Will It Be Patriots Day 6.0? Football Practice, by Chris Putz at One Time, Our 2018-19 Beat the Putz Grand Friday, Feb
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TONIGHT Mostly Cloudy. Low of 21. The Westfield Search for The Westfield News News Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews “HISTORY TEACHES US TH“TATIME MEN IS THE AND ONLY NATIONS Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns BEHAVE WISELY ONCE WEATHER CRITIC WITHOUT THEY HAVE EXHAUSTED ALL TONIGHT AMBITION OTHER ALTERNATIVES.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK .” Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com Search for The— Abb WestfieldA EBAN News Westfield350.comWestfield350.org The WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHERVOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents VOL.88 NO. 28 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2019 CRITIC75 Cents WITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com BlandfordVOL. 86 NO. 151 Board of SelectmenTUESDAY, JUNE recognize 27, 2017 75 cents town’s Fire and Rescue team for bravery By AMY PORTER fice to protect life and property of the citi- During the presentation, Letendre com- Correspondent zens. mended Fire Chief Ed Harvey, Deputy Fire BLANDFORD – On Monday, Jan. 28, the The recognition was for their response to Chief Tom Ackley, Chief’s Aide Pat Blandford Board of Selectmen presented a a chimney fire at 77 Main Street shortly Lombardo, Fire Fighter Derek Daudelin, Recognized were L-R are FF Matt Perry, Chief Ed proclamation to members of the Blandford before midnight on Jan. 20. “They were able Fire Fighter John Carrington, Fire Fighter Harvey, Deputy Chief Tom Ackley, FF Derek Fire and Rescue team. The board chair, Cara to put out the fire with no injuries in sub- Sam Epstein, and Fire Fighter Matt Perry for Daudelin, Chief’s Side Pat Lombardo, FF John Letendre expressed the town’s appreciation zero temperature,” explained Blandford Carrington, & FF Sam Epstein. (Photo submitted) for the team’s bravery and courageous sacri- interim town administrator Joshua Garcia. See Bravery, Page 7 CDBG Officials investigating Utz snack facility fire application By PETER CURRIER Correspondent WESTFIELD- Westfield Fire Department and hearing set State Fire Marshal officials are investigating a fire that occurred early Friday morning at the Utz Snack facility on Root Road in Westfield. for Tuesday The call came at 6:46 By GREG FITZpaTRICK a.m. Friday when an Correspondent alarm from the facility SOUTHWICK – The Select Board will went out to Westfield hold a public hearing on Tuesday at 5:55 Public Safety dispatch- p.m. at the Southwick Town Hall to dis- ers. According to police cuss the proposed Fiscal Year 2019 appli- officials, the fire was cation to the Massachusetts Department Colleen and Court 2019 Sons of Erin Colleen and Court: Fionnuala Jane Matthews, Maura Reilly mostly contained within of Housing and Community Development. the loading dock of the The application is part of the CDBG Wurster, Colleen Hannah Elizabeth Jury, Shaunessey Evelyn Lambert, and Kaitlin Rose Sicard. See additional photos Page 8. (Photo by Marc St.Onge) Utz facility. Flames were (Community Development Block Grant) shooting out of one of the program, which is federally-funded and loading bay doors. State designed to assist small cities and towns and local fire officials in meeting their community development determined that the fire needs. started when a light fix- Working with the Pioneer Valley ture on the back of a trac- Fire investigators survey Planning Commission’s Deputy Director Congressman Richard Neal tor trailer got too close to the damage to the out- Jim Mazik, the Select Board has picked the building and ignited side of the Utz Snack two serious needs in town they want the exterior of the load- facility loading bay in addressed. ing dock, according to Westfield. (Photo by Peter “We have some projects that we want to teaches class at WHS By AMY PORTER Westfield Fire Deputy Currier) continue to do,” said Town of Southwick Patrick Kane. Chief Administrative Officer Karl Correspondent WESTFIELD – Congressman Richard Neal returned to Westfield High School on According to Jennifer Mieth, of the State Fire Stinehart. Marshall’s office, the fire prevention system in the Paving, improving the drainage as well Friday to speak with 45 students about civic engagement. According to Supervisor of Social Studies Jason Taylor, Neal followed his teaching with questions and answers, and facility limited the damage. as updating the water and sewer infra- “The sprinklers kept the fire in check,” said structure on Bungalow Street are some of was able to make a personal connection with the tenth and eleventh grade students enrolled in U.S. History II and AP History. Mieth, “the damage was minimal thanks to those the projects. sprinklers.” A total of $550,000 for the FY 19 grant Taylor said that Neal spoke to the students about the importance of reading, and understand- ing that there are always two perspectives in an argument, and gave them a brief history The estimated cost of the damages is approxi- mately $15,000. See CDBG, Page 3 See Congressman, Page 7 Weekend Pinning ceremony to be Westfield 350th city-wide scavenger hunt By PETER CURRIER at Westfield State University, held for reserve officers Correspondent according to Special Projects snow removal By GREG FITZpaTRICK WESTFIELD- The Friends Committee member Mary WESTFIELD – The City of Correspondent of the Westfield 350th sub- O’Connell. The postcard con- Westfield Community Development SOUTHWICK – On Tuesday, the Southwick committee of special projects test will run until April 30th. Department has ordered snow piles to Police Department will host a pinning ceremony for is running a city-wide ‘treasure “We envisioned this as a fun be removed on the evening of two reserve officers at 5:30 p.m. in the Southwick hunt’ as part of the ongoing “I had originally picked a lot thing that kids can participate Saturday, February 2nd in the follow- Town Hall. celebrations for Westfield’s more than 16 locations,” said in,” said O’Connell, “we saw it ing Municipal Off-Street Parking After recently graduating from the reserve acade- 350th birthday. Robbins, “the locations I as a group activity for kids and lots: my, Kristin Rechenberger and Michael Girard were Residents are tasked with picked were considered families or friends to do – Franklin Street Lot hired on by the Southwick Police Department this locating 16 places across the because of how safe they were together.” – Reader 1 Lot (behind Park Square fall as reserve officers. city based on clues and pic- to get to.” Robbins said that part of her Realty & Church Street Commons) At the ceremony on Tuesday evening, Chief of tures on postcards that can be Residents can pick up the goal with this event was to get – Thomas Street Lot Police Kevin Bishop will be pinning Rechenberger picked up at several locations forms to participate in the hunt people to take a closer look at The snow piles will be removed to and Girard in order to officially swear them in as in Westfield. Each of the 16 at the Athenaeum, the Mayor’s the city and some of the details allow for the lots to accommodate reserve officers. locations are historic or iconic office, the office of The which they may miss during customers and residents. Please This is the first time that the Southwick Police places in Westfield chosen by Westfield News, or they can be their day-to-day lives. She understand there will be some limita- Department will be holding a pinning ceremony for Holly Robbins, a member of downloaded online beginning added that she was tion to the lots from the hours of 6:00 the Westfield 350 Special next week. The signup sheets pm until midnight on Saturday eve- See Ceremony, Page 3 Projects Committee. and the postcards were printed See Scavenger Hunt, Page 3 New England Patriots quarter- back Tom Brady throws a pass during NFL Will it be Patriots Day 6.0? football practice, By CHRIS PUTZ At one time, our 2018-19 Beat The Putz grand Friday, Feb. 1, Staff Writer prize winner Andy Unterreiner called St. Louis, 2019, in Atlanta. WESTFIELD – New England Patriots fans are Missouri home. The New England Patriots dynasty (AP Photo) well aware of the tuck rule, Spy-gate, and Deflate- was born against the Rams. gate. But there’s an even bigger twist of fate that local NFL fans are likely unaware of. See Patriots Day 6.0?, Page 11 The Batter’s Box would like to Congratulate JIM JACHYM Batter’s Box Pitching Director, on his selection as the first player 181 Root Rd. • Roots Athletic Center from Westfield selected to the Westfield, MA • 413-579-5462 Western Mass Baseball Hall of Fame! battersboxwestfield.com PAGE 2 - SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2019 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Watershed Wanderings Westfield Republicans to Honor Local Veteran and Volunteer Service The Westfield Republican headquarters in Naples, Italy. Don Doug Lyman will receive the Committee will honor local citizens is a member of American Legion Volunteer Award for his enthusiasm Through Time and Space: and veteran for their service to oth- Post 124, Veteran’s of Foreign Wars and determination in grassroots ers, the community and the nation, Post 1847, Vietnam Veteran’s organizing. Doug was an Eagle Westfield River Watershed at the Annual Lincoln Day Brunch Chapter 219, and Marine Corps Scout, honorably discharged as at the East Mountain Country Club League, Detachment 141, which he Cadet from the Army ROTC pro- at 10 AM on Saturday, February served as Commandant for 2 years. gram, and worked in Graphic Association, 65 years of service 9th. Master of Ceremony Senator Don served as Project Manager for Design and Marketing. Doug decid- Presented by Bill Rose, Mark Damon, Dr. Aaron Reyes, Dr.