TONiGhT: Partly Cloudy. Low of 57. Search for The Westfield News The Westfield Search for The Westfield News News “HISTORY Westfield350.com The Westfield News REPEATS ITSELF “TIME IS THE ONLY . Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns ISTORIANS REPEAT WEATHER CRITICH WITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITIONEAC.”H OTHER.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com Search— Phi forL iTheP Gueda WestfieldLLa News Westfield350.comWestfield350.org The WestfieldNews “TIME IS THE ONLY VOL. 86 NO. 151 Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns WEATHER TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 centsCRITIC WITHOUT VOL. 88 NO. 173 WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2019 75 Cents TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL.Knapik 86 NO. 151 leads TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents his second tornado recovery By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Correspondent YARMOUTH – Westfield native Daniel M. ATSDR Associate Director Christopher Reh explains Knapik is becoming a bit of a tornado expert, the assessment with Captains Peter Kowalski and having now survived two while leader of his Tarah Somers of the U.S. Public Health Service, and community. Residents attend the informational meeting on PFAS assessment at ATSDR Environment Scientist Rachel Rogers. (Photo Knapik was mayor of Westfield Intermediate School Tuesday evening. (Photo by Amy Porter) by Amy Porter) Westfield when the June 1, 2011 tornado ripped through western Massachusetts, starting in Westfield, and is currently PFAS Exposure Assessment to begin, the town administrator in Yarmouth where a torna- do touched down Tuesday. Knapik said if Yarmouth resident ‘afraid’ to drink city water receives a federal declara- By AMY PORTER including Westfield Police Capt. and mayoral can- tion it will be the sixth Correspondent didate Michael McCabe. Representatives from disaster he has survived DANIEL WESTFIELD – An estimated 150 to 200 resi- Westfield Residents Advocating for Themselves and joked that he was feel- M. KNAPIK dents packed the Westfield Intermediate School on (WRAFT) also had an informational table at the ing a bit like a jinx. All that Tuesday to hear details of the city’s impending meeting. experience, however, placed Yarmouth in good PFAS Exposure Assessment planned by the Center Reh said that the Westfield meeting was the first hands. for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the among the eight communities, all of which are “Having been through this a number of times Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry near current or former military bases and are has certainly been a benefit,” Knapik said (ATSDR)., known to have PFAS in their drinking water, that Wednesday morning. “This event came on rap- The team from the ATSDR, led by Associate were chosen for the PFAS Exposure Assessment. idly and is different from a snowstorm or hurri- Director Christopher Reh started the evening with He said on Wednesday, the group would be hold- cane. You ride out the storm, so to speak, and get an informal “meet and greet” session at 5:30 p.m., ing a similar meeting in West Virginia. Other com- right to recovery ASAP once it passes. You rely giving residents the time to arrive and greet each munities that will participate are located in on training of your team and their experience and other, pick up information on the assessment, and Delaware, New York, Washington, Colorado, get the job done. We had just had a multi-town ask questions in advance of the formal session. Texas and Alaska. disaster exercise in April so the needed steps to Also present were Department of Public Works Westfield was chosen for the exposure assess- take were fresh in everyone’s mind.” Director David Billips, Assistant Director Francis ment after collecting information on drinking There were about 8,000 homes in Yarmouth Cain, and other members of the DPW, who water systems and meeting with community lead- without power last night, which is about 45 per- manned a table to answer questions on the city’s ers and community members, said Capt. Tarah cent of the town. A regional shelter is being response to the PFAS contamination; Mayor Brian Somers of the U.S. Public Health Service for housed at Dennis Yarmouth High School, which ATSDR Environmental P. Sullivan, Senator and mayoral candidate Donald Region I – New England. Somers also said that offers a power source for anyone who needs to Scientist Rachel Rogers. F. Humason, Jr., Rep. John C. Velis, a number of charge a device or use medical equipment. (Photo by Amy Porter) city councilors and candidates for elected office, See PFAS Meeting, Page 8 Knapik said this tornado was different than the Westfield tornado. See Tornado, Page 5 Burglary suspect jailed By CARL E. HARTDEGEN one of the broken windows were found to be Correspondent the start of a trail of blood drops which led to a WESTFIELD – A city man is in jail after he nearby house, the home of Michael R. allegedly broke into a neighbor’s home while Hiltbrand, 47, of 5 Greene Ave. who, Williams the residents were sleeping to steal a television reports, “became the main suspect.” and a crockpot. Williams reports that, on Friday, Hiltbrand City police received a call Wednesday morn- called the police dispatcher and said that “he ing from a Green Avenue resident who reported would be coming in to the Westfield Police that a brick had been thrown through a window Department to turn himself in regarding a pre- sometime overnight and his television had been vious crime he had committed.” stolen while he was sleeping upstairs. When he “arrived at the station on his own Det. Jason William reports in a court docu- free will,” Williams reports, Hiltbrand “con- This large tree was completely uprooted in ment that he responded to the call and found fessed to breaking the windows on his neigh- South Yarmouth during a storm July 23, which that two windows had been broken and that a bors house late Tuesday night. The Defendant included two tornado touch-downs. Southwick large television and a crockpot were missing. also stated that he had stolen their television resident Frank Mancini was on vacation with The crockpot was found under the deck of a his children and took this photo. (Photo submitted) nearby house and blood drops discovered on See Suspect, Page 8 MICHAEL R. HILTBRAND Reserve officer interviewed By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Kelly’s hosts cannabis growing classes Correspondent By PETER CURRIER SOUTHWICK – Kyle Shoemaker, a part-time Granville Police Correspondent officer, could be Southwick’s next reserve officer. WESTFIELD- Kelly’s Home and Garden hosted a beginner’s can- Shoemaker was interviewed Tuesday by Southwick Select nabis growing class Tuesday for anyone interested in growing the Board members who asked a series of questions while Southwick plant, but doesn’t know where to start. Police Chief Kevin A. Bishop listened. The classes, which are being taught by Chris Parker, store manager Shoemaker was asked if there was a time when he had to make at Kelly’s Garden and Grow in Palmer, are split into two 90-minute a quick decision under stress. sessions. The first class on July 23 included the basics of growing “There was a time when I was in pursuit of a vehicle and it cannabis as well as the laws surrounding it. The second session is July wasn’t safe, so I called it off,” Shoemaker said, noting that speed 30 at 6:30 p.m., with a focus on the more advanced techniques and on Granville’s windy roads were both factors in his decision. “I aspects of growing marijuana. Each class costs $25. had to make the call for what was safe for everyone.” Brian and Stacey Kelly, owners of the garden stores, have been When asked about how he handled disputes with supervisors or hosting these classes every couple of months for the last two years. fellow officers, Shoemaker said he had no issues. (Left to right) are Riley, Guinness, and Brian They started the classes shortly after voters chose to legalize the pos Kelly, co-owner of Kelly’s Home and Garden. See Reserve Officer, Page 8 (Photo by Peter Currier) See Cannabis Classes, Page 8 Oak Ridge Golf Club For more info contact: Marie Boccasile at Scramble For Animals (413) 564-0589 or [email protected] Feeding Hills, MA Sunday Rain or Shine Hole Sponsorship th $50.00 donation August 4 Registration 11:30am To Benefit the Shotgun Start 12:30pm Dinner Only $25.00 Westfield Homeless Cat Project $100 per player (includes golf, cart, lunch, dinner & prizes) 501(c) non-profit organization PAGE 2 - WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2019 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS ‘Flash Backs’ at the Senior Center Audiences delighted this week in the show “Flash Backs,” an intergenerational performance collaboration between Westfield Senior Center participants and summer campers from the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield. The show was written by local theater talent Steve Henderson and directed by Mr. Henderson and Mallory Wray, Cultural Enrichment Director at the Boys & Girls Club. Funding for the performance was provided by the Friends of the Westfield Senior Center. Additional funding was through a grant from the Westfield Cultural Council which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council. (Photos by Tina Gorman) ODDS & ENDS LOCAL LOTTERY Sweet mess: Syrup spills LAST NIGHT’s numBERS MASSACHUSETTS TONIGHT THURSDAY FRIDAY at edge of French Quarter MassCash 03-06-23-29-34 NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Crews spent Mega Millions the night cleaning syrup from one block of 01-04-23-40-45, Mega Ball: 11, Megaplier: 2 a four-lane street along New Orleans’ Estimated jackpot: $168 million French Quarter. Numbers Evening Police say a container truck spilled 3-9-7-6 about 1,000 gallons (3,800 liters) of syrup Numbers Midday Mostly Sunny.