TONIGHT Mostly Cloudy. Low of 55. Search for The Westfield News The Westfield CHILDSearch forEDUC The WestfieldATED News News “A Westfield350.comTODAY IN WESTFIELDThe HISTORY: WestfieldNews 1829 First general store Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns ONLY AT “TSCHOOLIME IS THE IS AONLYN WEATHER in Wyben. UNEDUCATEDCRITIC CHILD WITHOUT.” TONIGHT — GeORGE SANTAMBITIONAYANA .” Partly Cloudy. Search for TheJOHN Westfield STEINBECK News Westfield350.comWestfield350.orgLow of 55. The www.thewestfieldnews.comWestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHERVOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 CRITIC 75 WITHOUT cents VOL.87TONIGHT NO. 223 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 75AMBITION Cents .” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL.Youth 86 NO. 151 killed TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 Rail Trail final 75 cents in fatal UTV stage goes before accident over Conservation the weekend Commission By AMY PORTER By AMY PORTER Correspondent Correspondent HUNTINGTON – Gateway Superintendent Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Ron Amidon WESTFIELD – City Engineer Mark Cressotti and repre- David B. Hopson sent a message to parents and (middle) is seen cutting the ribbon on the new South boat sentatives from VHB came before the Conservation subscribers of the Gateway newsletter on Tuesday, ramp along with other state and local officials on Tuesday. Commission on Tuesday to discuss the next phase of the alerting them to the tragic death of a middle (Photo from New England Bass) Columbia Greenway Rail Trail. Part of the construction will school student over the weekend. be within the 200 foot riverfront buffer, requiring approval “The Gateway Regional by the Conservation Commission, according to Gene Crouch, School District staff were sad- VHB senior wetland scientist. dened to learn about the acci- Local and state Crouch said following the recently completed construction dental death of one of our of the railroad bridge over the Westfield River, the central middle school students over phase of the rail trail touches the esplanade and will extend the weekend. Our sincere con- 3500 feet downtown. dolences and prayers go out to officials have Cressotti said most of the trail will be elevated and will the family. A second middle include five bridges, including a new bridge to be installed school student was involved in on Elm St., which makes it unique among rail trails in the the accident, and thankfully has been treated and country. He said there will be two points where cyclists can released from the hospital. Details of the incident ribbon cutting for get down to local roads. are not available, nor have services been arranged Crouch said there will be an intersection between two bike at this time. Staff were informed by building paths at the Esplanade which will be made visible with red administrators in each of our schools this morn- new boat ramp area pavers instead of pavement. He also said the section to ing and counseling staff have been deployed to By GREG FITZpaTRICK the bridge over the river was supposed to be done with the support students and staff. As soon as additional Correspondent esplanade, where the trail ends. The bridge over the river information becomes available, and in accor- SOUTHWICK – Local and state officials gathered in the brings cyclists to Women’s Temperance Park. dance with the family’s wishes, we will share. We auditorium of the Southwick Town Hall on Tuesday afternoon Crouch said there are no stormwater management features. sincerely hope that the family and our staff are to officially announce the reconstruction of the South boat He said they received some comments from the Department afforded the privacy to process and grieve this ramp on Congamond Lake. of Environmental Protection, including to add some plant- tragic loss,” Hopson wrote. Ron Amidon, Commissioner for the Massachusetts ings. He said there will be some plantings, but they will stop Katie Gronendyke, press secretary for the Department of Fish & Game, represented the Baker-Polito before the intersection due to sight issues. He also said there Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Administration at the event, who provided $319,000 for the are plenty of trees and plantings at the esplanade. Cressotti Affairs released the following statement on behalf project. added that as part of the esplanade project, they also removed of the Environmental Police, which has jurisdic- “Together with the Congamond Lakes North boat ramp and invasive species, primarily bittersweet. tion over accidents involving all-terrain vehicles. recreational fishing pier, the Congamond Lakes South Ramp “On Sunday, September 23, 3018, provides public access to one of the most popular fresh water See Rail Trail, Page 8 Environmental Police were notified at 1:48pm of fishing and boating destinations in the Commonwealth, said an accident involving a Utility Vehicle (UTV) Amidon in a press release. “We are grateful to the Town of that resulted in injury on Sampson Road in Southwick for the partnership that makes this possible.” Huntington. Environmental Police, State Police, Sen. Don Humason spoke during the event and knows how Huntington Police, Huntington Fire, and EMS important boating and fishing is in the Southwick community. responded to the scene. Both the operator and “We know the direct impact we see right here in our towns,” passenger of the vehicle, two juvenile males, said Humason. were taken to separate hospitals. One victim was Rep. Nick Boldyga, who resides in Southwick, talked about fatally injured and one victim received minor the attraction Congamond Lake and its recreational opportuni- injuries,” wrote Gronendyke. ties had on him and his family. The statement went on to say that Environmental “The reason I moved to Southwick was because of the Police are currently conducting a joint investiga- Congamond Lakes,” said Boldyga. “We need to up keep the tion of the incident with the State Police and the lakes, it actually encourages people to buy homes.” Northwestern District Attorney’s Office. Russ Fox, Vice-Chairman of the Select Board, was pleased to see yet another positive relationship between Southwick and the commonwealth. “This has been a great working relationship with the Baker- Polito Administration,” said Fox. Meeting on City Engineer Mark Cressotti and Gene Crouch, senior See New Boat Ramp, Page 8 wetland scientist for VHB present Rail Trail plans to Medeiros Way Conservation Commission. (Photo by Amy Porter) truck terminal moved Adults find a By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – After closing the public hearing at ‘safe haven’ in city the Sept. 20 City Council meeting for the proposed By LORI SZEPELAK Old Dominion truck terminal on Medeiros Way, Correspondent Zoning, Planning and Development sub-committee chairman Dave Flaherty gave the date of Wed., Sept. WESTFIELD — For Heather Smith, March 28, 2018 was a defining 26 for his committee to meet. Flaherty said he hoped moment in her life. at that meeting to come up with a recommendation to “I tried to kill myself,” said Smith during a recent morning conversa- send to the full City Council for a vote on Thursday, tion at the Safe Haven Program on Broad Street. “I only had the clothes Oct. 4. on my back, I had nothing. I didn’t feel good and I ran out of fight.” Flaherty said due to unforeseen circumstances, the Then a miracle happened. ZPD meeting has now been rescheduled to Wed., Oct Samantha Gulsvig, a human rights officer for the Mental Health 3 at 6 p.m. in City Hall, Room 201. Because the Association (MHA) Safe Haven Program, was approached by individu- public hearing is closed, the committee can consider Heather Smith, a participant in MHA’s Safe Haven pro- als at the Samaritan Inn in Westfield where Smith was staying. no further public comments or new information gram, surrounds herself with words of inspiration – includ- “People were concerned about Heather and asked if I could see if she before votingProf. on the specialGeorge permit, site Michael plan and ing her own writings. stormwater permit.WSU Terrorism Expert See Safe Haven, Page 8 RADIO FOR THE WESTFIELD MASSES THE WESTFIELD FOR RADIO The Westfield News Radio Show Bar’s request for addition of kitchen nearing a decision Thursday By GREG FITZpaTRICK decision written up and ready to vote on mit moving forward. Line-Up Correspondent the special permit by that date. “I don’t see any real opposition to SOUTHWICK – In an effort to According to Planning Board this,” said Doherty. 6am-8am answer some outstanding questions, the Chairman Michael Doherty, because of On September 11, the owners of the Planning Board has continued the pub- the proposal for the addition of a kitch- SkyBox, located on Point Grove Rd., lic hearing for the special permit the en, a certain amount of parking spots first came to the Planning Board pro- ThisThis Thursday...Thursday... SkyBox has requested for the addition will need to be handicap spaces and the posing the addition of a kitchen. Having 6am-8am: of a kitchen. owners will need to work with DPW owned the bar for more than 10 years, 6am-8am: The Planning Board informed the co- Director Randy Brown on that issue. Patrick and Natalie Lynch were granted BOB McKEAN owners of the establishment that there The SkyBox parking lot currently has a temporary permit by the town in 2009 Executive Director Stanley Park are some minor concerns they need to 43 spaces. to construct a kitchen, but never went Jay Pagliuca clear up before a decision can be made Doherty also informed the owners through with it due to financial reasons Mark Boardman & Jennifer Gruzska prompting a continuation of the public that they’ll have to speak with Brown and in 2013 the food permit was pulled. WestfieldWestfield On Rotary Weekends Club hearing to the next Planning Board about having the adequate sidewalks Since 2013, the SkyBox has been Download WSKB from your Tune In Radio App meeting on October 2.