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Search for The Westfield News TodayThe in Westfield WestfieldNews Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews “The only History: Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns journey“Time is The is only WEATHER 1875 Cornerstone laid for the one criTicwithin wiThouT.“ TONIGHT Methodist Church (corner ambiTion.” Partly Cloudy. of Holland and Court) — Rainer MarJOHNia Rilke STEINBECK Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.comWestfield350.orgLow of 55. The www.thewestfieldnews.comWestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “Time is The only WEATHERVOL. 86 NO. 151 75 cents VOL. 87 NO. 127 MONDAY,TUESDAY, JUNE 4,JUNE 2018 27, 2017 criTic75 CentswiThouT TONIGHT ambiTion.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com Savage Arms Westfield VOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents could be sold By Greg Fitzpatrick Correspondent WESTFIELD – There’s a possibility that Savage Arms, one of Westfield’s largest employers, may be sold. Vista Outdoors, who purchased Savage Arms in 2013, announced last month that they’re looking to possibly sell the Westfield based business, but the idea certainly isn’t set in stone. “We haven’t said we’re looking for sale, we’re looking at options to sell,” said Amanda Covington, who is the Vice President of Corporate Communications for Vista Outdoor. Founded in 1894, Savage Arms focuses on longer barrel guns, The house at 16 Sally Ave. Westfield where a cadre of commercial grade fireworks is seen on Friday. (Photo by Lynn but Vista Outdoor sees hand guns as a product line that Savage Boscher) Arms needs to succeed. Savage Arms’ current product is not in Vista Outdoor’s future plans as they are moving away from the gun-making business. Hoarder house condemned, fireworks found “They need to be a full-service fire arms company,” said By Carl E. Hartdegen that he had found two handguns in the patcher to contact a deputy fire chief Covington. “We think there’s a potential it (Savage Arms) could Correspondent house and would like to surrender he wanted to speak with. do better under a different owner.” WESTFIELD – A Sally Avenue them to police. Officers from the department’s In the announcement, it also noted that Vista Outdoor’s sports house apparently formerly occupied The caller explained that his com- detective bureau, Det. Sgt. Stephan protection brands such as Bell, Giro, and Blackburn, are also by a hoarder has been condemned pany had been hired to clear out the Dickinson and Det. Brian Freeman, included in the possibility of being sold. Jimmy Styks paddle after city police removed two fire- house by a bank which had foreclosed arrived at the house at 7:35 p.m. boards, and Stevens firearms are also on that list. arms and state officials removed more on the property. Freeman soon left to return with a Moving forward, Vista Outdoor’s will be focusing on increasing than a half ton of commercial grade Officer William Cavanaugh arrived representative of the State Police fireworks. at the house at 6:31 p.m. and, in less bomb squad. See Savage Arms Westfield, Page 6 City police responded Thursday to than a half hour, reported “The home At 10:39 he advised the dispatcher a report that firearms had been found may need to be condemned” when he that they were leaving the scene but in an apparently derelict house on requested the assistance of code would return Friday with hazmat pro- Sally Avenue after a representative of enforcement officer Harry tection and representatives of the state a company which had been contracted Sienkiewicz. Fire Marshal. Munger Hill fifth graders to clear out a house at 16 Sally Ave. About a half hour later, Sienkiewicz prepare to tell stories at called at 6:22 p.m. Thursday to report was at the house and asked the dis- See House, Page 5 the Old Burying Ground Open Gate Day on June 9 GRSD towns look to By Amy Porter Correspondent WESTFIELD – Fifth change budget process graders from Munger Hill By Amy Porter Elementary School will be Correspondent dressed in period garb for HILLTOWNS – Over the next week and a half, residents at three Open Gate Day at the Old Annual Town Meetings will vote not only on the Gateway Regional Burying Ground on School District budget, but on an alternative assessment method going Mechanic Street this forward for the Gateway hilltowns. In addition, residents in the town Saturday, June 9 from 10 of Chester will be voting on whether to give a voluntary contribution Morgan Drewniany, program director for a a.m. to 12 noon. of $40,000 to offset the town of Russell’s FY19 alternative assess- new Westfield on Weekends utility box Teacher Cynthia Gaylord, ment. painting project, is seen next to one of two who is also the chairperson On the warrant of each of the six towns is an article to see if the boxes to be painted on Elm Street. This box of the Westfield Historical towns will vote to amend the way the above minimum assessment is is located in front of the PVTA station. Commission, said the stu- calculated for each town. Traditionally, in the statutory assessment dents will be telling the sto- method, the above minimum assessment is calculated based on the ries of some of the founding March student census and each town’s percentage share of students. families of Westfield who Due to the low populations in the hilltowns, the shift of just a few Muralists sought are buried at the historic students can make a dramatic difference in the statutory assessment to cemetery. “This year, it will a town, equal to more than $100,000 in several instances in recent Stone of Synthia Ingersoll at the for utility Old Burying Ground on Mechanic See Stories, Page 3 See GRSD Towns, Page 3 Street. (Photo submitted) boxes initiative By Lori Szepelak Correspondent WESTFIELD-Wherever Morgan Concert Drewniany’s travels take her, her eyes are always in search of art in its many forms. series explores “I like to find art in weird places,” said Drewniany during a walk on Elm Street Friday. “I can look at a blank canvas and musical genres see the opportunity for it to do more.” By Lori Szepelak Drewniany is spearheading a new “place- Correspondent\ making opportunity” on Elm Street as part BLANDFORDWOW! – It’s...“World-class of a Westfield on Weekends (WOW) initia- musicians” are once again gracing tive to beautify two utility boxes in the the stage at The White Church of Gaslight District. Blandford as part of the Blandford “In Springfield, I coordinated murals on Summer Concerts series. 26 boxes throughout the Cultural District to “This is the 24th year that Eve WOW! It’s...great success,” said Drewniany, adding that Queler, musicA Showcase director emerita of Greatof Performers three years later people still ask for maps. “Now on a smaller scale, in my home- the Opera Orchestrafrom New of New York York, and New England has been bringing four rising opera town, I’m thrilled to begin a similar project stars to the Bel Canto Opera,” said to bring even more life to our downtown,” Pliny “Chips” Norcross, presidentSaturday, May 19, 2018 at 8pm she added. of the Blandford Historical Society. Drewniany explained that programs to The concert series is sponsoredCANOE: by THE MUSICAL create “non-conventional murals” are not the Blandford Historical StarringSociety Mary Brown Bonacci and Bob Plasse A Showcase ofnew, Great noting thatPerformers Boston, Northampton and and the Blandford CulturalWith Michael Rheault and James Homan Easthampton have embarked on similar Audiences love this irresistible look at a from New York and New England Council. modern marriage, using the songs of Hollywood, beautification initiatives. Queler is internationallyBroadway and the American Songbook. WOW is funding this program through a renowned for her role as founder Westfield Cultural Council grant, according and music director of the Opera Southwick-Tolland Regional High 2018 Graduation Saturday,to Drewniany May 19,who is2018 serving at as 8pmWOW’s Orchestra,Saturday, as well asJune serving 23,