Velis Testifies on Bill That Supports Military Families by HOPE E
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The Westfield NewsSearch 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 $1.00 VOL. 86 NO. 151 THURSDAY,TUESDAY, JUNE JULY 27, 8, 2017 2021 VOL. 75 cents 90 NO. 158 Velis testifies on bill that supports military families By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Velis said for military families, fre- ation, we are also greatly hurting our Editor quent moves is a way of life. force retention rate and jeopardizing BOSTON – State Sen. John C. “Depending on the assignment, our military’s ability to be troop Velis July 6 gave testimony to the military members change stations ready,” he said. “Similarly, the chil- Veterans and Federal Affairs every 24-36 months on average. This dren of service members are impacted Committee in support of the SPEED uprooting not only affects the service- by these transitions as well.” Act. member, it affects their entire family He said families often miss out on The SPEED Act is Senate Bill as well,” he said. registration deadlines because they 2433, An Act relative to military Because of this, military spouses are uprooted mid-year and college spouse licensure portability, educa- who hold professional licenses in students, many of whom rely on in- STATE SEN. JOHN C. VELIS tion and enrollment of dependents. other states have to reapply for their state tuition rates, are also affected. Velis is co-chair of the committee license in the Commonwealth. “This “These are critical issues that our military families in their transi- This legislation, said Velis, with state Rep. Paul McMurty, a can lead to periods of time where Commonwealth must address and tion to Massachusetts. “ would also require the Department Dedham Democrat. families are missing out on a crucial that is why I worked in conjunction Velis touted the merits of the of Professional Licensure to Velis said he was proud to live in second source of income,” Velis said. with the Department of Defense to bill, stating that it “would elimi- accept a spouse’s application or Massachusetts, which he said is a “This uncertainty can lead some ser- file this piece of legislation,” said nate the current law’s ‘substantial notify of them of what criteria national leader in veteran services vice members to make the very diffi- Velis. “I know that many of my col- equivalency’ licensure require- they did not meet within 30 days “but strongly believe there is more we cult decision to leave the military.” leagues have filed similar legislation ments, which require state agen- of applying, the timeframe rec- can do. One area where we can and Velis said this puts the country at that will also be heard today. I am cies to determine whether other ommended by the United States must improve on is the support we risk. glad that so many of my colleagues states’ licensing requirements are Department of Defense. “While provide to the families of military “By putting service members and understand these problems and recog- substantially equivalent to those members in our Commonwealth.” their spouses in this challenging situ- nize the importance of supporting in Massachusetts.” See Military Families, Page 5 Varied donations Water Commission sought for annual discusses issues with Stanley Park tiered rate system By AMY PORTER Staff Writer fundraiser WESTFIELD – During active public participation at the Water Commission meeting in City Hall on July 6, several By LORI SZEPELAK issues with the planned tiered rate system surfaced. Correspondent The Water Commission voted unanimously June 1 to change WESTFIELD — A first-ever online auction begins the rate structure for city water bills from a fixed rate system to Sept. 12 for Stanley Park’s annual fundraiser, and dona- a tiered rate system. tions are needed to ensure its success. Jayne Mulligan, president of the Glendale Condo Association, This year’s fundraiser theme is “Carry On the Carillon: said the tiered rate system penalizes multi-family dwellings There’s Music in the Air,” and funds raised will benefit that have several units on one meter that will be charged the the repair and restoration of the Carillon Tower that is highest rate of usage, even though broken down, each unit the predominant landmark in the park. would normally qualify for the lowest rate. Mary O’Connell and Tom Fiske are serving as com- As an example, she said in the past quarter, the usage in her mittee co-chairs of the online auction which runs from association was 168,000 gallons for 28 units. She said divided Sept. 12-18. The Gen. William Shepard statue was restored to its origi- by units, each unit would be using roughly 6,000 gallons per In a fundraising letter, O’Connell and Fiske note that nal colors over the course of the July 4 weekend by Gordon quarter. because of “unforgiving weather conditions that New Ponsford, who will work on other copper-based monu- With water usage based on a tiered structure, the cost England is noted for and the tolls of aging, the Carillon ments in Westfield over the next week. (PHOTO SUBMITTED increases as water is consumed. These rates reward customers Tower is in dire need of repair and restoration.” BY CINDY GAYLORD) that conserve water in the form of lower bills. Water usage is The Carillon Tower, which was envisioned by Stanley split into three tiers. Tier 1 for usage of 0 to 8,000 gallons per Park’s founder, Frank Stanley Beveridge, and was built quarter is charged $3.25 per 1,000 gallons. Tier 2, 8,001 to and dedicated in June, 1950, is one of less than 175 30,000 gallons per quarter is charged $4.07; and Tier 3, greater documented Carillon Towers remaining in the United Gen. Shepard than 30,000 gallons is charged $5.69. States. Customers are billed by tier for the water used in each tier. “Upon completion of the Carillon Tower’s project, it For example: If a customer used 12,000 gallons, the first 8,000 will ensure the safety of folks visiting in and around the would be at the Tier 1 rate ($3.25 per 1,000 gallons) and the tower,” notes O’Connell and Fiske. “Stanley Park’s staff statue restored next 4,000 would be at the Tier 2 rate ($4.07 per 1,000 gallons). and its board members want the Carillon Tower to be Mulligan said the condo association is going to be charged around for the enjoyment of individuals and families for unfairly. “Under the new tiered system, we’re going to be generations to come.” to original glory charged the highest tier when in fact each unit is well under tier Since the initial request for donations was sent out in 1,” Mulligan said. She asked the commissioners what consider- a fundraising letter, a host of area artists and craftspeo- By PETER CURRIER ation was given to multi-family unit dwellings. “To us, it seems ple have already dropped off original works of art for the Staff Writer completely unfair,” she added, suggesting they either charge auction. WESTFIELD- Residents may notice something different the low flat rate, or divide the usage by the number of units. about the Gen. William Shepard statue by Park Square Green See Stanley Park, Page 5 after it was restored to its original colors over July 4 week- See Water Commission, Page 5 end. Gordon Ponsford of Ponsford Ltd. out of Atlanta, Georgia came to Westfield this week to restore some of the metal monuments in the city that had been discolored over time. He was seen standing on scaffolding around the statue treating it with a wax stain and a blow torch throughout the weekend. Westfield Historical Commission Chair Cindy Gaylord said that Ponsford would move on to Parker Memorial Park, Pinehill Cemetery, and the Civil War monument at Park Square over the course of the next week. She said this resto- ration was organized by Chief Graves Officer Gene Theroux, who did not respond to a request for comment by press time. Statues like the Gen. Shepard monument often appear as a light green color after they have been standing for a long enough time. This is because the copper in the statue slowly oxidizes over time, creating the green patina layer around the outside of the metal. Lori Fiske, development coordinator, and Robert This process famously occurred on the Statue of Liberty, which was originally a shiny bronze color before the patina McKean, managing director, both at Stanley Park in The Water Commission heard concerns about the tiered rate Westfield, showcase a few of the artistic donations for system at the meeting on July 6. (AMY PORTER/THE WESTFIELD See Gen. Shepard, Page 5 this fall’s first online auction. (LORI SZEPELAK PHOTO) NEWS) PAGE 2 - THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS St. Peter and St. Casimir confirmation On a recent Saturday at St. Peter and St. Casimir Parish, the Most Rev. William D. Byrne, Bishop of Springfield, presided over the Sacrament of Confirmation. Confirmandi were, Patrick SEBASTIAN Callahan, Ciara CONSTANCE Johnson-Corwin, Sarah ANNE McMahon and Stephanie YVETTE Paiva. (DON WIELGUS PHOTOS) Most Rev. William D Byrne, Bishop of the Springfield Diocese Confirmandi Sarah McMahon, Ciara Johnson-Corwin, Stephanie Paiva, and Patrick Callahan. Deacon Paul Briere, Bishop William D. Byrne, Deacon Paul Briere, Bishop William D. and Confirmandi, Patrick Sebastian Callahan. Byrne, and Confirmandi, Sarah Anne McMahon. Deacon Paul Briere, Bishop William D. Byrne, Deacon Paul Briere, Bishop William D.