First Night the Water Issues Facing Westfield
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TONIGHT Snow Showers. Low of 26. Search for The Westfield News The WestfieldNews Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews “YOU ARE NOT VERY Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIMEGOOD IS THE IFONLY YOU ARE WEATHER CRITICNOT WITHOUTBETTER THAN TONIGHT YOURAMBITION BEST FRIENDS.” Partly Cloudy. IMAGINEJOHN STEINBECKYOU TO BE.” Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com — JOHANNSearch KASPAR for The LA WestfieldVATER 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.88 NO. 1 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2019 CRITIC75 Cents WITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com CITY COUNCIL InVOL. 86 wrestleNO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 PREVIEW 75 cents for gun, Jan. 3, 2019 woman – Election shot in foot of President By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – A 19-year-old woman for 2019 was transported to Baystate Medical By AMY PORTER Center Sunday night after she was shot in Correspondent the foot during an attempt to secure a WESTFIELD – On Thursday, the City firearm from her 21-year-old boyfriend. Council will elect a new president for 2019 as According to Southwick Chief of the first item on the agenda. 2018 Council Police Kevin Bishop, police officers were President John J. Beltrandi, III said he will dispatched to Congamond Road just not be putting in his name for the office. before 6 p.m. on Sunday night for a dis- Beltrandi said typically presidents rotate, traught man with a gun. After the girl- although there have been exceptions in recent friend was shot in the foot during the years. He said the office involves a lot of attempt to get the gun, the male subject extra meetings and a lot of extra time. left the scene. The female was treated at “I appreciated all Baystate Medical Center and released. the hard work coun- After a warrant was issued for the boy- cilors did, and the friend, he was brought into the Southwick support that I Police station at approximately 10 a.m. received,” Beltrandi Monday morning by his girlfriend. said, adding that he The male, who’s name is not being felt that everybody released, was arraigned in Westfield contributed, and was, District Court on Monday and has been for the most part, held on $500 bail and was expected to be respectful. “It was an back in Westfield District Court on interesting year,” he Thursday. The individual is facing charg- said. es of possession of a firearm without a Beltrandi acknowl- license and discharging a firearm within edged all the extra 500 ft. of a dwelling. The Westfield work the councilors JOHN J. District Court also informed the Westfield did around certain BELTRANDI, III. News that the male will have certain con- issues, in particular ditions to abide by but those haven’t yet First Night the water issues facing Westfield. He said been specified. everybody had input, and everybody put a lot Along with Southwick Police officers, Firelight and spotlights enlighten the darkness at Amelia Park during Monday’s First of work into it. He also acknowledged the assistance was received from Suffield Night celebration. See additional First Night photos on Pages 6, 7. (Photo by Marc St.Onge) “incredible amount” of work done by mem- Police and Massachusetts State Troopers. bers of the community in learning about the issues, mentioning Kristen Mello in particu- lar. “I appreciated their efforts,” Beltrandi said. As president, he said he tried to be fair and give people the opportunity to be heard, Kiwanis TV Auction a win-win for businesses, charities although he admitted he didn’t have patience for what he called campaign speeches. By LORI SZEPELAK since 2006. “It is full steam ahead the auction is the “primary source Beltrandi said he does plan to run again as Correspondent for our members who will be mak- of funds that the Kiwanis Club uses an At-large Councilor this fall. “If I’m fortu- WESTFIELD — With a new ing phone calls and encouraging for support of our local charities.” nate to get elected again, I’ll probably throw year it is “full steam ahead” as businesses to consider donating a A “large portion” of the auction my hat in again for president,” he said. Westfield Kiwanis members begin product or service or being an auc- funds raised benefits the Boys & At least two councilors are interested in reaching out for donations for the tion sponsor.” Girls Club of Greater Westfield annual TV Auction slated March 3. The auction, conducted at the each year, according to Delisle, putting in their names on Thursday as presi- Now in its 50th year, the auction Westfield State University broad- noting that Westfield Kiwanis dent for 2019. Beltrandi said whoever is has evolved over the years but its cast studio in the Ely Campus founded the organization in the voted for by a simple majority of the council- mission remains the same – raising Center, will air from noon to 8 p.m. 1960’s. ors, will take the seat and run the rest of the funds to benefit a variety of local on Comcast Channel 15 in Organizations including meeting. The new president will also hand charities and programs. Westfield and Southwick, and will Westfield Little League, Girl out new committee assignments at Thursday’s “A solicitation letter will be sent stream live at www.westfieldki- Scouts, Westfield on Weekends, meeting. to businesses in town during the wanis.org. the annual Strawberry Festival, On the agenda from the Mayor’s office are George Delisle will once first week of January,” said George “The auction was presented on Our Community Table soup kitch- requests for action on two grants. The first, is again serve as co-anchor for Delisle, a past president of radio – the old WDEW-AM – in en, youth programs in the local a request to accept a grant of $5,500 from the the Westfield Kiwanis TV Westfield Kiwanis as well as a past the 70’s and early 80’s, and transi- schools, the Kiwanis Children’s Executive Office of Elder Affairs to the Auction on March 3. auction chairman. He has also tioned to television in the early Westfield Council on Aging’s food program’s (Submitted photo) served as an auction co-anchor 1990’s,” said Delisle, adding that See Kiwanis Auction, Page 3 partnership with the Horticulture Department at Westfield Technical Academy. The second is for a resolution of the City Council authorizing a grant from the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Grandmothers’ Garden Continued public hearing for Development in the amount of $1,926,745 to the Engineering Dept. The grant has been solar project set for Monday awarded from the MassWorks Infrastructure in crisis mode Program for the Springfield Road Traffic By LORI SZEPELAK By GREG FITZPATRICK Signal Project, for a new traffic signal at 99 Correspondent Correspondent Springfield Rd. WESTFIELD – While the plants, herbs and bushes lay dormant for GRANVILLE – The Planning Board will hold a continued public hear- More grants will be brought forward from the winter, a crisis is looming underfoot for the future of Grandmothers’ ing at the Granville Town Hall on Monday at 7 p.m. for a proposed solar the Finance sub-committee for acceptance by installation site. Garden, according to volunteer coordinator John DeFeo. the City Council; for Barnes Airport, and a “We were in desperate need in 2018 for volunteers and that need has Charles Sheets owns the 91-acre property at 1730 Main Rd. and is look- ing to utilize 4.96 acres of the property to install a large scale ground- Community Preservation Commission grant increased greatly for this year,” said DeFeo, adding that currently he only of $75,000 for additional affordable housing has two women who have been loyal volunteer gardeners throughout the mounted solar photovoltaic installation. According to Gale Head years. Development, solar developer for the project, access to the site will come units at Powdermill Village apartments, as a “We lost three volunteers in 2018 due to health issues so the garden from Sheets Road, which is off of Main Road. part of a planned renovation program. The looks neglected,” said DeFeo. “Once we lost those volunteers we fell Regarding the environmental aspect of the proposed site, there are wet- Finance sub-committee will also bring a behind and the garden is now in rough shape.” lands around the 4.96 acres but they will not be disrupted as it will be out positive recommendation on a proposal from The most significant feature of the Chauncey Allen Park along Smith of the 100-foot buffer zone. the Department of Public Works for an Avenue is Grandmothers’ Garden, a half-acre formal flower garden that According to the submitted site plan, the array will be set back at least increase in stormwater fees for residential was constructed in 1933. 40 feet from any property lines. Gale Head also mentions that there will be and commercial customers, to help pay for a DeFeo explained he would be elated if he could recruit a minimum a shade management area consisting of 5.3 acres to the west, south, and 5-year $14 million capital plan for needed See Volunteers, Page 5 See Public Hearing, Page 3 See City Council, Page 5 PAGE 2 - WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2019 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Our Community Table On Christmas, members of Congregation Ahavas Achim pre- pared and served a delicious roast beef dinner at Our Community Table. This holiday tradition has gone on for more than 30 years! Many thanks to the donors and volun- teer chefs, sous chefs, servers, and dishwashers who made this possible.