The Westfield NewsSearch for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHER CRITIC WITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 151 $1.00 THURSDAY,TUESDAY, MARCHJUNE 27, 25,2017 2021 VOL.75 cents 90 NO. 70 LOCAL POLITICS Westfield Democratic Westfield Republican City Committee City Committee By LORI SZEPELAK By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent Correspondent WESTFIELD — With each election WESTFIELD — Daniel Allie, cycle, members of the Westfield chair of the Westfield Republican Democratic City Committee gear up City Committee, said members are to host events that introduce candi- currently discussing events for the dates running for elected office. coming months. “The 2021 election cycle in “We hold the Lincoln Day Brunch Westfield is for Mayor and City in February, except this year,” said Council and the election is a nonparti- Allie, noting the “regional event” has san election,” said Kathryn Martin, been attended by political leaders who’s serves as committee chair. including Gov. Charlie Baker. Martin was elected chair four years “Each year we honor our veterans, ago and in 2020 was elected to anoth- community and youth volunteers,” er four-year term. he said. “This year our meetings are focused Allie, who has been active in the Easter bunny and friends. (CITYOFWESTFIELD.ORG on getting to know our city – how the KATHRYN organization for 10 years, serves with DANIEL ALLIE PHOTO) city departments work, how they are MARTIN Andrew Surprise, vice chair, and Bill Chair of the Westfield governed, how they work with other Chair of the Westfield Scheenloch, treasurer. Republican City SATURDAY EVENT departments, the City Council and Democratic City Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Committee. Mayor,” said Martin. Committee. the committee has been meeting over Martin added that in 2022, the com- the Zoom platform on the second Monday of each month at Mayor’s Easter mittee will be “highly active” since the election of Governor 6:30 p.m. and other state offices including the Secretary of the “The committee has supported Commonwealth and State Auditor will be in play, as well as the a number of local candidates, local state representative and senator. and been involved in many Egg Hunt “Many of our meetings will have issues including Repealing the speakers running for the various Automatic Gas Tax, trying to offices,” said Martin. “In 2023 and end Common Core, Vote No on 2024, the committee will be active- four-year term of mayor, and other issues,” said Allie. ‘Drive through’ ly involved in the Presidential elec- Allie noted “self-governing requires informed and involved tion, and our congressional and citizens.” Humason in quarantine after local representatives and senators.” “Government has become too big, costs too much, and is testing positive for COVID-19 Martin noted that the speakers in the coming months will be unable to provide the services for which specific taxes were from a wide array of political hopefuls. created,” he said. “It has become less responsive to citizens By AMY PORTER “We are always busy but the tasks are dictated by the election with unelected and unaccountable agencies creating regula- Staff Writer cycle,” she said. tions with the power of law. That is the role of the legislature, WESTFIELD – The Mayor’s Drive Through Easter Currently, the committee has 30 active members, according not agencies.” Egg Hunt is this Saturday, March 27, from 10 a.m. to 12 to Martin, who serves with officers Chris Hendricks, vice chair; For local residents who are interested in being involved with p.m. in the Westfield HIgh School parking lot for children Estelle Streeter, secretary, and Ann Aylward, treasurer. the committee, contact Allie via email to [email protected] ages one to 10. or call (413) 455-6186, or follow updates at https://www.face- Families will travel along an Easter Egg Trail, counting See Committee, Page 3 book.com/WestfieldRCC. the colored Easter Egg drawings posted on the fence along the athletic fields. At the end of the trail, there will be goodie bags for children and a special appearance by the Easter bunny. While everyone needs to stay in their cars, they can take photos of the Easter bunny from their Putnam, Belden nominated during Democratic caucus vehicle. By PETER CURRIER Jennifer D. Belden was nominated to through system. Voters pulled up behind Mayor Donald F. Humason Jr., who was looking for- Staff Writer run for Library Trustee as a Democrat. the Southwick Senior Center in their ward to greeting families, will not be present, as he is in SOUTHWICK — The Southwick Belden is the treasurer of the Southwick vehicles and committee members veri- quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19. Humason Democratic Town Committee held a cau- Democratic Town Committee. Both the fied their status as Southwick voters cus March 19 at Town Hall to nominate Board of Health position and the Library before handing them their ballots. See Egg Hunt, Page 3 two Democrats to two soon-to-be vacant Trustee position are for three year terms. Town elections are May 11. The positions in the town government. Southwick Democratic Chair Doreen Southwick Republican Town Committee Dr. Terry (Hannah) Putnam was nomi- Goyette-Crowley said that because both has not yet announced if they will nomi- nated as the Democrat to run for the Putnam and Belden ran for the nomina- nate candidates to run against Belden Board of Health seat currently held by tion unopposed, that they expected the and Putnam. Relocation of Wyben Dr. Jerome Azia, who recently announced small turnout. The Southwick Republican Town that he would retire from the Board of Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee caucus vote is scheduled for Health this year. March 19 vote was done via a drive- March 31. Schoolhouse considered By PETER CURRIER Staff Writer WESTFIELD — The Historical Commission is seeking to move the Wyben schoolhouse from its current location Invasive water chestnut removal on on Montgomery Road and recently sought advice on how to go about doing so. During the Historical Commission meeting March 15 Brickyard Ponds ‘a success story’ the Historical Commission heard from Dennis Picard, an By AMY PORTER Cynthia Boettner, retired coordinator of adjunct professor at Westfield State University who has Staff Writer the Silvio O. Conte Fish & Wildlife Refuge spent much of his life as a museum professional in the WESTFIELD — The Conservation in Sunderland, and Jeff Boettner, who living history field. Commission heard a report on March 23 worked on invasive insects for the last 32 Picard started off by saying that if a building is removed from Cynthia and Jeff Boettner on the suc- years, also retired, started working on the from its original location, it is literally being taken out of cess of invasive water chestnut removal at project in 2015. its context, but that is not necessarily a terrible thing. The the Brickyard Ponds, located on both sides Cynthia Boettner said she had been work- ideal location for the building, according to Cindy of Root Road. ing on water chestnut removal on sites Gaylord and the other members of the Historical Commissioner Thomas Sharp introduced throughout the Massachusetts watershed, Commission, would be to the right of the Whip Museum the project, saying it began five years ago with Westfield the furthest west of the sites. on North Elm Street by the twin bridges. with a group of volunteers and the support She said water chestnut grows from seed on “The first thing you have to decide is, what is it going of the Conservation Commission and Mass the bottom of a lake to a 16 foot depth, pro- to be used for,” said Picard, “Then you have to decide if Fish & Wildlife. He said the report was ducing an easily identified rosette which An intern from the SCA holds the you want to restore it. Do you restore the outside? The informational. “I wanted the rest of the floats on the surface, and can produce ten to leaves and seeds from the water inside? Do you make it look like it did in 1870 or 1940?” Conservation Commission to be aware of a 20 seed pods hanging underneath, and each chestnut (L) in his hand, along If the commission does decide to go through with mov- huge environmental win,” he said, adding seed can produce ten to 15 plants. She said with the root system (R) that is ing it, Picard believes it would be relatively simple to do. that without permission from the landown- pulled out of the water. (THE ers, the project would not have happened. See Brickyard Ponds, Page 3 WESTFIELD NEWS FILE PHOTO) See Schoolhouse, Page 3 The Wick 338 starts motocross season this weekend By HOPE E. TREMBLAY He said he is hopeful it can happen but if it doesn’t, he and Editor his son Keith would plan a local event that weekend. SOUTHWICK – The Select Board discussed The Wick 338 A new event at Wick 338 this year is a new vehicle display. motocross schedule ahead of its March 27 opening day. Johnson said a promotional company that works with the car The Wick 338 owner Rick Johnson met with the board dur- industry to present new vehicles wanted a “sandy, hilly area to ing its Zoom meeting Monday and presented the upcoming showcase new products,” which is what makes the motocross season schedule, which starts this weekend. Johnson said the course a nationally sought-after space. schedule would be similar to past years, however the Nationals Johnson said about 100 people would be at the course to see were still not set in stone.