For Singers Juniors and Seniors, Who Would Each Build a Side on Alternat- by Lori Szepelak Ing Shop Weeks
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TONIGHT Partly Cloudy. Low of 27. Search for The Westfield News The WestfieldNews Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews “DISCONNECTING “TIMEFROM IS THECHANGE ONLY DOES Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns NOT RECAPTURE WEATHER CRITIC WITHOUT THE PAST . IT LOSES TONIGHT AMBITION.” THE FUTURE.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com —Search KaTHL for EETheN Westfield NORRIS News Westfield350.comWestfield350.org The WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHERVOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents VOL.87 NO. 287 THURSDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2018 CRITIC75 CentsWITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com LightVOL. 86 NO. 151 board discusses WardTUESDAY, JUNE 5 27, vote, 2017 open meeting law 75 cents By PETER CURRIER Paul also suggested that there should be Westfield Gas and Electric were able to Correspondent no more votes regarding the General fill out a form to enter a random drawing WESTFIELD- The Municipal Light Manager of Westfield Gas and Electric to be one of three people to receive a $100 Board met Wednesday evening for their until the Ward 5 seat is filled. credit to their utility bill. The names were final regularly scheduled monthly meet- The second person to speak during pub- drawn at the meeting Wednesday. The ing of 2018 and the first meeting under lic participation was former Municipal winners were Almon Schmidt, Dennis new General Manager Tony Contrino. Light Board Ward 5 Commissioner Loveland, and Karey Mulvenna. The meeting began with a section for Thomas Flaherty. Flaherty, who resigned The release of meeting minutes from public participation and the first person to from his position on the board earlier this executive sessions was on the agenda as speak was Ward 5 city councilor Bob year, announced his interest in returning well. According to General Manager Tony Paul, who also acts as the liaison between as Ward 5 Commissioner. Contrino, the minutes are released twice a the City Council and the Light Board. “I put my name in the hat to become the year. Ward 6 Commissioner, Robert Paul was largely concerned with the situ- Ward 5 Commissioner in October,” said Sacco, said that releasing the minutes ation surrounding the vacant Ward 5 seat Flaherty, “I am still interested in the Ward only twice a year was not enough, and on the light board. 5 position.” suggested doing so quarterly instead. New Westfield Gas and Electric General Manager Tony “I sent a note to the chair the other day The board also discussed Public Power “Technically what you’re supposed to Contrino, left, reads the name of a winner of the $100 to get Ward 5 voted in and announced and Public Gas Month, which was in utility bill credit. City Councilor Bob Paul, right, pulled tomorrow,” said Paul. October. Back in October, customers of See Light Board, Page 3 the name out of the box. (Photo by Peter Currier) Marathon Planning Review: Storm Large’s Board tackles Holiday Ordeal at The development projects By AMY PORTER Daisy Troop 64909 is seen carol- UMass Fine Arts Center Correspondent ing at the elderly housing on WESTFIELD – Following a marathon public hearing on By MARK G. AUERBACH special permit granting authority on Tuesday, the Planning Ahrend Circle last year. (Photo Correspondent from Cheryl Wilson McCarthy) Board finished its agenda with three public hearing continu- Storm Large, the Massachusetts ances, and consideration of two zoning map amendments. born-and-raised chanteuse., rocker, The meeting finally wrapped up at 11 p.m. with City Council Girl scout singer/songwriter, actress, and fre- president John J. Beltrandi, III receiving an extension for a quent vocalist of Pink Martini, special permit for a multifamily development at 110 returned to the Valley with her back- Lockhouse Road until Dec. 4, 2020. Beltrandi then invited troops caroling up band, Le Bonheur and her new the board to come to the City Council meeting Thursday and show, Storm Large’s Holiday Ordeal. “hang around until the end.” in Southwick I had never heard about Pink David MacIver, who Martini until a couple of years ago, was requesting a permit on Saturday when a friend shared a video of NPR for lot size averaging at reporter and All Things Considered By GREG FITZPATRICK 8 Lewis Street, and who host Ari Shapiro performing with this Correspondent was originally the first one-of-a-kind lounge band. Shapiro SOUTHWICK – Seven girl on the agenda, said the was mesmerizing as a singer, and the scout troops will be doing their design for the proposed band’s repertoire was amazing, but annual Christmas caroling event condex, an attached the piece-de-resistance was their on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until two-family home, had vocalist Storm Large. Noon. been reduced by 20%, to Storm Large still performs with Girls in the troops range from STORM LARGE pull the house back 15 Pink Martini. But, Large is back on kindergarten to eighth grade and (Photo by Laura Domela) feet, and design a ribbon driveway on either side. home turf with Le Bonheur, and their will be caroling at different busi- Planning Board chairman William Carellas said the new holiday show.closed the fall season at She performs in Massachusetts a lot, nesses and locations in Southwick. design showed 10 ft. setback on one side and 18 ft. on the the UMass Fine Arts Center. in larger venues like The Fine Arts The locations include Mrs. other, with a nice back yard with deck. Previously, the board An accomplished artist, and author, Center and Pittsfield Colonial Murphy’s, Blossoming Acres, as had said the design was too large for the lot. City planner Jay Storm Large got the public’s attention Theatre, where she performed the well as the elderly housing on Vinskey said the 10 ft. setback would still require a dimen- as a finalist on CBS’ Rock Star spring before last. She also plays Ahrend Circle and Depot Street. sional special permit, but was consistent with adjacent hous- Supernova, before joining Pink small venues like CityStage, where I Following the caroling, the seven es. Martini in 2011. She tours with Le last saw her. troops will go to the First Abutter James Pettengill at 4 Lewis St. said even with the Bonheur, performs with folks like k.d Her 90-minute set ran the gamut Congregational Church, where reduced size, it would still be the largest house by 400 sq. ft. lang, Rufus Wainwright, and major from some original works to some they will have lunch, decorate He also questioned increasing the number of bedrooms from orchestras. Her memoir, Crazy remixed Cole Porter An original gingerbread houses and play three to six. Pettengill said the three family across the street, Enough was named Oprah’s Book of song about love, inspired by mar- Christmas games. currently the largest house is 3,013 sq. ft., and the new pro- The Week. She performed in the riage equality, was stunning. Her According to Cheryl McCarthy posal for 8 Lewis St. is 3,463 sq. ft. He said he was concerned musical Cabaret, and she’s develop- Wilson, who is a unit leader for that if rented to transient renters, the backyard would become ing a musical for The Public Theatre. See Storm Large, Page 8 a parking lot. He said the previous house was 1,400 sq. ft, and See Caroling, Page 3 this one three times the size. “It does not fit into the character of the neighborhood,” Pettengill said. He also asked why a two-family and not a single-family. Matthew Gomes, who drew up the plans, introduced him- self as a teacher at Westfield Technical Academy. He said the house is a potential project for WTA construction students, GWCA offers ‘challenges’ for singers juniors and seniors, who would each build a side on alternat- By LORI SZEPELAK ing shop weeks. Gomes also said the property had not yet Correspondent been surveyed, and the drawing was based on GIS dimen- WESTFIELD-Singers of all ages who seek sions, which he said are not 100% accurate. challenges are welcome to join the Greater MacIver added that the back yard is intended for recre- Westfield Choral Association which begins ational space. He said he has other rental properties, and there rehearsals in January. is high appeal in the city for affordable housing. He said he is “Our group has been in the Westfield area for willing to put up a privacy fence and bumper at the end of the over 40 years, and continues to perform a wide driveways. variety of music at a very high level, while being Joseph Tremblay, who serves on the shop advisory com- open to all singers of all talents and walks of mittee at WTA and is consulting on the project, said the house life,” said Marc Winer, who is entering his 12th is designed to improve the neighborhood. He said they year as director. Winer first joined the group as the tenor soloist increased the number of bedrooms to be less restrictive for and served in that role for 11 years before assum- families. He said the side setbacks could be adjusted. ing the directorship from Allan Taylor. The Planning Board approved the special permit/site plan/ “Allan Taylor was and still is a mentor of mine, stormwater with conditions of side yard setbacks of no less and he had me direct a few rehearsals in his than 14 feet on either side; a barrier at the end of driveways, absence,” said Winer.