Homes Lose Power After Lightning Strike
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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, JUNEJUNE 27, 10, 2017 2021 VOL. 75 cents 90 NO. 135 Conservation approves levee plans amid pushback By AMY PORTER Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Conservation Commission approved a notice of intent for work on the Westfield River Levee and mitigation at the Whitney Street play- ground area at its meeting on June 8, despite some concerns raised by resi- dents. The project, to be funded by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), will widen the crest of the levee to 16 feet across and add a 10-foot wide asphalt multi-use trail. On landward portions of the levee that Crews from Westfield Gas and Electric and XFinity work on a utility line abut residential neighborhoods, a con- Crews were on scene to fix the pole and restore power within the June 8, 2021 on Franklin Street after lightning struck a pole and crete wall and four-foot railing will be hour. (THOMAS P. FLAHERTY PHOTO) knocked out power. (HOPE E. TREMVLAY/ THE WESTFIELD NEWS) built. Mitigation at the Whitney Street Playground parking area will include removal of a gravel path that will be loamed and seeded, and five trees plant- Homes lose power ed. Conservation Coordinator Meredith Borenstein said right now it’s a mown grassy area with a drive. She said the majority of the project will be on the after lightning strike levee. Commission Chair David A. Doe said By PETER CURRIER all affected customers to have their power he went to both ends of the project, which Staff Writer restored within the hour. spans from Ellsworth Street to Williams WESTFIELD- Dozens of homes lost power The outage also cut power to City Hall, June 8 after lightning struck a utility pole on where the first in-person Police Commission See Levee Plans, Page 3 Connor Avenue between Franklin and Orange meeting in more than a year was to take place streets at 5:30 p.m.. That meeting was cancelled, and The lightning struck the pole just before 5 is not expected to be rescheduled until at least p.m. according to Police Chief Lawrence P. after June 16. Valliere. The Police Commission was scheduled to Westfield Gas and Electric General interview and appoint one Westfield police Manager Thomas P. Flaherty Sr. said June 8 sergeant to a full-time temporary lieutenant. that power had been cut temporarily for an Sergeants Douglas LaValley, Michael area spanning from the Park Square Green to Gibbons, and Michael Kane are the three can- Loring Lane and the Tekoa Country Club. didates seeking the lieutenant’s position. The WG&E Facebook page shared an Valliere said that he hadn’t even left for image of the top of a utility pole seemingly City Hall yet when the pole was struck. He The lightning strike snapped the top part of snapped off from the pole itself, holding on said he could see smoke coming from the the pole off of the pole itself, leaving it sus- only by 3 power lines. direction of the strike, adding that he had pended by power lines. (THOMAS P. FLAHERTY Flaherty said at 6:45 p.m. that he expected never heard anything that loud before. PHOTO) City Engineer Mark Cressotti. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS FILE PHOTO) Downtown Live! Luncheon, free concerts return June 18 By HOPE E. TREMBLAY concert DAN ALLIE NICHOLAS J. Editor DAVE FLAHERTY MORGANELLI, JR. At-large Councilor At-large Councilor WESTFIELD – The Downtown Live! (free) Concert Ward 1 Councilor Series is returning this summer on June 18. THE WESTFIELD NEWS FILE PHOTOS Hosted in the parking lot next to Mina’s Liquor celebrate shop at 153 Elm St., the series is organized by ArtWorks Westfield in partnership with Mina’s owner City Properties Committee Prob Reshemwala. fathers Organizer Tom Sawyer said Reshemwala donates the use of the parking lot and has been an active plan- By LORI SZEPELAK ner. Correspondent tackles flag ordinance “He has really been my partner the past few years,” WESTFIELD-Two events this month, said Sawyer, noting that ArtWorks President Bill sponsored by the Westfield Council on By AMY PORTER Ultimately, the committee ceded the Westerlind and other members help bring the series to Aging, celebrate fatherhood. Staff Writer decision to Mayor Donald F. Humason fruition. Father’s Day, which was first celebrat- WESTFIELD – On June 7, the City Jr., who allowed the Pride flag to fly on “The Cultural Council makes this possible with a ed in 1910 thanks to the efforts of Properties Committee considered the Park Square Green the first week in grant, which they generously gave us and then Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, creation of a flag ordinance on a motion June, the same period of time that the allowed us to use this year after having to cancel last Washington in 1909, honors fatherhood by Ward 1 Councilor Nicholas J. flag was also raised at City Hall for the year during the pandemic,” said Sawyer. and paternal bonds, as well as the influ- Morganelli Jr. at the June 1 City Council second year in a row. Sawyer said he and the rest of the concert organiz- ence of fathers in our society. Father’s meeting. The motion resulted from a City Properties Chair Dan Allie said ers are thrilled to be back this year. Day will be observed on June 20, the request to the Parks & Recreation he had asked committee member Dave “We are all so excited,” he said. “We started talking same day as the summer solstice. Commission in May to fly the Pride flag Flaherty to write down some thoughts, to the Board of Health early in the spring and it looked A special picnic fare luncheon served on Park Square Green during the month resulting in a draft ordinance that used like we could have 150 people, but now that the curbside is planned June 24 at the of June. language from other municipalities and COVID restrictions are lifted, we could not be happi- Westfield Senior Center. The menu Morganelli, who is the liaison to Parks incorporated comments from Morganelli. er.” includes barbecued chicken, macaroni & Rec., said there are a lot of ordinances “This committee is basically just taking The Downtown Live! (free) Concert Series’ lineup salad, cornbread and a “Dad-size” ice existing for signs and banners, but to his input, to the point where we send it to begins June 18 with The Lisa Martin Band; June 25, cream sundae, according to Tina surprise when the request to fly the the Legislative & Ordinance Committee Pride flag was made, he found that flags See Concerts, Page 3 See Fathers, Page 3 are not addressed in any ordinance. See Ordinance, Page 5 2 Free Street | Westfield, Ma (413) 568-9251 | Rockys.com PAGE 2 - THURSDAY, JUNE 10, 2021 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Unified effort The 2021 Southwick Unified track team is assistant coach Apryl Penland, Jayden Martin, Grace Coon, Grace Brockbank, Nathan Stewart, Abigail Diaz, Logan Lynch, Alex Daugherty, Malleigh McGivney, coach Bean, coach Ezeugwu, assistant coach Ashley Phelps, Ruby Francis, Jenna Niles, and Janelle Davidson. On May 24, in a meet against Westfield, Jayden Martin set a personal record in the javelin (6-inch improve- ment) and long jump (4-inch improve- ment). Abigail set a personal record in the 400 meters, beating her time by 46.2 sec- onds. Janelle Davidson beat her time in the 100 meters by two seconds. Alex Daugherty set a personal best in shotput by 2.5 inches. Logan Lynch set personal records in shotput (by 12 inches), 100 meters (by 2.3 seconds), and in the 400 meters (by 4.3 seconds). (JUDI BEAN PHOTO) Southwick Public Library offers programs for teens in June SOUTHWICK – The Southwick and match stuffed animals of your in Southwick. Check the library’s Celebration: If you are ready to kick Public Library offers several teen choice to create your own cute or Summer Reading Program Facebook page, Teen Blog and off the summer or need help signing programs in June, including: creepy creature. The possibilities are The Summer Reading Program at Southwick Public Library website to up to win prizes for Summer Reading endless. These make a cool gift or the Southwick Public Library is back see more information. Sign up for the Program, come to the Southwick Teen Franken-Stuff Lab, June 30 keepsake. All materials are provided. for all ages from June 26-Aug. 6. program beginning June 21 at south- Public Library for anoutdoor opening Artist- nstructor Molly Meet in-person at the library June 30 Earn chances to win prizes by read- wickma.beanstack.org or download day celebration June 26, 10 a.m. - Shaughnessy-Encarnacion of Greater from 1:30-3:00. Sign- up required in ing, completing challenges and the Beanstack Tracker app. Log read- 12:30 p.m. Stay for balloon animals, Hartford Academy of the Arts will be advance. Email southwicklibrary1@ attending unique, fun-filled events. ing hours and select your prize options games, art activities, snacks, crafts, at Southwick Public Library to guide comcast.net to RSVP. For students in Prizes include gift certificates to your using Beanstack as well. live animals and more. you through this fun creation lab. Mix 7-12 grade. favorite restaurants and entertainment Summer Reading Kick-off Police Logs Westfield District Court ambulance reports that two people refused arrest for two outstanding warrants.