Citizen Police Academy to Start Jan. 29
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TONIGHT Showers. Low of 31 Search for The Westfield News The WestfieldNews Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews “IT IS THE JOB THAT Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIMEIS ISNEVER THE ONLY STARTED WEATHER THATCRITIC TAKES WITHOUT LONGEST TONIGHT AMBITIONTO F.”IN ISH.” — J.R.R. TOLKIEN Partly Cloudy. JOHNSearch STEINBECK for The Westfield News Westfield350.comWestfield350.orgLow of 55. Thewww.thewestfieldnews.com WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHERVOL. 86 NO. 151 75 cents VOL.88 NO. 4 SATURDAY,TUESDAY, JUNEJANUARY 27, 5,2017 2019 CRITIC75 Cents WITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com CouncilVOL. 86 NO. 151 addresses stormwaterTUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 fee, 75 cents grant usage and development questions By AMY PORTER cilors that same day. to Powdermill and Armbrook soon,” he added. Correspondent “We’re looking at 14 projects Dams, which Billips said would be “It’s very disappointing for me WESTFIELD – At Thursday’s over the next three years. These significantly less than projected. personally that we haven’t been City Council meeting, Finance sub- projects are necessary,” Allie said. Surprise was referring to new com- able to move this forward. committee chairman Dan Allie Allie said he also met on mittee assignments which will be Infrastructure is the second leading reported that the committee had Wednesday with Mayor Brian P. made by Council president Ralph J. contributor to the issue of clean voted 3-0 to recommend increases Sullivan, who asked him how much Figy. water,” said outgoing Ward 5 to the stormwater fee. He then revenue would be generated by the At-large Councilor Dave Flaherty Councilor Robert A. Paul, Sr., who employed his discretion as chair- increases, which is yet to be deter- said the reason for increasing the has been a big proponent of the man to keep the matter in commit- mined. fees is to repair the stormwater, plan. tee. “I object to raising residential which impacts road work. “We’ve At-large Councilor John J. Allie said he appreciated the rates. We have to find a way to made a great effort to address this,” Beltrandi, III acknowledged that work done by Department of Public have commercial rates pay 10 cents Flaherty said, adding that $10 there has been a lot of work done. Works Director Dave Billips and more,” said At-large Councilor annually per house is a modest “I was at the meeting with the by the committee’s members on the Cindy C. Harris. increase. “We have to do the hard Mayor (yesterday). Since that issue, having met at least three Finance committee member work. I hate to send this back to the meeting, there’s been a pretty sub- times previously together. Andrew K. Surprise said there are a committee. This is priority number stantial adjustment. I was not in However, he said changes in the couple of issues for the incoming one in the city. Go to committee, do capital plan had been sent to coun- Finance committee, such as repairs your analysis, and come back See Council, Page 7 At-Large Councilor Dan Allie New dog Citizen Police Academy regulations to start Jan. 29 By PETER CURRIER whelmingly filled with people who Correspondent already sort of support the police affects WESTFIELD- The Westfield department,” said Hall, “I usually Police Department will be holding encourage people who have a nega- its 18th annual Citizen Police tive attitude towards police to attend. Southwick Academy starting January 29th at the They may learn something.” police station on Washington Street. Each week, the officers will focus The academy, which goes for 12 on a different topic relating to police- weeks, is meant to teach Westfield work. Topics include finance crime, wildlife area citizens what the day to day life of a drug identification, defensive tactics By GREG FITZpaTRICK police officer is like. There will be and use of force, and child abuse and Correspondent This photo was used for a past calendar from the one three-hour class every Tuesday domestic violence among others. SOUTHWICK – On November 29, the Southwick Fireman’s Association. (WNG File Photo) from 6 to 9 p.m. The final class will Different officers, dispatchers, and Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife announced be on April 16th. representatives of local courts will that new dog regulations at wildlife man- “It’s a very modified police acad- teach most of the classes. agement areas throughout the state will go Southwick Fireman’s emy,” said Lieutenant Eric Hall, the There will be one week in which into effect on January 11. program’s administrator, “we want participants will go to a shooting While the Division of Fisheries and the public know what we do on a day range. A gun license is not necessary Wildlife (MASSWILDLIFE) noted that Association preparing to day basis.” to attend, as each attendee will be dogs are still welcome on all wildlife man- Westfield residents and those who under heavy supervision. An officer agement areas, dog handlers need to com- work within the city are welcome to will be standing directly behind each ply with the new leash and waste disposal for calendar drive apply. There are 16 total slots with person and holding onto their bul- regulations. The regulations are as follows: By GREG FITZpaTRICK many openings still available as long letproof vest as they fire downrange. • Dogs and other domestic animals must Correspondent as the applicant meets a set of “When we have seconds to make a be on a physical leash/tether while on SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Fireman’s Association is requirements. One must be at least decision, we want people to under- WMAs (wildlife management areas). gearing up for their annual calendar drive. 21 years old, live or work in stand the volume of things that go Leashing dogs decreases conflicts with Established over 75 years ago and made up of 40 current Westfield, have no prior felony through our heads first,” said Hall. people and other dogs, resulting in a safer and past firefighters in the department, the Southwick arrests, and have no misdemeanor Those interested in applying may and more positive experience for every- Fireman’s Association delivers more than 4,500 calendars arrests within the last two years. The do so at www.cityofwestfield.org. one. to all residents in Southwick. program is free for those that are Any applications must be submitted • Dogs may be off-leash only when “We kind of use it as a way to give back to the commu- accepted. by January 25th at 4 p.m. in order to hunting or hunt-training with licensed nity and showcase our members,” said Chris Garvey, a “These classes are usually over- be considered. hunters under existing regulations, or if member of the Southwick Fireman’s Association and fire- they are participating in retriever or bird fighter on the Southwick Fire Department. The City of dog trial events that have been permitted Delivering the calendars to people in the community also Westfield by Mass Wildlife. gives them the chance to get to know the first responders in police head- • Dog feces in the WMA must be picked the fire department. quarters locat- up by dog handlers and disposed of offsite. “It’s a great opportunity to put a name to the face,” said ed on Licensed hunters engaged in hunting or Garvey. Washington hunt training, and those participating in The calendar consists of photos from different trainings Street. (WNG sanctioned field trials are exempt from this and community events and inside each one is an envelop file photo) requirement. that allows people to make a donation. According to Garvey, • Dog feces in WMA parking areas and any donation goes right back to the Southwick Fireman’s within 100 feet of the parking area must be Association. In the past, the association has used the money picked up by all dog handlers and disposed from the calendar drive to purchase new equipment, have of off the WMA. community events, and create scholarships for high school According to Mass Wildlife, they’ve received several complaints over the years See Calendar Drive, Page 7 from people using wildlife management See Dog Regulations, Page 7 Trout will be focus of spring middle school project By LORI SZEPELAK understanding of the to four tanks in two ates, WRWA folks will be Correspondent importance of maintain- schools this spring. meeting DFW near Exit 3 WESTFIELD-The aim ing and protecting our Two classrooms in each of the Pike Monday morn- of a spring “Teaching with natural ecosystems.” community will be pro- ing, then will deliver the Trout” program in the city After a “successful” vided with the needed eggs to the two schools,” and in Southwick is to 2017-18 school year, equipment including a added Young. foster a conservation ethic DFW knew the impor- 29-30 gallon aquarium Jeffrey Collier, a sev- among middle schoolers. tance of continuing the tank, chiller to keep the enth grade teacher at the “The goal of Teaching program, noted Slater. tank temperature at 50 Westfield Middle School, with Trout is not about “Students will raise the earlier Atlantic Salmon degrees F or so, a filtra- will be among the teach- restoring, reestablishing, trout from eggs to fry and Egg Rearing Program tion system, and miscel- ers participating in the or augmenting trout popu- then release them into (ASERP) several years laneous supplies. program. Teachers at the lations in Massachusetts,” approved cold water ago, when the U.S. Fish “Over the past few Powder Mill Middle said Caleb Slater, anadro- streams and ponds,” said and Wildlife Service years WRWA board mem- School in Southwick will mous fish project leader Slater.