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 MONDAY,TUESDAY, JUNE JUNE 27,14, 2017 2021 VOL. 75 cents 90 NO. 138 ‘Mr. Whipy’s’ Golf Acres seeks to establish walking trails By AMY PORTER Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Anthony Witman of Witman Properties went before the Conservation Commission on June 8, seeking to add a walk- ing trail in between the pond and the Powdermill brook in the back of “Mr. Whipy’s” Golf Acres at 317 Union St. The newly renamed 45-acre recreational facility features a driving range, miniature golf area, batting range and miniature “Indy- style” go-kart track. Witman said he also wants to tap into its ecological beauty with nature trails. Witman told the board the plan is to use a two-wheel tractor with a mowing deck to cre- ate a three-foot grassy trail for public access. He said they would steer through areas with- The Mill at Crane Pond, 77 Mill St., Westfield, will be the site of a free vaccination clinic June 19-21. (HOPE E. TREMBLAY/THE out a lot of vegetation. He said some of the WESTFIELD NEWS) vegetation is in the 100-year flood plain, but doesn’t seem to be relevant to any of the wet- lands. Get a sandwich, a beer and more during Conservation Coordinator Meredith Borenstein said the walking trail may be exempt from regulation. She said she wasn’t sure if the clearing in the flood zone is permit- the Mill at Crane Pond vaccination clinic table, but Witman wouldn’t be changing the By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Workspace. distancing to keep our guests feeling wel- elevation. Editor “We have new co-sharing offices and a come and safe,” said Grenier. “Looking Commissioner James Murphy asked if the WESTFIELD – While Massachusetts is large Event Space at MillWorks that’s per- ahead, we’re excited to continue welcoming hiking trail would go around the pond. one of the leaders in vaccinations, according fect for this CVS-sponsored Community the awakening community to gather with “That’s the intention. One trail on the north to Gov. Charlie Baker, Hampden County is Clinic,” Allen said in a written release. friends and family for some great craft beer end of the facility and back end of the pond, behind its Commonwealth counterparts. The Pottery Cellar and Bubble Mug Café, and craft food in our spacious, family friend- To help bring up Hampden County’s vac- a Polish pottery retailer and café, will offer a ly taproom.” See Golf Acres, Page 5 cination numbers, The Mill at Crane Pond “Free Sandwich for a Jab” deal and Great According to the release, Pottery Cellar owner Rocky Allen decided to be proactive Awakening Brewing Co., a craft brewery and promotes the global recovery plan at the and try something a little out of the box to taproom, will offer a free product as well to local level and invites othelocal community entice residents to get vaccinated. anyone 21 and older who gets vaccinated members as well as surrounding community According to a press release, Allen heard during the clinic. friends to join the efforts of protecting your- about a Buffalo, New York brewery that Allen started to approach other Mill ten- self and others. Pottery Cellar just celebrated offered a “Shot and a Beer” to encourage ants to. “The response has been extremely three years in business in The Mill and fea- vaccinations. The gimmick was a success positive. The cost is absolutely free. Not only tures the largest inventory in New England and the program saw more people vaccinated can we offer COVID Vaccinations to employ- of authentic Polish Pottery from the Ceramika in a week than all of Erie County to date. ers and employees at The Mill, but we are Artystyczna factory located in Boleslawic, Allen thought this approach could work opening MillWorks to residents of the great- Poland. here and approached his tenant, Great er Westfield area to also get cost-free Pfizer “ People love the space and like being in a Driving range lights being tested this week at Awakening Brewing Co. to help vaccinations,” Allan said. “I think this will historical mill structure. Mixing the old with Mr. Whipy’s Golf Acres. (PHOTO SUBMITTED) “Plus, we had other Mill tenants that might be a win-win!” the new leaves lasting memories on all who want to offer free products or incentives for Great Awakening Brewing Co. Co-founder visit and that is important to me as founder of people getting a No Cost COVID vaccina- Andy Grenier said in the press release that Pottery Cellar,” stated owner Dawn Whitehill tion – and promote their business too,” Allen his company is investing and participating in Allen said walk-ins are welcome during stated. The Mill’s vaccine program to support the the clinic, at 77 Mill St. Musical groups Mayor Donald F. Humanson Jr. helped safety and health of the entire western “But if Buffalo is any indication of our Allen with the alcohol beverage limitations Massachusetts community. success, we are strongly encouraging every- and then Allen approached CVS Pharmacy “In October we opened the doors to our one to register by going to the Millworks offer virtual to partner in offering a Free Vaccination Westfield brewery and taproom during the website to reach the CVS online Appointment Clinic. COVID-19 pandemic. Leveraging our Scheduler.” Allen said. The result is a free vaccine clinic at The 12,000 square-foot beer hall space in the Visit MillWorksWestfield.com to register. spring concerts Mill June 19-21 in the MillWorks Co-Sharing Mill at Crane Pond enabled us to provide The free clinic will be from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD — Music is alive and thriving in the city and two virtual concerts this month are showcasing the talent of singers of all Free vaccine clinic in Southwick for area residents ages. By PETER CURRIER The COVID-19 testing and vaccine distri- No sign up will be required. If one is driv- Nine young singers have been rehearsing Staff Writer bution company Curative will be partnering ing by and decides to get their shot, they since late February and their efforts will be on SOUTHWICK- The Health Department with the Health Department for the free may walk up to the clinic and do so. It will view during a virtual concert on June 17 at will host a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at clinic. Everyone who comes to receive their be a first come, first serve basis. 6:30 p.m. Southwick Regional School June 15 from 3 vaccine will receive one free ice-cream cone While New England as a whole has one of Kerry Cipoletta, artistic director for the to 6 p.m. from Moolicious Farms. the best vaccination rates in the country, Young Singers of Greater Westfield, said the Health Director Tammy Spencer said in Spencer said the clinic will be available to Hampden County has the lowest fully vac- students have worked hard and created “some- an email to town officials that the clinic all eligible Southwick residents and resi- cinated rate in Massachusetts at 43 percent. thing truly unique and beautiful.” would be open to anyone age 12 and up. The dents of surrounding communities. 59 percent of Hampden County residents “We have a great group of students who clinic will have the Pfizer-BioNTech vac- During the June 3 Board of Health meet- have received at least one dose. have endured through these trying times, cine, so those who get their shot on June 15 ing, Spencer said that Superintendent Southwick’s vaccination rate is below the never giving up their love for music,” said will need to come back on July 6 for their Jennifer Willard’s office had sent out a poll Hampden County average. 4,911, or 50 per- Cipoletta. second dose. to Southwick, Tolland, and Granville stu- cent of Southwick residents have received at Students featured in this spring’s virtual The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was grant- dent families to gauge interest in a potential least one dose as of June 10. 4,287 resi- concert include Aaron Boyd, Madison Boyd, ed emergency approval for all persons 12 clinic. They received 50 responses with 85 dents, or 44 percent are fully vaccinated. and up by the Food and Drug Administration. people saying they would want the vaccine. See Spring Concerts, Page 3 Rotary grant supports Senior Center meals WESTFIELD – Low cost lunch for the budget was strained by the need to buy con- to news about other senior center members city’s older residents has long been a staple sumable containers and by other expenses who may not have used the service recently. program at the Westfield Senior Center but, involved in the transition to the take-out “It’s a way for us to keep eyes and ears on when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, the meals but said “We didn’t miss a day. what’s going on” she said. service encountered new challenges. Those She said “We didn’t want to go up on the Gorman said that when the curbside ser- challenges were ameliorated thanks to a price of the meals” and explained “The vice began the agency was providing meals $1,000 grant from the Westfield Rotary’s Rotary grant helped out hugely” by allow- for about 50 recipients but said the number club’s Lynn Boscher COVID Relief Fund.