State, Local Agencies Reach out to Fire Victims
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TONIGHT Showers. Low of 45. Search for The Westfield News The WestfieldNews “For thoseSearch who for The do Westfield News Westfield350.comTODAY IN WESTFIELDThe WestfieldNews not think, it is best HISTORY: Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns at least to rearrange“TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHER 1668 Old Mechanic their prejudicesCRITIC WITHOUT TONIGHT St. Cemetery set apart AMBITION once in a while.” .” Partly Cloudy. for burial ground. Search- LUTHER for The BUR WestfieldBJOHNANK STEINBECKNews Westfield350.comWestfield350.orgLow of 55. The Westfieldwww.thewestfieldnews.comNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY VOL.WEATHER 87 NO.VOL. 98 86 NO. 151 FRIDAY,TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2018JUNE 27, 2017 CRITIC75 CentsWITHOUT 75 cents TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com Finance Committee VOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents State, local approves CPA agencies transfers; reach out to reviews Cross St. plans and OPEB By AMY PORTER fire victims Kurt N. Schwartz, director of the Massachusetts Emergency Correspondent By LORI SZEPELAK Management Agency, discusses the status of fire victims WESTFIELD – The Finance Committee Wednesday Correspondent from Sunday’s blaze at the Powdermill Village Apartments ended a busy night of meetings at City Hall, following meet- WESTFIELD-By noon on Thursday, the majority of fire with Jim Wiggs, director of the Westfield Emergency ings of the Legislative & Ordinance Committee and an victims from Sunday’s Powdermill Village Apartments Management Agency. An informational session with a executive session of the City Council, at which Councilors blaze had already met with representatives from state and host of local and state agencies was conducted Thursday heard from the legal team representing the city in the suit local agencies in the community room – helping to ensure for those impacted by the fire. against fire-fighting foam manufacturers. That meeting was a smooth transition for those displaced. closed to the public. “It will be a little bit of a long road for many,” said Jim “Within the next month the college students will start During public participation at the start of the Finance com- Wiggs, director, Westfield Emergency Management leaving so we expect apartment openings should become mittee, resident Kate Pighetti said at the recent City Council Agency. “Since the fire we have been reaching out to land- available,” said Wiggs. meeting, residents advocated for turning the tennis courts at lords to find affordable housing.” The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency Kurt N. Schwartz, director of the Massachusetts (MEMA) coordinated Thursday’s informational session for See Finance Committee, Page 3 Emergency Management Agency, discusses the status of fire victims by bringing together a host of state and local fire victims from Sunday’s blaze at the Powdermill Village agencies in one location to assist city residents. Apartments with Jim Wiggs, director of the Westfield “It is a real team effort,” said Christopher Besse, MEMA Emergency Management Agency. An informational ses- spokesperson, adding that Peabody Properties has also sion with a host of local and state agencies was conducted “done a great job” for the fire victims. Thursday for those impacted by the fire. Kurt N. Schwartz, MEMA director, echoed those senti- Wiggs also commended Peabody Properties, Inc., own- ments. ers of the complex, for their quick response in providing “Our job is to ensure our agency is providing all the sup- assistance to residents and coordinating resources for the port that the city has asked for,” said Schwartz, noting the families. importance of linking state agencies with city representa- “Peabody Properties has gone above and beyond for the tives. tenants,” said Wiggs. Wiggs added that his office made an informal request to While most fire victims are currently residing in motels MEMA on Sunday night once the blaze was extinguished, or staying with family and friends, Wiggs is confident that apartment space should open up soon in the city. See Agencies, Page 3 2018 Finance sub-committee: Andrew K. Surprise, Dan Southwick Police Allie, chair, Matt Emmershy. (Photo by Amy Porter) in search Love to read? of larceny suspect Don’t miss this sale! By GREG FITZPATRICK By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Police Department is WESTFIELD-Local historian Robert Brown was the first in looking for the public’s help in identifying a person for a line – at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday – to ensure that when the suspected larceny. Early Monday morning at around 12:05 always popular spring book sale opened its doors in the Lang a.m., a male suspect walked into the Mobile Station on Auditorium of the Westfield Athenaeum, he would have the College Highway and walked out of the store with a 30 first glances of books for sale on history. pack of beer. While waiting patiently in line, Brown noted the book sale According to Sgt. Det. Robert Landis, the individual is now in its 20th year and over the years he had assisted in then fled to a vehicle where the operator of the car was handling logistics. Brown turned over the logistical reins of waiting and then proceeded to take off. The cameras inside the book sale to Robert Hullivan in recent years. the Mobile Station did happen to catch a glimpse of the The Friends of the Westfield Athenaeum, sponsors of the suspect. book sale, did not set a particular fundraising goal, however, “We’re just hoping to identify the guy,” said Landis. with more than 10,000 books up for sale, their hopes are high This isn’t the first recent shoplifting incident in for a successful event. Southwick, as two individuals walked into the CVS on Book sale hours are Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, 9 College Highway on April 7 and walked out with several a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. packages of Rogaine. After the incident occurred, Landis indicated that stealing Rogaine is common because they’re See Book Sale, Page 3 of high value at pawn shops, with the retail value around $55 a box. Landis also added that he believes the police department is close to at least identifying one of the suspects in the CVS incident. But, for the most recent incident at the Mobile gas station, the department is asking for the com- munity to come forward with any tips or information that The suspect was captured on camera at the Mobile station. (Photo they may have on that larceny. The Southwick Police provided by Southwick Police Department) Department can be contacted at 413-569-5348. Rep. Velis continues to deliver state funds for Westfield Westfield State Representative John Velis has one-fifth of WSU’s student body- by providing managed to secure more state funds in the assistive learning technology and additional help Massachusetts House of Representatives budget for with their coursework. the upcoming fiscal year. For the 5th year in a row, Says the Representative, “I, too, had several The Friends of the Westfield Athenaeum have a dedicated Velis has filed successful amendments to the House learning disabilities, and if it weren’t for excep- group of volunteers who work diligently each spring to host budget that have funded local organizations such as tional teachers and some additional support, I the popular book sale at the Westfield Athenaeum. Volunteers the Athenaeum, the Westfield Senior Center, and the wouldn’t have even graduated Westfield High. I’ll include, left to right, Mary Ann Taber, Linda Slozak, Joan Westfield State Veterans’ Center in the past. This jump at any chance to support special education Machacek, Helene Calvanese, also co-chair of the event, year, he says he is “especially proud” of the funds programs like Banacos because I know how cru- Sue Roberts, Nancy Stefanik and Claire Rogers. that were included in the final House budget, includ- cial they are to the success of so many students.” ing $50,000 for opioid addiction treatment and pre- Velis’ third and final amendment to the upcom- vention grants in Westfield. ing budget would fund for tourism-boosting initia- “Hampden County, like many communities in tives in Westfield. With the new MGM Springfield Massachusetts, finds themselves still in the throes of Casino opening later this year, Velis says it’s the an opioid epidemic. We are losing an average of 5 “opportune time” for Westfield to capitalize on the TRAFFIC ADVISORY people a day in the Commonwealth. I don’t think I expected bump in visitors to the area. know a single person who hasn’t been affected by The final House budget for fiscal year 2019 will WESTFIELD — Construction crews will be this epidemic in some way,” said Velis. “I wanted to Westfield State include all three amendments filed by Velis, who paving Route 187, Little River Rd., in Westfield make sure that Westfield got a piece of state funding Representative was elevated to House leadership last year. Since on Friday April 27th and Monday April 30th to continue the fight.” John Velis his inauguration during budget negotiations in between 7am-4pm, weather permitting. Drivers An additional amendment included in the budget would pro- 2014, Velis has consistently brought back thousands of dollars are urged to seek alternate routes to avoid vide funding for the Banacos Academic Center at Westfield delays. State. Banacos serves students with learning disabilities- about See Rep. Velis, Page 3 PAGE 2 - FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS TONIGHT SATURDAY SUNDAY Slight chance of rain, cloudy. Partly Cloudy. 65-69 51-54 WEATHER DISCUSSION Showers Today, Showers early, becoming a steady rain later in the day. Thunder possible.