TONIgHT: Chance of Shower. Low of 69. Search for The Westfield News The WestfieldNews Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews “AN EFFICIENT BU- “TIME REIS THEAUCR ONLYACY IS THE Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns GREATEST THREAT WEATHER CRITIC WITHOUT TO LIBERTY TONIGHT AMBITION.” .” — SeN. eugeNe MCCar- Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com Search for The WestfieldTHY News Westfield350.comWestfield350.org The WestfieldNews “TIME IS THE ONLY VOL. 86 NO. 151 Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns WEATHER TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 centsCRITIC WITHOUT VOL. 88 NO. 178 TUESDAY, JULY 30, 2019 75 Cents TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com SouthwickVOL. 86 NO. 151 native TUESDAY, JUNESolar 27, 2017 farm moratorium 75 cents challenges Neal on Blandford agendas By HOPE E. TREMBLAY think being a professional By AMY PORTER in order, so they are not con- Correspondent politician is the right stance.” Correspondent tradicting each other,” Barnard SOUTHWICK – John F. Instead, Cain believes he is BLANDFORD – The said, adding that solar is a new Cain, a Republican and the “fresh face” people need town’s Planning Board has industry, and old laws contra- Southwick native, says he will in Washinton, DC. scheduled a public hearing for dict existing laws covering it. represent all western “I’ve been gathering sup- JOHN F. CAIN 6 p.m., Monday, Aug. 5 in the Barnard said currently Massachusetts residents if port from both Democrats and Blandford Town Office,1 Blandford has four solar elected to U.S. Congress. Republicans,” he said. in the nation’s Capitol is not Russell Stage Road, for a one- arrays, ranging from five to Cain, 30, announced last “People, overall, are on the what it should be. year moratorium for ground 30 acres, and another two week he was running for same page –they want some- “Washington doesn’t mounted solar installations. have started the process, with longtime U.S. Rep. Richard one who will do something know anything west of The public hearing will be one having already come E. Neal’s seat. Neal, a for the citizens, not the Worcester,” he said. immediately followed by a before the Conservation Democrat, is also being chal- office.” The son of a teacher and special town meeting at 7 Commission. lenged by fellow Democrat Cain reached out to the small business owner, Cain p.m., which includes a vote on “There has been some pub- Alex Morse, mayor of Southwick Select Board and said he grew up constantly the moratorium. lic pushback. People think Holyoke. state Sen. Donald F. Humason on the move; playing out- Richard Barnard, chairman we’re being overwhelmed by Cain said being a Jr. He was hesitant to say he side, racing BMX, building of the Planning Board. said it. They’d like to slow down a Republican and not being a received their full support, but full-scale construction sites the purpose of the moratorium minute and take a breath,” politician will work to his he did say he received posi- in his sand box and working will be to update the bylaws Barnard said. advantage. tive feedback. alongside his father repairing for ground-mounted solar The warrant article for the Blandford Planning Board “Career politicians have not Cain believes representa- installations. chairman Richard Barnard. helped us,” said Cain. “I don’t tion of western Massachusetts See Cain, Page 3 “We have to get our bylaws See Solar Farm, Page 3 (Photo by Amy Porter) Blandford’s Finance team: Assistant Eight Treasurer/ Collector Karen Shaw, Clerk Susan Melo, injured in Treasurer Sara Hunter. (Photo by Amy Porter) head-on crash By CARL E. HARTDEGEN Correspondent WESTFIELD – At least eight per- sons were injured Sunday evening in a head-on crash on Union Street. Police were called at 7:53 p.m. by several persons who reported many injuries in the crash which occurred a short distance to the east of the road’s intersection with Paper Mill Road. Officer Brendan Irujo was the first to arrive and, minutes later, was joined by firefighters. The first firefighters to arrive, an ambulance crew and those staffing Engine 4, assessed the situation and almost immediately called for addi- tional ambulances. Three additional city ambulances were dispatched and mutual aid was requested from West Melo hired as Blandford Clerk Springfield Emergency Medical Service which sent a fifth ambulance to By AMY PORTER speaks for itself.” hour and is posted on the town website at the crash scene. Correspondent Melo will be joining Hunter and Assistant townofblandford.us. Applicants must be 16 Irujo reports that witnesses reported BLANDFORD – The Board of Selectman Treasurer and Collector Karen Shaw, who years of age or older. that a blue 2006 Subaru Legacy which hired former 22-year Westfield city employee worked in Westfield’s Law Department for 16 Later in the meeting, Garcia talked about his had been traveling eastbound was seen and resident Susan Melo as part-time clerk in years. goals as town administrator for 2020. He said to have slowly drifted into the west- the Treasurer/Collector’s office at its meeting Hunter said that Melo will work three days a his number one goal for fiscal year 2019 had bound lane where it crashed head-on Monday evening. week, help to cover the Treasurer/Collector’s been financial management. He said the finan- with a westbound Mercedes-Benz In presenting Melo as a candidate for hire, office, and will take payments following train- cial team that he has assembled has been able which carried several persons. Blandford Treasurer Sara Hunter pointed to ing on office procedures. “I’m sure she can to accomplish a lot of the goals that were set, The 26-year-old man who had been Melo’s municipal experience. She said she give us guidance, too,” she added. She also told including completing the 2019 audit. operating the Subaru told Irujo fell checked her references, and received rave the board that Melo’s hours will be flexible For fiscal year 2020, Garcia said they have asleep while driving. reviews from former coworkers. during tax time. taken the objectives and strategies they haven’t Firefighters report that seven victims “Are you ready to take on Blandford?” asked Garcia said the town is looking to immedi- yet accomplished, along with recommenda- of the crash were transported to Select Board chairman Cara Letendre. ately hire two part-time summer workers for tions from the auditors. Baystate Medical Center and one addi- During the discussion before the vote, select- the Highway Department to do weed-whacking Another goal for 2020 is to establish cross- tional patient was taken to Baystate man Thomas Ackley commented, “Her resume and grass cutting. He said the job pays $12 an departmental cooperation, Garcia said. Noble Hospital. Electric group sells stake in Maine power plant By PETER CURRIER Gas and Electric Lisa Stowe, said part of the reason for the “MMWEC is always looking to re-position the power Correspondent sale was that the plant had lost profitability. The Wyman 4 portfolios of the MLPs for their benefit, and this sale is WESTFIELD- The Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale plant produces electricity by burning oil, a practice Stowe consistent with the trajectory of the evolving hybrid grid, Electric Company (MMWEC), of which Westfield Gas and said WG&E would rather avoid. and is in lockstep with the Commonwealth’s Clean Energy Electric was once a part, announced that it sold its owner- “It became clear that it was no longer profitable, because Standard goals,” said MMWEC CEO Ronald C. DeCurzio. ship stake in the W.F. Wyman Station Unit 4 in Yarmouth, it is an oil burning electric plant that was rarely used Stowe said that she is unsure how much the sale of the Maine on July 19. because they don’t want to burn oil,” said Stowe, “We Wyman 4 stake was for, and how much of that money will WG&E is no longer a member company of MMWEC, but would rather burn natural gas, which is cleaner than oil, or be seen by WG&E. it had retained its ownership stake in the plant until now. use renewable sources of energy.” The Wyman plant, located on Cousins Island in Yarmouth, Westfield was one of 12 local municipalities that received Stowe noted that the sale should have little impact on the was built on a 122-acre site in 1978, as a base-load genera- power from the plant in Maine as part of MMWEC for 43 utility customers in Westfield, adding that WG&E has a tion unit. When it came online, it marked a milestone for years. The other municipalities included Boylston, Holyoke, “diverse” portfolio of other power sources. MMWEC and its project participants. For the first time, Hudson, Hull, Littleton, Marblehead, Middleborough, “It basically means that the power we use in Westfield participating municipal light plants purchased power at cost Middleton, North Attleborough, Shrewsbury, and Wakefield. will be cleaner,” said Stowe. from a unit financed with lower cost MMWEC revenue Between the 12 municipalities, 3.7 percent of the plant’s MMWEC’s Wyman Project was established in 1976. At bonds and owned by MMWEC, their own power supply electrical output, or 22 megawatts, were taken from the the time, MMWEC had developed a balanced power supply agency. Revenue bonds issued by MMWEC to finance the plant. system with both nuclear power and Wyman’s fossil fired Wyman Project totaled $9.42 million. All revenue bonds Marketing and Communications Specialist for Westfield power generation. related to MMWEC’s Wyman Project were paid off in 2008.