advertised for bid on Saturday as one of the “shovel-ready” transportation projects using federal highway stimulus funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The $5 million project involves resurfacing of three sections of Route 9 in Belchertown and Ware, a total of 14.3 miles.
Massachusetts has received the authority from the federal government to spend a total of $437.9 million on highway projects through the federal recovery law. At least $153.2 million will be committed to “shovel-ready” projects that will be advertised by June 27, 2009.
“Funds from the President’s recovery bill come to us at a critical moment, and we are well prepared to put these funds to work,” said Governor Patrick. “Thanks to a careful review process, we will soon have shovels in the ground on necessary road and bridge projects throughout the Commonwealth and start to put people back to work.”
Congressman John Olver stated, “For far too long, we have underinvested in our aging transportation infrastructure. The stimulus funds provide us with the ability to finally address necessary improvement projects while putting local people to work in these difficult economic times.”
“These road improvements are crucial because Route 9 is a major east and westbound connector in Massachusetts that creates commerce throughout the entire region,” said Senator Stephen Brewer. “Not only does Route 9 serve as an important part of the Commonwealth’s infrastructure, it is also the main access route to and from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.”
Senator Gale Candaras notes: “This project represents an important step forward in both addressing critical transportation infrastructure needs as well as investing in the region.”
“This section of Route 9 is an increasingly important resource for economic vitality and quality of life in the Quabbin region, especially in the growing community of Belchertown,” stated Representative Stephen Kulik. “The resurfacing will improve public safety, enhance efforts to grow jobs, strengthen our recreational tourism economy, and is an excellent investment of federal stimulus funds. “
“I am pleased to see that the Federal Recovery Funds are in place, and as intended, able to stimulate the job market in Belchertown,” stated Representative Thomas M. Petrolati. “This project has always been a priority to the legislature relative to public safety, and I am pleased to be joining my colleagues along with the Governor in making this announcement today.”
“I am pleased to see stimulus money coming into the district,” stated Representative Gobi. “The funds are critical to improving the safety of our roadways for all.”
“This is great news,” said Representative Todd Smola. “The quicker these projects get the green light, the quicker we’re able to get people in our community back to work.”
Federal recovery transportation projects are selected from the State Transportation Improvement Plan, which is comprised of projects submitted by the state’s 13 Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) following a collaborative public review process including the public and dozens of state, regional, and local officials.
“The Route 9 project was one of many identified by our partners at the federal, state, regional and local level that address important basic road maintenance needs,” said Transportation Secretary James Aloisi, Jr. “These job creating projects, which get underway in the spring, will help jumpstart the economy and make our roads safer.”
“The Executive Office of Transportation and MassHighway have identified several important projects that can move forward immediately thanks to these recovery funds,” said Governor Patrick’s Director of Infrastructure Investment Jeffrey Simon. “Federal stimulus funds allow us to accelerate road and bridge maintenance projects while creating and maintaining jobs.”
Federal officials have also announced an additional $319 million in recovery funds for transit projects at the Regional Transit Authorities and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.
Federal recovery funds enhance the Patrick-Murray Administration’s two-year effort to address a legacy of neglect inherited and a $15-$19 billion maintenance backlog. The Administration working with the Legislature has approved more than $9 billion for road, bridge and transit projects through Transportation Bond bills and an historic eight-year Accelerated Bridge Repair Program.

Sale of Casino Theater more than fiction

By Melissa Fales
Turley Publications Reporter

WARE – The marquee of the Casino Theater has been dark for about a decade, but if local theater historian Fred McLennan has his way, there are brighter days ahead for this historic building.
“We are finalizing an agreement to take over the theatre,” McLennan said, adding that it’s possible that the doors could open again at the end of this year. He thinks that it would be especially meaningful to open a revamped, reopened building during 2009, the building’s 100th anniversary.
A licensed radio and TV engineer by trade, McLennan is the real deal, a movie theater buff with other renovated theatres under his belt. He was involved with the restoration of Boston’s Orpheum Theatre and the Metropolitan Theatre, which is now the Wang Center. He also worked on restoring the Strand Theatre in Dorchester and another historic movie house on Martha’s Vineyard.
McLennan called the Casino “charming” and finds the structure appealing for several reasons.
“It’s very interesting architecturally,” he said. “It’s a very handsome building.”
He thinks its location at 121 Main St. is ideal.
“It’s at ground zero,” he said. “It’s right in front of you when you are driving on Route 32, and it’s right next to you when you travel on Route 9.”
McLennan currently lives in Holyoke, but has spent lots of time in Ware recently, delving into the history of the Casino and its hometown. If the sale does go through, he plans to move to Ware.
According to McLennan, the film industry continues to thrive despite our nations’ sagging economy. He pointed out that people flocked to the movies during the Great Depression to enjoy the escapism films can provide.
“It’s an event to go to the movies,” he said. “It’s not a passive, couch potato activity.”
McLennan mentioned a major renovation to the theater in the late 1980s when current owners, the Goldstein family, spent over $300,000 to including install a new projection booth and modern seating. He believes that a renovated, reopened Casino Theatre would provide a well-needed boost to Ware’s Main Street.
“It’s all about believing in downtown,” McLennan said. “It’s about making it a fun destination.”
He thinks local residents would respond to a mix of children’s and adult movies. According to McLennan, the last movie shown at the Casino, “Titanic,” played to a sold out crowd. He said the Goldsteins closed all the movie theaters they owned under their Western Mass. Theaters chain at the same time, a time when they had to compete with larger movie chains for first-run movies. “Now everyone gets the same movies at the same time,” said McLennan. “That makes all the difference.”
“Now everyone gets the same movies at the same time,” said McLennan. “That makes all the difference.”
McLennan said his interactions with Goldstein family have been positive.
“They want to see the Casino come to life again,” McLennan said. “They are doing what they can to make this happen. If everything goes as planned, if we are successful with our negotiations, we should be putting some marquee letters up this year.”
Community Development Executive Director Paul E. Hills is encouraged by McLennan’s interest in renovating the empty building.
“The Casino Theater is one of the properties that was identified as being worthy of preservation during our recent Heritage Inventory Landscape process,” Hills said. “I certainly hope that the potential buyer’s plans for the redevelopment of the property come to fruition.”
Acknowledging concerns about the condition of building, including some drainage problems, McLennan said, “Of course, it has to be squeaky-clean safe.”
He downplays the significance of a prominent bulge on the side of the building facing Veteran’s Park.
“The façade you see today is attached to the earlier wooden structure,” he said. “The exterior stucco wall was put on top of modern foam insulation.”
McLennan believes the bulge shows where the stucco layer has become separated from the insulation, not a structural defect. Right now, Ware Building Inspector Michael Agnew can’t say whether or not the building is structurally sound, but he isn’t taking any chances with public safety.
“We won’t know the condition of the building for sure until we get inside,” he said, adding that he is working on getting an administrative warrant to go inside the building with a safety committee to evaluate the structure.
“Once we have a chance to assess the situation and the condition of the Casino, then we’ll make a decision based on safety and what is in the best interest of the people of Ware,” Agnew said.
Town Manager Steven C. Boudreau said a survey committee, comprised of Fire Chief Thomas W. Coulombe, Building Inspector Michael Agnew, Board of Health members, among others, as well as a structural engineer and an architect will be evaluating the structural integrity and safety of the building April 7 under the terms of an administrative warrant.
Right now, Agnew can’t say whether or not the building is structurally sound, but he doesn’t want to take any chances with public safety. “We won’t know the condition of the building for sure until we get inside,” he said. “Once we have a chance to assess the situation and the condition of the Casino, then we’ll make a decision based on safety and what is in the best interest of the people of Ware.”