tONight: Scattered Showers. Low of 55. Search for The Westfield News The WestfieldNews Search for “G The REATNESSWestfield News IS NOT Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews MEASURED BY WHAT A MAN Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns OR WOMAN“TIME IS THE ACCOMPLISHES ONLY , WEATHER BUTCRITIC BY THEWITHOUT OPPOSITION TONIGHT HE OR SHEAMBITION HAS OVERCOME.” TO REACH HIS GOALS Partly Cloudy. JOHNSearch STEINBECK for The Westfield.” News Westfield350.comWestfield350.orgLow of 55. Thewww.thewestfieldnews.com WestfieldNews — DOrOthy height Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHERVOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 centsCRITIC WITHOUT VOL.TONIGHT 88 NO. 205 FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2019 75AMBITION Cents .” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com BacteriaVOL. 86 NO. 151 detected at HamptonTUESDAY, JUNE Ponds; 27, 2017 75 cents blue green algae at Sportsman’s Club By HOPE E. TREMBLAY the bloom. Assistant Managing Editor “A lot of us take our dogs to swim at the pond,” he said. WESTFIELD – The Hampton Ponds State Park is closed for According to the Department of Public Health page on mass. swimming until further notice due to high levels of bacteria gov, cyanobacteria are microscopic bacteria that live in all and the pond at the Westfield Sportsman’s Club is also closed types of water bodies. A large growth of these bacteria results because of cyanobacteria algae bloom. in algal blooms that can pollute the water and may even be Both are still open for other recreational uses. toxic to animals and people. Westfield Director of Public Health Joseph Rouse said “clo- “When a dramatic increase in a cyanobacteria population sures at Hampton Ponds occur annually for elevated levels of occurs, this is called harmful algal blooms (HABs), or more bacteria usually due to contamination from water fowl.” accurately, cyanobacterial HABs (CyanoHABs). It often results Several local ponds, including in neighboring Easthampton, in the waterbody turning bright green or blue-green, and forms Devol Pond – Westport were closed due to cyanobacterial algae blooms, also known as a surface scum or a discoloration of the water column. Halfway Pond – Plymouth blue green algae. CyanoHABs may also form a mat on the bottom sediments, Lake Warner – Hadley Westfield Sportsman’s Club President Ray Frappier said he which is more difficult to observe,” states the Commonwealth’s Lower Mill Pond – Easthampton was concerned about the bloom. website. Mill Pond – West Newbury “The Sportsman’s Club approached me to help identify a The Environmental Protection Agency website states that in Minister’s Pond – Eastham blue green algae bloom they have in their pond,” said Rouse. order to form and grow the water needs sunlight, slow moving Nashawannuck Pond – Easthampton “Upon review and consultation with the State Division of water and nutrients. Shubael Pond – Barnstable Toxicology, it was determined that the algae was most likely Potential harmful health effects include gastrointestinal Spy Pond – Arlington the cyanobacteria type that can be harmful to humans and spe- symptoms from limited exposure, to liver or neurological dam- Triangle Pond – Northampton cifically animals. We gave them an advisory sign to post on the age from exposure in larger amounts. Skin or eye irritation can West Reservoir – Harwich property. We will be re-inspecting tomorrow to evaluate the result from contact and asthma-like symptoms can occur from Westfield has not been added as of press time. The size of the bloom with potential testing to follow.” inhaling water spray with cyanobacteria. Children and pets are Sportsman’s Club is located at 98 Furrowtown Road, and Frappier said this has not been an issue in the past. at higher risk for harmful effects. Hampton Ponds is at 1048 North Road. “This is the first time I’ve ever heard of it here,” he said. “I The Department of Public Health listed the following com- ——— just want to warn our neighbors.” munities as having blue-green algae of Aug. 26: Hope Tremblay can be reached at Frappier said he especially wanted dog owners to know of Billington Sea – Plymouth [email protected]. Scam alert on city website clarified By AMY PORTER Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Last week, the City of Westfield posted an alert on the city website from the Department of Public Works saying they had received calls of individuals trying to get into resi- dential homes, claiming to be from the DPW. “If they do not provide City credentials, are wear- ing a City-issued uniform, and are driving a City issue vehicle, we advise that you do not let them onto your property,” the notice read, From left: Donna Stern, Sandra Lortsher, Tammy Bringaze, Rep. John Velis, and Mayor Brian Sullivan. The five of them offered also advising people who their perspectives on Baystate Health’s imminent closure of the mental health wings in Westfield, Palmer, and Greenfield. They were are unsure to contact the in agreement that the closures will have a negative impact on the communities. (File photo by Peter Currier) DPW at 413-572-6226. DPW Director David Billips said the department had received several complaints before posting the notice. He said the unidentified caller(s) requested Noble ICU closed today access to people’s homes to test their water. The DPW also notified the police department By PETER CURRIER about the calls. Staff Writer Simultaneously, individuals from the Center for WESTFIELD- Baystate Noble Hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU) Disease Control’s Agency for Toxic Substances closed today following a lengthy process in which the Department of and Disease Registry (ATSDR) had been canvass- Public Health (DPH) required Baystate to show that ICU access ing the north end of town, attempting to reach would not be lost to those in Noble’s coverage area. people who had received a letter about blood and Baystate Health announced in May that they would be converting urine sampling for a PFAS exposure assessment. their six ICU beds and six pediatric care unit (PCU) beds into stan- This testing was explained in a community infor- dard medical or surgical beds. The DPH found that the access to the mational meeting in July. Letters were sent out ICU was a necessity for healthcare access in the area. Their finding following the meeting to a sample group for test- came after a June 19 public hearing at Westfield Middle School, ing, and residents who were visited by the canvass- where residents and city officials mainly voiced their opposition to Residents, city officials, and medical professionals attended the ers had already received the letter. the closure. June public hearing at Westfield Middle School. (File photo by Billips said since the calls made in the name of “The ICU at Noble is a vital part of the hospital and the commu- Peter Currier) the DPW asking for access for water sampling did nity it serves,” said Donna Kelly-Williams, a Registered Nurse in the lation, Patients requiring IV medications with monitoring of not come from the city, he had no choice but to Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA), “Many patients rely on vitals every 1-2 hours, labs, and adjustment of the IV drip rate, issue the alert. He said he stands by that decision. the ICU. Patients who need the critical care at the moment they need and Patients requiring hourly intervention. “It worked exactly like it’s supposed to,” said it. Minutes, even seconds, count when a patient requires ICU-level “We have serious concerns about the ICU closures’ effect on Mayor Brian P. Sullivan, who said he was out of care.” patients throughout the region. Patients who can currently town when these events occurred. He said that Noble Hospital President Ron Bryant noted during the June public receive ICU-level care at Noble will be put at risk when facing alerts are posted regularly on the city website. hearing that Noble’s ICU averages about one patient per day. additional transportation time to Springfield or other locations. Sullivan said because the callers who were sup- Much of the pushback from residents came from people who won- Baystate promised to preserve and improve healthcare services posedly from the DPW came at the same time that dered what would come of the hilltowns. Much of the hilltowns are in local communities.” Said Joe Markman of the MNA, “We the ATSDR canvassers were making another covered by Noble Hospital, but the closure now makes the closest call on Baystate executives to uphold those promises and its attempt to reach people, some people took it as the ICU Baystate Medical Center (BMC) in Springfield. Baystate offi- non-profit mission to provide quality healthcare to all members city trying to stop the testing from happening. cials said that BMC will now be the primary ICU for the area, and all of its communities. With the onset of the closure, we urge “That couldn’t be further from the truth,” he patients in need of an ICU will be transferred there. Baystate to make sure nurse training and staffing levels are said, adding that the city communicated early on “Baystate Noble is transitioning its six Intensive Care Unit (ICU) appropriate to the level of ICU care that patients will need in the with the CDC to partner with them to do the PFAS beds to medical/surgical beds on Aug. 30, 2019. With that change, emergency department awaiting transport.” exposure assessment in Westfield, one of seven cit- all patients from our community requiring ICU level care will be Members of the public and the MNA have voiced their con- ies chosen for the assessment. He said that he has treated at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield,” said Maura cerns over a recent trend by Noble to close departments or cut been in communication with the ATSDR through- Tobias, public affairs and community relations specialist for Baystate back department hours within the hospital.