Celebrate the Summer, Variety of Shelter Animals in Need of Forever
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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 SATURDAY,TUESDAY, JUNEJULY 27, 17, 2017 2021 VOL. 75 cents 90 NO. 168 Save Southwick raises $7,000 at pasta dinner to oppose Carvana project By PETER CURRIER At the July 15 dinner, Agricultural Staff Writer Commission member and vocal opponent SOUTHWICK — The Save Southwick of Carvana, Maryssa Cook-Obregón urged group raised nearly $7,000 at a pasta dinner the crowd to “tell everybody and their fundraiser July 15 at the Southwick Inn for neighbor to be at the Planning Board meet- the opposition campaign against the proposed ing on July 20.” Carvana project at 686 College Highway. At the July 14 Agricultural Commission Save Southwick spokesperson Andrea meeting, Planning Board Chair Michael Bugbee said that the group sold out of dinners Doherty said that he does not anticipate that at 150 meals, and that they raised $6,955 after the Planning Board will call a vote on July expenses had been accounted for. One of the 20. He said the sheer number of people who major funding needs cited by Save Southwick are expected to speak during public com- volunteers has been to retain legal counsel to advise them and speak for them as the opposi- ment will likely prevent the public hearing tion to Carvana unfolds. from being fully closed by the end of the In addition to dinner tickets, Save night. The hearing will be continued to a Southwick sold “No Carvana” yard signs, later date if no vote is made. t-shirts, and raffle tickets. After the June 29 hearing overflowed the Town Hall auditorium with residents, the Agawam City Councilor Rosemary Sandlin holds a The group has retained the counsel of “No Carvana” sign, similar to the ones seen along the Agricultural Commission member and Planning Board decided to have the July 20 Attorney Tim Ryan, from Egan, Flanagan, Save Southwick spokesperson Maryssa sides of the roads throughout Southwick. Sandlin and hearing at Southwick Regional School’s and Cohen. Ryan spoke against Carvana at Cook-Obregón packages take-out meals Agawam City Councilor Anthony Suffriti introduced the June 26 rally outside of Town Hall and at for supporters of Save Southwick who auditorium in the hopes of being able to a resolution to their full council to oppose the the June 29 Planning Board hearing. Bugbee wanted to support the fundraiser but could accommodate more people in the room. The Carvana project, citing traffic impacts that it may said that Ryan would speak at the July 20 not stay for the whole event. (PHOTO meeting will be a hybrid of in-person and have on Agawam. (PHOTO SUBMITTED/ANDREA hearing as well. SUBMITTED/ANDREA BUGBEE) Zoom attendance. BUGBEE) Variety of shelter animals in need of forever homes By LORI SZEPELAK tion, “is more equipped to direction,” said Terkelsen, Correspondent deal with owned animals noting whoever adopts him WESTFIELD-While pick- looking for new families.” should not have children or ing up stray animals is part of Terkelsen said currently at small animals. “Whoever the day-to-day operations of the animal shelter there are “a adopts Trooper will need the animal control officers at lot of animals” available and mandatory training and have the Westfield Animal Shelter, several stray animals have not to sign up for classes.” there are also calls coming in been claimed. Terkelsen said the recent of late seeking to surrender “We have a lot of great calls into the animal shelter animals. adult cats and kittens, three from individuals and families “We have had a lot of peo- rabbits – “Yin,” “Yang,” and surrendering animals have ple call us to surrender ani- “Blizzard,” two guinea pigs been for varied reasons. mals,” said Margaret named “Starsky” and “Some people say they Terkelsen, animal control “Hutch,” and a cockatiel don’t have time for them or operations manager. named “Clementine,” she they may have brought two The animal shelter is locat- said. animals into the home at the ed at 178 Apremont Way, “Trooper,” a 2-year-old pit same time and they were not adjacent to Westfield-Barnes bull mix, is also at the shelter meshing well,” said Terkelsen. Aviation Technology Class of 2021 (Front: L-R) Michael Siegel, Joseph Gaudreau, Alex-ven Regional Airport. since the owner cannot be During the summer, Blake, Taryn Black, Angelica Chepurin, Alanniss Camacho (BACK) Julian Jacque, German “The calls to surrender ani- found. Terkelsen noted there is an Krikonuv, Elizabeth Beshara, Nicholas Couchon, Evan Ploof, Nicholas Moran, Zachary mals have been about many “Trooper will be neutered, uptick in strays that the ani- Barsalou. (AMY PORTER/THE WESTFIELD NEWS) small furry animals like rab- vaccinated and microchipped mal shelter sees and some of bits and guinea pigs,” said next week and will be avail- those animals are not claimed. Terkelsen, adding, “but they able for adoption,” said “As a municipal animal have been directed to the Terkelsen, adding he loves to control shelter we get strays Aviation Technology Class Dakin Humane Society in play but currently “does not so we don’t have a lot of Springfield. have a lot of manners.” resources to house additional Terkelsen explained that “Trooper is about 70 Dakin, a nonprofit organiza- pounds and needs a lot of See Animals, Page 3 of 2021 graduates thirteen By AMY PORTER Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Department head Galen Wilson welcomed a crowd of family and friends of the thirteen graduating students from Aviation Technology to Hangar 2 on July 16. The graduating seniors had officially received their diplomas from Westfield Technical Academy at a ceremony on June 3, but then all returned to complete the remain- ing requirements and hours for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certified pro- USAF Lt. Gen. Scott Rice addressed the graduating seniors. (AMY PORTER/THE WESTFIELD NEWS) gram. Wilson said through persistence and deter- mination they did it, working six or seven hours a day, five days a week, for an addi- tional six weeks to meet the FAA require- ments. “That to me is remarkable,” Wilson said, attributing it to the students’ dedication, “Trooper,” a pit bull mix, is available for loyalty and commitment in a nod to his Air adoption at the Westfield Animal Shelter. He Margaret Terkelsen, animal control opera- Force training. enjoys his breaks with animal control opera- tions manager at the Westfield Animal WTA Principal Joseph Langone and Aviation Graduating in the Aviation Technology tions manager Margaret Terkelsen. (LORI Shelter, holds one of two guinea pigs avail- Head Galen Wilson. (AMY PORTER/THE Class of 2021 were Zachary Barsalou, SZEPELAK PHOTO) able for adoption. (LORI SZEPELAK PHOTO) WESTFIELD NEWS) See Aviation, Page 3 WEN Celebrate the summer, $200 OFF MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC while Richard’s Fuel & Heating DUCTLESS MINI SPLIT Valid with coupon only. One coupon per customer. keeps you cool and comfortable. Not to be combined with other offers. Valid 7/1/21 - 8/31/21 413-527-0194 • RichardsFuel.com PAGE 2 - SATURDAY, JULY 17, 2021 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Chapter 90 bill, local events highlight Velis’ week Hello Everyone, transportation systems. Related to transportation services, I am happy It’s hard to believe that we’re already halfway through the summer. to announce that the Easthampton RMV will also be reopening for in- While the weather sure has tried to put a damper on things, my office person services on August 2nd. and I have continued to stay busy. This week involved quite a bit of I did get the chance to spend some time in the district with constitu- driving across the state and district and has made me appreciate even ents this week as well, which is always some of my favorite moments more how great our region is. of the week. On Thursday I was in Westfield to meet with a constituent This week began with a trip out to Central Mass. As many of you about legislation regarding the creation of a new suicide prevention may know, I have the privilege of serving as the Chair of the Veterans hotline number in Massachusetts, an important initiative that the and Federal Affairs Committee. I had the pleasure of joining Legislature is pursuing. Representative Pease and other committee members as we began the On Friday I had the honor of attending the graduation ceremony at first of several tours/listening sessions across the Commonwealth. We Westfield Tech for their Aviation Maintenance Technology Class. This toured the Montachusett Veterans Outreach Centers in Gardner and course is such a tremendous program that prepares students with the Winchendon. These centers do a great job assisting Veterans in finding tangible skills they need to succeed in the aviation industry. housing as well as different counseling and mental health services. Congratulations to all the graduates! As Vice-Chair of the Committee on Children, Families, and Persons Friday afternoon I was able to drop by the law firm of Bacon and with Disabilities, I spent some time this week with SEIU Local 509 Wilson to welcome them to their new Westfield office with a citation caseworkers in the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to bet- from the Senate. Unfortunately I was unable to join them at their rib- ter understand their roles and how they communicate with DCF in bon cutting event a few weeks ago, however it is important to me to Boston. As we transition out of the COVID-19 Pandemic and optimis- celebrate all of our local businesses and organizations! Afterwards I tically move forward to how things used to be, it is important for pol- swung over to Southwick to join residents at the Southwick Village icy makers across the state to have a better understanding of how dif- Retirement Community for a fantastic meet and greet coffee hour and ficult situations with DCF evolved over the past year and what we to share Senate updates.