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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 VOL. 86 NO. 151 $1.00 THURSDAY,TUESDAY, JUNEJULY 27, 29, 2017 2021 VOL. 75 cents 90 NO. 179 Neighbor fears pond cleanup will lead to boating, kayaking By AMY PORTER renew the permit to manage vegetation on they’re dragging their boats through. Staff Writer Brickyard Ponds, which are a series of 17 You’re creating activity there that people WESTFIELD – The years-long effort to ponds on one side of Root Road and 21 on see on a weekend. On Sunday, we had remove invasive species from Brickyard the other side of the road. another person park there. It’s growing and Ponds will lead to fishing and boating on Keilch asked whether the goal of the growing,” Keilch said. the private waterways, one neighbor said invasive species removal is to promote Conservation Commissioner Thomas this week. fishing, boating and kayaking, which are Sharp said the project started six years ago, John Keilch told the Westfield not permitted, as these ponds are on private and he was one of the volunteers initially Conservation Commission that he objects land. He and Constance Adams own removing the plants the first three years, to the Connecticut River Conservancy’s Yellow Stonehouse Farm on Root Road, although he is no longer doing it. He said work removing water chestnut plants from and some of the ponds are on their proper- the property owners have signed the paper- the ponds at North and Root roads. The ty. work, and there is currently a team of three Conservancy is requesting permission “There’s an entryway that’s being creat- Yellow Stonehouse Farm on Root Road. (HOPE E. from the Conservation Commission to ed right from the road to the ponds, where See Pond Cleanup, Page 3 TREMBLAY/THE WESTFIELD NEWS) Council extends Rep. Pease joins deadline for PFAS Task Force By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Editor juried exhibition WESTFIELD – The city is not alone when it comes to the impact of PFAS. By LORI SZEPELAK of the event is for area resi- State Rep. Kelly Pease is a member of the PFAS Interagency Correspondent dents to enjoy the visual arts Task Force and said since joining the government committee, BLANDFORD-The and to promote regional arti- he has learned even more about the per- and polyfluoroalkyl Blandford Cultural Council sans. chemicals known as PFAS, particularly that there are other has extended its deadline to The show and sale, open communities dealing with water contaminated by PFAS. apply for its first Artisan to the public with free admis- “We knew about Westfield and Barnstable, but I didn’t Exhibition until Aug. 20, sion, is slated at the know about Ayer, Acton, Wayland, Easton, Stow and others according to secretary Susan Blandford Country Club on – all dealing with the same issues we’ve faced in Westfield,” Racine. Aug. 28 from 12-7 p.m. and said Pease, adding that “some are not testing as high as “We already have six Aug. 29 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Susan Racine’s watercolor painting titled “Bijou Theater,” Westfield.” exhibitors for the juried The country club is located 1940’s Holyoke. (SUBMITTED PHOTO) Westfield has been working exhibition and since the on North Street. a show like this for several Nicole Daviau. since 2013 to eliminate PFAS show is new we are still try- Refreshments will also be years,” said Racine, adding the The juried exhibition is open from wells contaminated by fire- ing to draw people in,” said served. arts council had conducted an to fine arts and fine art crafts fighting foam used at the Air Racine, noting the purpose “I have been wanting to do open studio tour in years past including sculpture, pottery National Guard Base. Granular but the feedback noted the stu- and woodwork. Activated Carbon filters were the dios were too far apart. “This “Originals, limited editions, best solution for Westfield, but it event brings everything into and open editions are allowed,” came at a high cost. The city has one space and we are hoping said Racine. spent upwards of $13 million in people will look forward to Artisans currently set to costs associated with PFAS con- meeting the artists and buying exhibit include Dennis Robert tamination and received $1.3 mil- their work.” of Chicopee, Cynthia Carr of lion from the Department of The event is sponsored by Blandford, Faith Weldon of Defense to help offset costs. the Blandford Cultural Council Clifton Park, N.Y., who vaca- Pease said 0 percent loans helped and the Massachusetts Cultural tions during the summer in with costs as well, STATE REP. Council, and applications are Otis, Jeri Hamel of Blandford, “It’s challenging,” he said of KELLY PEASE available by visiting the Gretchen Shepard of the cost. townofblandford.com and Southwick, and Racine. Pease said the task force met last week and heard from searching for the Arts Council. “Dennis Robert makes small communities that the cost of PFAS mitigation is out of Current council members wooden bowls, ornaments, their reach. “The expense of the filters is enormous,” he said. include Mary Kronholm, Byam Pease said the PFAS Interagency Task Force will host An oil painting by Jeri Hamel. (SUBMITTED PHOTO) Stevens, Ashley Neveau and See Exhibition, Page 5 monthly meetings to hear from communities and experts on PFAS. Town administrators, public works employees, and water management officials said during last week’s meeting that more help is needed in cities and towns to prevent and man- Golf Acres gets conservation permit for mowing age the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl contamination in water. By AMY PORTER appearance before the commis- Pease said the Task Force is learning more about products Staff Writer sion. that contain PFAS. WESTFIELD – The Witman is seeking to remove “In Westfield, it was firefighting foam at the air guard, but Conservation Commission held a invasive vegetation and mow the some of these communities don’t have a source at this point virtual meeting during the storm frontage along Union Street. A – they don’t know where it came from,” he said. on July 27 that left several neigh- section of vegetation directly in Barnstable officials cite a similar source of PFAS to borhoods in the city without front of abutter Melissa Westfield. power. Commissioners consid- Kielbasa’s home will be main- In Barnstable, Town Administrator Mark Ellis said the ered stopping the meeting, but tained as a visual and sound buf- issue stems in part from a local fire training academy and to continued in deference to partici- fer, a compromise reached dur- a lesser degree the municipal airport. pants who were able to sign on ing previous meetings. No trees Water wells in those areas are managed by Barnstable and and were waiting. will be removed along the street. Yarmouth but since the wells are aligned closely, any con- Anthony Witman of Mr. He also wants to add a walking tamination could impact not just one well but a “significant Whipy’s Golf Acres at 317 Union trail in the rear of the property water supply for the regional center of southeastern St. had been seeking a request between a pond and Powdermill Massachusetts,” Ellis said. for determination (RDA) since Brook, removing bittersweet According to a recent State House News story, PFAS is a June 8 for work at the newly along the trail, as well. term used for a group of chemicals used since the 1950s to reopened driving range, minia- Kielbasa, who could not log create non-stick and water- and stain-resistant products. ture golf and go-kart establish- on due to power outages on They’re most commonly found in consumer products like ment, which is located in the Union Street, emailed food packaging, outdoor clothing, and leather goods but can 100-year floodplain. Witman A horse statue “rears” at a mini-golf hole at Golf was on the call for his fourth See Golf Acres, Page 3 Acres. (PHOTO SUBMITTED) See PFAS, Page 3 Select Board votes to impound dog after November incident By PETER CURRIER receiving dog training. The Langans were not Select Board member Russ Fox suggested because there were previous problems between Staff Writer present at the meeting. that the town vote to impound Theo for as long the dogs, Emmelmann and the Langans had a SOUTHWICK – The Select Board voted “I have not received notification that the train- as the Langans live in Southwick. Select Board texting system when the dog walker was there to unanimously July 27 to impound Theo, a ing has taken place,” said Bennett, “Long and member Douglas Moglin said that he received a take her dog out, so that Theo and Marley, the German shepherd who has been the subject of a short, nothing has been done.” letter from them saying that they would be mov- Langans’ other German shepherd, could be kept dangerous dog hearing for more than a year. Chief Administrative Officer Karl J. Stinehart ing out of Southwick soon. inside their home. That day, Bennett said, there Residents have told the Select Board that said that the town could go as far as “impound- Fox noted that impounding Theo would be was no response to the text and the dog walker Theo, owned by Sean and Jennifer Langan, has ment or seizure” of Theo. contingent on actually finding him first. brought Trixie out. The Langans’ dogs then attacked neighbors and their dogs on multiple “You already had a finding of fact of the dog This Select Board hearing was sparked by a came out of the house and attacked them, she occasions.

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