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Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.comTheThe Westfield WestfieldNews News 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 $1.00 THURSDAY,TUESDAY, NOVEMBER JUNE 27, 2017 5, 2020 VOL. 75 cents 89 NO. 266 Lottery ALDI storage fundraiser benefits the plan approved By AMY PORTER Friends of Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Filipe Cravo of R. Levesque Associates came before a virtual meeting of the Flood Control the Westfield Commission last week seeking approval of a compensa- tory storage plan for a proposed ALDI Market at 231 East Senior Center Main St. in the Westgate Plaza, which is in the floodplain. The proposal recently received By HOPE E. TREMBLAY a special permit and site plan from Editor the Planning Board, and is cur- WESTFIELD – The city’s rently before the Conservation older adults continue to utilize Commission, where concerns the Westfield Senior Center and have been expressed by abutters Council on Aging during the on Main Line Drive about the pandemic. impact on the path of floodwaters From curbside lunches and from the Little River should the outdoor events to assistance by ALDI end cap building be con- phone, the Center has remained structed next to T.J. Maxx. active as much as possible said The Southwick 250 Trolley will lead a procession through town Nov. 7. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS PHOTO) R. Levesque Assoc. is preparing responses to those con- Director Tina Gorman. The cerns, Cravo said. He then went over the comp storage Center remains financially via- plan, which will direct water into a farm field with a ble, however the Friends of the hydraulic connection to the plaza. He said there would be Senior Center, which provides a positive surplus of storage at every elevation. programming and “extras,” has ‘Salute to Southwick’ FCC Chairman Albert G. Giguere,, Jr. asked about the had to cancel some events that flow-through question for flooding, and whether there benefit the group. would be items stored outdoors. Cravo said they took into One of the biggest events of consideration being in floodplain, and have designed the the year, the Holiday Gala, was procession is Saturday trash enclosure in a steel frame enclosure embedded in a canceled this year. The Friends By HOPE E. TREMBLAY approximately two hours, said committee concrete pad. He said everything else is concrete, steel and group benefits each year from a asphalt. lottery raffle during the Gala. Editor member Deb Herath. SOUTHWICK — Although it’s not the Appropriate decorations for the “birth- Cravo said the question raised by abutters was when you Gorman said this year, the lot- put a building in the floodplain, how does that building tery fundraiser will be curbside Grand Parade originally planned for this day” celebration are encouraged. However, fall, the Southwick 250th Committee is decorations, banners, flags, etc. advocat- impact how flood waters navigate through the floodplain. and the holiday celebrations He said he had a good discussion with the Department of will also continue as a drive-up hosting a “Salute to Southwick Procession” ing, opposing or depicting any political Nov. 7 at 2 p.m. candidate or issue are not allowed. The Environmental Protection, who said when they develop event. models in a flood plain, they don’t take buildings into “The lottery ticket fundraiser Most events celebrating the anniversary procession will be limited to 25 licensed of the town were postponed to 2021, vehicles signed up in advance. Potential consideration. Cravo said that this kind of modeling is also was typically held during our not required by the Wetlands Protection Act; instead, what annual Holiday Gala. As we including the parade, so organizers have participants are asked to contact Marcus created several socially distant and virtual Phelps at 569-3381 to reserve a spot. is required is compensatory storage within the same flood have done with other special plain. events during the past seven events to celebrate community pride. Herath said to visit www.southwick250. The vehicle procession takes place on org to learn more about this and other “We’re adding onto an existing building. We’re not in months, we’re adding some fun the floodway, we’re in the floodplain. We’re not in the to our curbside meal program,” the day Southwick was incorporated. events and to view the processional map. Sponsored by the Southwick Civic Fund, Herath noted that the event will follow high velocity zones,” Cravo said, adding, “Whether there’s Gorman said. “Perhaps working a building there or not, water is going to rise.” around the pandemic will result the procession will be led by the special COVID guidelines. Southwick 250 Trolley. “It will be designed to ensure that every- Giguere agreed that modeling every specific building in the creation of some new would cripple anything from being built. Senior Center traditions.” Vehicles will assemble at 1:30 p.m. in one has an opportunity to view the proces- the staging area located at the Southwick sion while maintaining social distancing,” Commissioner Jack Leary asked who validated the com- This year, the Friends of the pensatory storage figures, and was told the City Engineering Westfield Senior Center will be Regional School on Rebecca Lobo Way. she stated. “A giant ‘thank you’ to the The motor tour of country roads and Southwick Police Department for making Department reviewed the plan. He then made a motion to holding a special drawing with accept the plan as presented, which passed unanimously. the winner receiving a Christmas through neighborhoods should last for this possible.” box filled with both holiday giv- ing, as well as receiving, in mind. Among the gift bags and tags, scotch tape, tissue paper and boxed Christmas cards, there will be $100 worth of lot- ‘Stuff the Truck’ food drive will help military families tery tickets. The cost is $5 for a By LORI SZEPELAK “Last month we served over 300 sheet of 25 tickets. Tickets may Correspondent military families,” said Baxter, not- be purchased during the daily WESTFIELD — As the holiday ing that grants and donations are curbside meal pickup Nov. 9 – season fast approaches, a first time used to purchase food. 25. The winning name will be “Stuff the Truck” food drive is “We work with grocery stores and drawn on Thanksgiving Day planned by Project New Hope, Inc. we have one woman who is an and the person will be notified at the Hampton Ponds Plaza to ben- extreme couponer who is always on Monday, Nov. 30. efit local military families. looking for items that are on sale to Gorman asked that purchasers “This is our first time doing a fill our shelves for our veterans.” have their money, with exact food drive and we are praying for a Baxter, who works with her change, ready if they wish to huge success,” said AnnMarie brother, Tom Lamica, Project New participate. Those who would Baxter, office administrator for Hope’s outreach coordinator, said like to purchase tickets but are Project New Hope’s Westfield their focus for the food drive is to not getting a lunch should plan office. collect items that would be used for The food drive is slated for Nov. holiday meals. See Lottery, Page 3 14 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the “We’ve seen an increase in the Hampton Ponds Market, 1029 need for food among our military North Road. families, especially in light of the “We will have a van wrapped COVID-19 pandemic,” said Baxter. with our logo and Bill Moore, “We rely on donations throughout founder of Project New Hope, Inc., the year and with many having to will also be here to thank donors,” scale back their own spending, we said Baxter. A “Stuff the Truck” food drive to benefit local military families will help have seen our donations decrease.” Project New Hope, Inc. was replenish the shelves at Project New Hope at the Hampton Ponds Plaza. A wide variety of holiday items founded by Moore, a United State (ANNMARIE BAXTER PHOTO) are being sought for the food drive, Air Force disabled veteran, who from stuffing mix, chicken and tur- Butch Cherbonneau picks up a end retreat in 2010 with Project Moore still serves as president served as a crash rescue firefighter key broth, cranberry sauce, and lunch from Council on Aging New Hope of Minnesota, he estab- and CEO in a voluntary position. before being injured and discharged cake and brownie mixes, to cans of Director Tina Gorman. (MARC lished his own independent 501 (c) Baxter noted the Westfield office honorably with a service connected 3 nonprofit in Massachusetts in serves families with its food pantry ST. ONGE/THE WESTFIELD disability. After attending a week- See Food Drive, Page 3 NEWS) 2011. and baby pantry. Zero fees. Zero stress. Free checking. Nothing to it. bankatpeoples.com/simple Member FDIC/Member DIF PAGE 2 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2020 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Girls on the Run Western Movie benefits Wreaths Across America SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Regional School is hosting a double-feature drive-in movie event Mass. offers virtual 5K Run to benefit Wreaths Across America. The Nov. 19 event is at The Wick 338 motocross track. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. The first movie is NORTHAMPTON — Girls on the change, but we are happy we have been “Polar Express,” followed by “Home Alone.” Run Western MA has a lot to be grateful able to successfully provide in-person Tickets can be purchased in advance at pawsptoswk.weebly.com.