TONIGHT: Mostly Clear. Low fo 37 The Westfield News Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHER CRITIC WITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents $1.00 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2019 VOL. 88 NO. 234 Velis votes with Republicans, shows bipartisan leadership By HOPE E. TREMBLAY to keep the current director selection nature of Washington. Assistant Managing Editor process in place. “We should make sure we know BOSTON – State Rep. John C. According to a press release from how that director is being picked, so Velis, although a registered Velis’ staff, the current commission that there is transparency in this pro- Democrat, crossed political party includes both party chairs in the cess,” he said. “Keeping political lines once again this week by sup- process of choosing a new director. neutrality would aid in this effort.” porting six amendments from his This bill would create a new com- Velis has crossed party lines in the Republican counterparts on bill mission that would not have input past with the best interest of his H4087, An Act Relative to Campaign from either party, causing concern Westfield constituents in mind, he Finance. among Republicans that this is a said. “The greatest threat to our nation “power play” to reduce the voice of Velis voted with the Republicans is not some foreign country like the minority party. on six of the amendments to H4087. China, Iran, or North Korea,” said Two amendments were filed to His voting record continues to dem- Velis. “The greatest threat here in strike the commission entirely and onstrate his willingness to promote America is that we have a political continue with the current process of the neglected idea of bipartisanship, system dominated by two political unanimous voting versus the major- wrote his legislative aid. parties who vehemently refuse to ity vote posed in the original bill. “The greatest threat is our inabil- compromise on anything. I find it “Many of the Republican ity to push past this partisan political disgraceful.” Representatives argued that the culture that has festered,” Velis said. The bill overhauls the campaign Democrats were continuing to mar- “We need to get to a place where finance rules for legislative candi- ginalize and disenfranchise the ideas are brought forward and con- dates, changes the reporting system, minority party that already has small sidered on principle alone. When and changes the way the director of numbers,” states the release. someone files a bill, your first ques- the Office of Campaign and Political Velis believed this was reminis- tion shouldn’t be ‘are you a Finance (OCPF) is chosen. cent of Washington D.C. politics Democrat or a Republican?’ – it During debate, amendments were and Massachusetts done a good job made by Republican representatives of avoiding the hyper political See Velis, Page 3 State Rep. John C. Velis, right, with Gov. Charlie Baker. (File Photo) Planning Board grants permits for Big Y gas station By AMY PORTER members said they felt the 28 feet make. Staff Writer was too narrow for an entrance and Richard Salois said he was still WESTFIELD – The Planning exit. worried about trucks having to swing Board this week voted to approve a Scrittorale said they also added a way out to enter west-bound traffic. special permit and site plan for the left-turn lane going east bound on He said he would like to see trucks Big Y convenience store and gas sta- Route 20, in response to concerns restricted to late deliveries. tion at 33O East Main St., directly about traffic backing up for cars Scrittorale said they will be making across Route 20 from the Big Y turning left. off-peak deliveries. World Class Market. Cheryl Crowe said she liked the John Bowen said trucks would Engineer Ryan Scrittorale said the fact that the entrance/exit was utilize the entire exit on turns. Flood Control Commission and extended to 36 feet. “I like a lot of Scrittorale said MassDOT might Engineering Department had both the things you changed and added. object to widening the entrance fur- approved the plans, which had been I’m excited to see how it pans out ther due to impact on sidewalks as modified since the last Planning with MassDOT, especially with the there will be a pedestrian crosswalk Board meeting to address some of traffic lights,” she said, adding, “It right in front of the station with a their concerns. He said a sub-surface makes a lot more sense.” sidewalk. filtration system had also been added Ultimately, MassDOT has juris- Bowen said he would like to see a to site plan details. diction over East Main Street/Route three to four inch mountable island Other changes on the plans includ- 20 traffic concerns. Scrittorale said that trucks could cross if needed, Big Y Foods Director of Design and Construction Tony Coppola and Ryan ed an enlargement of the the curb cut that he will keep the board apprised G. Scrittorale of Benesch Engineering at Planning Board. (Photo by Amy to 36-feet wide, after Planning Board of any changes that MassDOT does See Big Y Gas Station, Page 3 Porter) EAA B-17 tours to continue despite crash at Bradley By PETER CURRIER Staff Writer WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — A spokesper- son for the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) said that they would continue hosting flights of their B-17 aircraft out of Westfield’s Barnes Airport next week following Wednesday morning’s crash landing of the same type of plane at Bradley International Airport. David Miller of the EAA said that they will host the B-17 Aluminum Overcast Tour from Oct. 11 to Oct. 13 next week at Barnes, includ- ing the Oct. 10 flight for media personnel. Attendees would be able to go up in the WWII era bombers to experience them in flight. Miller said that the Aluminum Overcast B-17 would be in Hyannis this weekend before com- ing to Westfield next week. The B-17 that crashed at Bradley Airport Wednesday was there for the Wings of Freedom Tour via the Massachusetts-based Collings Foundation in which several WWII aircraft were on display to be toured and flown in. As of Thursday morning, seven people are confirmed dead after the plane attempted an emergency landing on Bradley Airport’s runway 6. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Connecticut Department of Public Safety said that the exact cause of the crash is not yet determined. “The EAA chapter 1620 in Westfield is pass- ing on our condolences and our prayers to the families, those on the ‘Nine-O-Nine’, and the See EAA B-17 Tours, Page 3 The Webster family of Westhampton, Daniel, Harmony, Jacque, and Duncan, get ready to take a look in a B-17G at a past Wings of Freedom Tour display at Barnes Airport.(Photo by Marc St. Onge) You Are Invited! COME SUPPORT BRENT B. BEAN II AT-LARGE CITY COUNCIL THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 • 5:30 ~ 7:30 PM WESTWOOD RESTAURANT AND PUB • 94 NORTH ELM ST. • WESTFIELD Suggested Donation $25 per person • Paid for by the committee to elect Brent B. Bean II - Julie M. Olearcek, Treasurer PAGE 2 - FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2019 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Union Street residential development special permit approved By AMY PORTER He then presented some minor Staff Writer design revisions to the earlier plan WESTFIELD – A special permit based on comments from the for 18 duplex units at 111 Union St. Planning Board. One change was was approved at Tuesday’s Planning the addition of an additional side- Board meeting, following the clos- walk to provide access to the bus ing of a public hearing continued stop, along with added sidewalk from Sept. 17. frontage. At the earlier hearing, the devel- Levesque said they also made opment was described by Rob revisions to the parking layout, and Levesque of R. Levesque Associates, said they had more than the required on behalf of Mark Bergeron of Bent visitor parking, with 2.2 spaces per Tree Development, as 18 market- unit. Each unit will also have two rate units in nine buildings, each parking spaces for residents. with a living room, kitchen and half- The lighting for the development bath on the first floors, and two will be placed on normal poles at bedrooms and bath on the second pedestrian height, plus lighting floors. attached to the front and back of The plan included a sidewalk each unit, to keep a residential feel. adjacent to Union Street for pedes- The board asked that the poles have trians, a fence around the develop- non-glass, or covered tops. ment with a hedge row buffer. Trash Bergeron said the duplexes will be will be handled by each individual of uniform shape, but with a couple unit, and bikes stored within the of different colors. units. City Planner Jay Vinskey said a Levesque said units such as these city requirement is that 75% of the Rob Levesque describes duplex units planned for development at 111 Union St. to Planning Board. (Photo by Amy are not readily available on the mar- front yard not be for parking. Porter) ket and go quickly. He said they will Levesque acknowledged that the be very attractive, and meet the size plan was close. Bernard Puza asked about the two for the record that they could find no the special permit, including signs requirements, adding that Bergeron “If it’s that close, we could adjust entrances and exits for the develop- record of a paper street within the designating the parking for the units, had previously built residential units it.