TONIGHT Partly Cloudy. Low of 30. The WestfieldNews Search for The Westfield News Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews “EVERY SPRING IS Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIMETH EIS ONLYTHE ONLY SPRING , WEATHER CRITIC AWITHOUT PERP ETUAL TONIGHT ASTONISHMAMBITION.” ENT.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.comWestfield350.orgLow of 55. Thewww.thewestfieldnews.com WestfieldNews — ELLIS PETERS Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHERVOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 centsCRITIC WITHOUT VOL.88TONIGHT NO. 66 WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2019 75AMBITION Cents .” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com Residents vote CowlesVOL. 86 NO. 151 Bridge TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents on two North construction ready Pond articles to get underway at special WESTFIELD — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has announced that there will be overnight traffic town meeting impacts on the Cowles Bridge, which carries Routes 10 and 202 By GREG FITZPATRICK over the Little River in Westfield, from 7 p.m., Wednesday, Correspondent March 20, through 5 a.m., Thursday, March 21. This will include SOUTHWICK — Two articles pertaining to reducing the bridge to one alternating lane of travel and imple- preservation of property adjacent to North menting temporary short-term stoppages of traffic. Pond on Congamond Lake were voted on These overnight impacts will allow crews to install barriers, Tuesday at a special town meeting in the gym- narrow the existing lanes of travel, and post messaging regarding nasium of Southwick Regional School. limiting the bridge to 7 tons. These measures are being put in Requiring a majority vote, Article 1 passed place as a result of the current condition of the bridge, safety with 478 yes votes to 88 no votes. Needing a considerations and desire to minimize overall community traffic two-thirds vote Article 2 passed with 404 yes Town Clerk Michelle Hill is shown counting the remaining ballots for See Cowles Bridge, Page 3 Article 2 as town counsel looks on. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick) See Special Town Meeting, Page 3 Planning City Council Board Preview March 21, 2019 adjusts park By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – Before the City Council on Thursday restriction is a grant acceptance of $7,811 from the state Office of Grants and Research Highway Traffic Safety Division to the Westfield Police Department for the 2019 Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Grant program. request for Also listed under Communications from the Mayor are several transfers and appropriations for lesser amounts within departments; including an appropriation of $200 from Reserve for Unforeseen account to marijuana Engineering Dept. Construction Account; a transfer of $16,666 from Westfield Police Department Settlement Account to the WPD Insurance Reimbursement Liz Cashman, head of reference at the Westfield Athenaeum, Account, and a total of $788 in transfers from the facilities holds one of the older Westfield city directories in the newly Department of Public Works to pay a prior year employ- By AMY PORTER renovated Reference/Nonfiction/Local History area. The public ee payroll retroactive payments due to a contractual step Correspondent computers in the background are where patrons can access increase. WESTFIELD – On Tuesday, the Planning Ancestry Library. (Submitted photo) Three attorneys in the Law Department are being Board held the first of two public hearings on submitted for reappointment: Attorney Jeffrey R. Krok, its own petition for a zoning amendment to as City Labor Counsel for a term of three years; strengthen the regulation of marijuana estab- Attorney Meghan Bristol as Assistant City Solicitor for lishments by prohibiting them within 500 feet Discover your a term of three years, and Attorney Shanna Reed as First of any park. A second public hearing on the Assistant City Solicitor for a term of three years. petition is scheduled during the City Council A public hearing is scheduled on a petition for a zon- meeting on Thursday. ing amendment submitted by the Planning Board to Although only ‘roots’ via strengthen the regulation of marijuana establishments one member of the by prohibiting them within 500 feet of any park. public spoke at the This will be the second hearing on the petition this Planning Board Ancestry Library week. The first was held at the Planning Board during hearing, there was a Tuesday’s meeting, at which the Planning Board voted By LORI SZEPELAK lively discussion to revise its initial petition requesting a prohibition, and Correspondent between members instead require a special permit review for any mari- WESTFIELD-As 350th anniversary celebrations continue this of the board, which led to a revision in the ini- juana establishments within 500 feet of a park. spring, many people have had a “renewed interest” in Westfield tial petition requesting a prohibition. Instead Also under Petitions is a notification from the and their family history, according to Liz Cashman, head of refer- the Planning Board will recommend to the City Attorney General on the Open Meeting Law complaint ence at the Westfield Athenaeum. Council a special permit review for any mari- filed against the City Council by Kristen Mello on “For novices coming in to do local history and genealogy juana establishments within 500 feet of a park. February 1. The complaint cited audio disturbances on research related to Westfield, the reference librarians can help get The discussion on Tuesday centered on the Ch. 15 video broadcasts of meetings, and the absence of anyone started with some basic resources,” said Cashman. broad definition of a park. City Planner Jay some meeting minutes. The OML complaint is listed on Cashman noted she has used the Ancestry Library database as Vinskey said there are 39 parks listed in the the Attorney General’s website under pending com- well as the local history and archives collections, mostly assisting City of Westfield, some of which include plaints. patrons with their research or working on special library projects. memorials such as the 911 memorial. He said Among the items being reported by the Finance other communities, including Attleboro and Committee, which is meeting in Council Chambers at See Ancestry Library, Page 8 Sharon have added restrictions regulating mar- 5:30 p.m. Thursday prior to the City Council, is an ijuana establishments near parks as places where children congregate. Vinskey said in the See City Council, Page 3 case of the town of Sharon, the regulation would have had to go to the state attorney gen- eral for review and approval. Vinskey also told the Planning Board that initially there was a prohibition from within Boat safety course being offered in Southwick 500 feet of a school in the marijuana ordinance By GREG FITZPATRICK Boaters enjoy in Westfield that had been changed by the City Correspondent Congamond Council to a special permit review. SOUTHWICK – The Massachusetts Lakes in Planning Board chair William Carellas said Environmental Police and the Town Southwick he had discussed the petition with the City of Southwick have coordinated to host a boating course at the Southwick throughout Attorney who was not in favor of it, because the boating the Attorney General is taking a hard look at Town Hall April 22 to April 25 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Town season. (WNG marijuana ordinances. Carellas said that in his Hall. It is required that people take file photo) research, he found that Northbridge, Clinton part in all four classes. and Arlington also had the park restrictions in The course is free and designed to their ordinances. help educate people about safety and Carellas said he had also received an email responsibility when operating a boat. from Ward 2 Councilor Ralph J. Figy stating The course will help raise awareness that the City Council had agreed to the Planning about the importance of safety equip- Board’s recommendation to restrict marijuana ment, safe boating practices, and legal establishments to Industrial A, when the responsibilities. “You can also use this certifi- Southwick could be important for Orchard and Lenox and people Council had initially included Business A, and Anyone in Massachusetts who cate in other states that require residents of the town or people can learn more about those details he was opposed to further restrictions. He wants to operate a boat alone between the ages of 12 and 15-years-old, or adults to have a boating license, living in neighboring communi- on the Environmental Police requested that the board withdraw their petition wants to use a personal watercraft at like Vermont,” said Lt. Tara ties as Congamond Lake consists page. without prejudice. 16 or 17-years-old, needs a boating Carlow of the Massachusetts of 465 acres and features three Those interested in signing up Planning Board member John Bowen, who safety certificate. By participating in Environmental Police. “Please different ponds. for the boating course in had initiated the petition, said that the Clinton all four classes from April 22 to April check with that state to make sure Besides the classes in Southwick can do so by complet- 25, that individual will receive a boat- first.” Southwick, there will also be ing the enrollment form found on See Restrictions, Page 3 ing safety certificate. The boating course in boating courses in April in Indian the state’s web site, mass.gov PAGE 2 - WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2019 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS They Called Westfield State Dive, Dine and hosts ‘When Two Desserts fundraiser Her Reckless WESTFIELD — The Westfield YMCA Gymnastics Program WESTFIELD — Mark the date: Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at Worlds Meet: will be putting on a Dive, Dine and Desserts fundraiser on 6:30 pm at the Westfield Athenaeum for a fascinating program about Saturday, March 23, 2019 at 4:30 P.M.