Dedication Ceremony Honors Local Veterans
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TONIGHT Showers. Low of 55. Search for The Westfield News The WestfieldNews “IT IS THESearch PEOPLE for The WHO Westfield CAN DONews TODAY IN WESTFIELD Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews NOTHING WHO FIND NOTHING HISTORY: Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns TO DO, “TANDIME THE IS SECRET THE ONLY TO WEATHER HAPPINESS IN THCRITICIS WORLD WITHOUTIS NOT 1852: Northampton TONIGHT ONLY TO BE USEFUL AMBITIONBUT TO BE.” to Westfield railroad , Partly Cloudy. FOREVER ELEVATSearchING for ONE TheJOHN ’WestfieldS STEINBECKUSES.” News Westfield350.comWestfield350.orgLow of 55. incorporated.The www.thewestfieldnews.com Westfield News – Sarah OrNE JEWETT Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHER VOL.VOL. 87 NO. 86 NO.116 151 TUESDAY,TUESDAY, MAY JUNE 22, 2018 27, 2017 CRITIC75 75 CentsWITHOUT cents TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com School Committee VOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents approves reduced budget By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – Finance sub-committee chair Ramon Diaz, Jr. brought forward a further reduced budget for approval by the School Committee on Monday. He said his committee had previously approved a FY2018-2019 budget for Westfield Public Schools of $61,340,790, which included a $200,000 cut to the district’s proposed budget. However, Diaz said that Mayor Brian P. Sullivan has asked him to reduce the budget by another $50,000. Therefore, he amended the motion, asking the School Committee to approve a budget of $61,290,790. The three plaques of the veterans were on “The Finance sub-committee got the best numbers Major Tommy Olson of United States Marine Corps speaks to the crowd during display for people in attendance to look at and we could, but the Mayor said we needed to come the dedication ceremony on Monday morning. (Photo from Troy Henke) honor. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick) down $50,000,” Diaz said. Giving an overview of the numbers, Diaz said last year’s budget was $60,175,105. The proposed bud- get, looking at the whole is an increase of $1,115,685, or 1.8%. Dedication ceremony honors local veterans Diaz said although the numbers from the state are By GREG FITZPATRICK Power, William Alamed Jr., Stephen those in attendance and at the end was not final, the increase to the city budget will be Correspondent Wentworth, and Travis Fuller. pleased with how the ceremony turned out. $774,658 after deducting Chapter 70 aid, based on SOUTHWICK – The dedication of the The gold star families were escorted to “The families of Southwick and their the House budget, for a total contribution by the city Veterans Memorial Foyer took place in the their seats prior to the opening ceremony fallen soldiers, they at least deserve this of $26,628,225. gymnasium of the Southwick Regional that was conducted by Ryan Dietert, the from us,” said Turmel. “To see the turnout Diaz said that $246,371 in expenses came over School on Monday morning. Commander of Southwick VFW Post 872. that we had today, from the soldiers and “rightfully so” from the city side to the school side The ceremony was to honor four veter- Joe Turmel, the Southwick Regional the veterans and the agencies across the that previously weren’t accounted for in the district ans who died while serving their country, High School Principal who has worked state, was just really overwhelming.” budget, but were in the city budget. These expenses and either lived or went to school in with VFW Post 872 for numerous months include a dedicated technology staff person for the Southwick. The four men are Richard to help organize this ceremony, spoke to See Veterans, Page 3 district, and trash removal, which has been out- sourced to a third party vendor. Diaz said that after deducting these expenses, basi- cally a wash to the city’s bottom line, the actual increase in the school budget to the city would be $528,197. Man found under I-90 bridge in Russell RUSSELL – At approximately ney’s office, crime scene technicians See Reduced Budget, Page 3 Interstate 10:50 p.m. on Sunday, May 20, a and the medical examiner responded. 90 in state police trooper on patrol from the Narcan was administered for an Russell is Westfield barracks located an unoc- apparent drug overdose and the vic- seen nearly cupied Ford Sedan vehicle on I-90 at tim, a 20-year-old male from 100 feet the Route 20 overpass in Russell, Blandford was transported to Baystate above SMS leadership according to State Police Media Noble. Route 20 Relations. According to State Police Media in Russell. After stopping, the trooper saw an Relations, there was no evidence that (WNG unresponsive male victim approxi- he had jumped. No further informa- file photo) team presents mately 100 feet underneath the over- tion on the condition of the victim pass. State police, the district attor- was known as of Monday afternoon. to School Committee By AMY PORTER Breweries showcasing Correspondent WESTFIELD – The School Committee began with a presentation by the leadership team at the South specialties for Middle School, including Principal Paul Newton, Assistant Principal Pete Lurgio, Assistant Principal Jessica Kennedy and Special Education Supervisor APCM benefit Kari Kells. Lurgio spoke about goal-setting at the school. By LORI SZEPELAK Teachers selected goals for themselves this year in Correspondent professional practice and student learning. One goal WESTFIELD-More than 20 craft breweries from the region will was positive community with one family per week. descend on the Westfield News Group parking lot June 2 for the first 2000 post cards were printed up by Westfield Whip City Brewfest. The afternoon event on School Street will feature beer tastings, live Michael Roundy, chairperson of the first Whip City Technical Academy to send positive notes home; Brewfest, is seen with Katherine Daly, executive Newton said 1800 have been used. entertainment, raffles, food trucks, and a host of vendors who are sup- porting the fundraiser to benefit the Amelia Park Children’s Museum director of the Amelia Park Children’s Museum, next to the newest exhibit, Dino Dig. Proceeds raised from See SMS Leadership, Page 3 (APCM). “APCM is a nonprofit charitable organization that supports its the Brewfest will benefit ongoing exhibits and pro- operations, programs, and exhibits through donations, grants, and fun- grams. draiser events like this Brewfest,” said Michael Roundy, chair of Brewfest and vice president of the APCM board. Westfield; Two Weeks Notice, West Springfield; New APCM’s other signature fundraiser is the Penguin Plunge conducted City Brewery, Easthampton; White Lion Brewery, every January at the Hampton Ponds State Park. Springfield; Bottoms Up Brewing, Springfield; Roundy said he credits Neil Roache and Diana McLean for the initial Amherst Brewing; Rustic Brewing Company, Indian idea. Orchard, and Opa-Opa Brewing Company, “The idea has been kicking around for a couple of years, and evolved Williamsburg. this year into an actual event,” said Roundy. Local breweries also include the Vanished Valley Brewing Company and Oakholm Brewing Company, As word spread about the fundraiser, breweries immediately wanted both of Ludlow; Lefty’s Brewing Company, Greenfield; to get involved. and the Hitchcock Brewing Company and Berkshire “Tin Bridge Brewing, right here in Westfield, is our headline spon- Brewing Company, both in South Deerfield. sor,” said Roundy, adding that breweries are also donating their beer Breweries also on tap to share their specialties for the tastings. include Big Elm Brewing, Sheffield; Jack’s Abby Craft South Middle School leadership team: Special Breweries offering tastings will include the Westfield River Brewing Education Supervisor Kari Kells, Assistant Principal Company of Southwick; Great Awakening Brewing Company, See APCM Benefit, Page 3 Peter Lurgio, Assistant Principal Jessica Kennedy and Principal Paul Newton. (Photo by Amy Porter) PAGE 2 - TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2018 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS ArtsBeat Radio returns to 89.5FM/WSKB WESTFIELD – ArtsBeat Radio, the hour-long arts and entertainment program returns to its weekly Friday time slot from 8AM-9AM on 89.5FM/WSKB beginning May 25. Produced for 89.5FM/WSKB by Mark G. Auerbach Public Relations, and hosted by Mark G. Auerbach, ArtsBeat columnist for The Westfield News Group, ArtsBeat Radio, which launched last May, will showcase the diverse performing arts scene in Southern New England. “We initially came to WSKB as a limited-run summer series last year, but we continued on a monthly basis after the summer,” said Auerbach. “We’re back on a weekly schedule year-round, and we’ll continue to bring some of our region’s finest talents into the WSKB studios to talk about the state of their arts, and what it’s like to create music, dance, and theatre here in Western New England.” Some of ArtsBeat Radio’s upcoming guests include: Daniel Elihu Kramer, Artistic Director of Chester Theatre Company; Shawn Farley from the UMass Fine Arts Center; Rorianne Schrade from Sevenars Concerts; David M. Lutken, star of The Will Rogers Follies at Goodspeed, and actor/director Eric Hill. ArtsBeat Radio will also produce two summer specials, one from the stage of the Fitzpatrick Theatre with members of The Berkshire Theatre Group’s 90th Anniversary Season, and one from Cranwell Resort in Lenox with members of the political satire group The Capitol Steps. Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at Northfield Mount Hermon School, American University and The Yale School of Drama. After working at Wolf Trap outside Washington, DC; Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet, Connecticut Ballet, The Springfield Symphony, Greater Miami Opera, and StageWest, he opened a public relations consultancy. As an arts reporter, he has written extensively for newspapers, maga- zines, and radio.