TONIGHT Rain/Sleet. Low of 30. Search for The Westfield News The Westfield Search for The Westfield News News “THE ESSENTIAL Westfield350.com The Westfield News CONDITIONS OF Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIMEEVERY IS THETHING ONLYYOU DO WEATHER CRITICMUS WITHOUTT BE CHOICE , TONIGHT AMBITIONLOVE, PASSION.” .” Partly Cloudy. — NadJOHN ISTEINBECKA BOULANGER Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.comWestfield350.org The WestfieldNews “TIME IS THE ONLY VOL. 86 NO. 151 Serving Westfield,TUESDAY, Southwick, JUNE 27, and2017 surrounding Hilltowns 75 cents VOL.88WEATHER NO. 45 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2019 CRITIC75 CentsWITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com A depiction of Bartholomew City Council Preview: VOL. 86 NO. 151 GosnoldTUESDAY, on JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents Martha’s Vineyard trading with Native Mon., Feb. 25 Americans. The By AMY PORTER painting was Correspondent done by WESTFIELD – The City Council will Theodore de Bry meet on Monday, Feb. 25 for a meeting in 1619. (Image rescheduled from Thursday, Feb. 21 due provided by Gail to school vacation. The change in the White Usher) schedule was made at the Jan. 17 meet- ing, on a motion by Council President Ralph J. Figy, who said that several councilors would be away with their families. The April meeting, normally held on the third Thursday of that month, has also been rescheduled to Monday, April 22 for the same reason. On the agenda this Monday are several items related to parks and pickle ball 350th lecture series continues courts. Under Communications from the Mayor is an appropriation of $115,000 to the Engineering, Construction Dept. for with talk on early Native pickle ball courts. Also being submitted is a reallocation of the Bond Order #2455 Ward 2 Councilor and City Council Americans of Westfield for the creation of pickle ball courts at President Ralph J. Figy (WNG File the Municipal Playground. Photo) By PETER CURRIER William Pynchon. Utility Engineer Matt Gamelli said Correspondent To supplement her lecture, Bond Order #2455 was originally used Superintendent of Schools to submit WESTFIELD- The White Usher will bring arti- for the creation of the Park Square Green, Statements of Interest (SOI) to the Westfield Wednesdays 350th facts, some real and some and has approximately $70,000 remain- Massachusetts School Building Authority Historical Lecture Series recreated, to show what the ing in the bond. Gamelli said this $70,000 to fund an addition and renovations to the continues Wednesday eve- technologies for both civili- combined with the $115,000 from Free Westfield High School and the Westfield ning at Westfield State zations looked like at the Cash would be used to repurpose the clay Technical Academy. Figy said the SOIs, University’s Scanlon Hall time. She said she wants to tennis courts at the Municipal Playground which are submitted each year, fulfill the with a lecture by Gail White show how the technologies into pickle ball courts, at an estimated schools’ requirements for accreditation. Usher on the lives of the evolved before and after the cost of $185,000. Currently, the city is in the process with Native Americans who lived natives and settlers made Gamelli said the demand for pickle the MSBA of funding approval for reno- in what is now Westfield. contact. ball courts is there, and the clay courts vations and an addition to the Franklin The lecture, titled, “Where “It’s more than just a lec- are too costly to properly maintain. Figy Avenue Elementary School. the Two Worlds Meet: Native ture, I’m also going to be said both items will be referred to the Also on the agenda is a petition for a Americans of Western bringing reproductions of Finance sub-committee. zoning amendment submitted by the Gail White Usher is an The $1 million Bond Order for reha- Planning Board to strengthen the regula- Massachusetts,” explores the Education Coordinator with objects with me for the audi- lives of the Woronoak tribe ence to handle,” said White bilitating and constructing municipal tion of any marijuana establishments by Historic New England who outdoor recreational and athletic fields to prohibiting them within 500 feet of any and their neighbors, the specializes in early American Usher, “as well as some orig- Pocumtuck tribe, who lived inal artifacts that they proba- include basketball courts, pickle ball park. A Public Hearing on the petition is history. (Photo provided by Gail courts and an all-abled playground is also required to be scheduled. near what is now the City of White Usher) bly will not be allowed to Westfield. She will talk about handle.” on the agenda under the report from the The Finance, Legislative & Ordinance which have educational pro- Finance sub-committee. Figy, who made and Personal Action Committees will their day to day living before grams that teach about Although the lecture begins and after the European set- at 6:30, guests will be allowed the original motion on Sept. 20, said that also be reporting out, and/or looking for American history. Roseland he expects the bond order to be held in Council approval on the items from their tlers first made contact with Cottage, built in 1846, is a inside Scanlon Hall at 6 p.m. them in the 1600s. for refreshments. The chefs at the Finance committee. He said the goal respective committees. Figy said the historic landmark through is to use the funds to pay for an all-abled reports underscore the amount of work “In general, it’s about the which there are programs that Westfield State University, southern New England led by Chef Caitlin Wheeler, playground, for which Community being done in the subcommittees. “They teach about the Civil War, Development Director Peter J. Miller is are working hard, and moving the city Eastern Woodland Indians slavery, and abolitionist will be recreating old Native and how their culture is American dishes with a mod- currently seeking a grant. forward,” he said. movements. The Arnold Miller said originally the vision for the Up for a second vote and final passage impacted by the arrival of House was built in 1693 and ern flair. Some examples may Europeans,” said White, “I include a roasted pumpkin bond included basketball courts for the are two items approved for a first reading has programs that detail the Boys & Girls Club with matching funds at the last meeting on Feb. 6. The first is am going to talk about how early settlement period in spread topped with dried both the European settlers blueberries and walnuts with from the city for a grant from the Van an ordinance amending the code of ordi- what would become the Trant Trust. However, Miller said the nances relative to the consumption of and Native Americans United States. assorted breads, and Terrine changed when they met each of venison with pickled cran- trust funds were found to be restricted for alcohol, on school, park, or playground White Usher said that the scholarships, and the Boys & Girls Club property, only authorized by lease or other.” first settlers to reach the areas berries. White Usher has been an As with each previous lec- project was put on hold. agreement. The ordinance was amended of Westfield and Springfield Similarly the city was seeking a grant in part to allow limited alcohol sales at Education Coordinator with arrived in the 1630s. The ear- ture in the 350th Historical Historic New England at Lecture Series, Gail White of $400,000 from the state for the all- Starfires baseball games at Bullens Field. liest known European settle- abled playground, but were turned down A second vote and final passage for an Roseland Cottage and Arnold ment in the area was a trading Usher’s presentation will be House for 20 years, both of free for all to attend. in December. Miller said he plans to amendment to the code of ordinances for post run by a man named reapply for the grant for the next round special permit granting authority will with a stronger proposal, which he is also be held. At the meeting on Feb. 7, confident they will receive. the Council passed an ordinance that Miller said they have the cash to pay moved four items from under the City for the pickle ball courts now from other Council authority to the Planning Board, funding vehicles, and a Bond Order is and assigned two previously unassigned not necessarily something they need items, leaving the more controversial North Pond fundraisers to bring approval for to do it. ones under the authority of the City In other matters before the Council, Council. awareness about preservation resolutions to authorize the By GREG FITZpaTRICK preserve the North Pond land is June 30, however Correspondent the state would like to know by March 31 how SOUTHWICK – Save North Pond supporters much committed money the Franklin Land Trust Donors sought for Southwick are hosting a fundraising and information night has. In the mean time, Southwick residents and on March 2 at two different restaurants within the the Franklin Land Trust will continue to raise town. funds. blood drive on Monday On that night, from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m., people The Franklin Land Trust will be the buyer of By GREG FITZpaTRICK remind the community that there’s an can go to Nora’s Restaurant where there will be a the land and have noted that they currently have Correspondent emergency need for all blood types. pasta dinner for $10. Music will be provided by raised about $3.3 million of the $5 million goal. SOUTHWICK – The American Red Recently, Kelly Isenor, the External Sam Chevalier along with a 50/50 raffle avail- The $5 million to preserve the 146-acre property Cross is reminding people about their Communications Manager for the able.