TONIGHT A few clouds. Low of 46. Search for The Westfield News The Westfield SearchHE WORSfor The WestfieldT News TODAY IN WESTFIELD News “T - Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews TEMPERED PEOPLE HISTORY: IME IS THE ONLY Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns VE EVER “TMET WERE WEATHER 1840 Cyrus W. Field I’ CRITIC WITHOUT PEOPLE WHO KNEW TONIGHT (Atlantic Cable Fame) AMBITION.” THEY WERE WRONG.” Partly Cloudy. purchased carding mill JOHN STEINBECK Search— Wi forLS TheON Westfield MIZNER News Westfield350.comWestfield350.orgLow of 55. in Mundale.The www.thewestfieldnews.comWestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHER VOL. 87 NO.VOL. 108 86 NO. 151 FRIDAY,TUESDAY, MAY 11, 2018JUNE 27, 2017 CRITIC75 CentsWITHOUT 75 cents TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL.August 86 NO. 151 opening plannedTUESDAY, for WestfieldJUNE 27, 2017 marijuana facility 75 cents By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – Construction is full- steam ahead at Heka, Inc. at 98 Sgt. T. M. Dion Way, as the marijuana cultivation, processing and dispensary business pre- pares to open in August. “There will be a big construction push next month,” Heka’s Chief Operating Officer Mark Dupuis said on Wednesday. Dupuis said the opening was delayed from its original projection for 2017, because of the changes in the laws. “We Mark Dupuis, had to slow down,” Dupuis said. “When CEO of Heka, they first started, dispensaries were only 3,000 tons of air conditioning, and 15,000 quarts for humid- Inc. in grow going to be selling one pound a day. ification will keep the grow rooms at 80 degrees with 50% room. (Photos by An artist rendering of Egyptian-themed Heka dispensaries Within a year, the larger ones were selling humidity year-round. Amy Porter) that Dupuis hopes to become destinations. five pounds a day.” Another law that changed in the fall raise more money. We’re behind for no other process. He expects that to start next month. powered plants in the state were shut down and allowed cannabis businesses, originally reason than the project ended up costing twice Dupuis has lived in Westfield for 25 years the company moved to St. Louis. required to be non-profit for medical as much,” he said. and sent his kids through school here, he said. In addition to the Westfield location, Heka, marijuana, to become for-profit to allow Heka, Inc. also received priority approval for He already owned the building on Sgt. Dion Inc. will also have locations in Pittsfield and adult use. At that time, Heka Health licensing for adult use, given by the state in Way, home to his former business, Materials West Springfield, which are slated to open in became Heka, Inc. Dupuis said Heka April to businesses already approved for medi- Life Cycle Management Company, which man- September. One will be just a dispensary, the went from a $4 million project, to a $10 cal marijuana. Dupuis said they are keeping the ufactured alternative fuel for coal-powered other one to include cultivating, processing, and million one. medical marijuana side and, as soon as the city plants. After 13-14 years in business, Dupuis “I started three years ago. We needed to allows adult use, will go through its permitting said the laws changed there, too, as all coal- See Marijuana Facility, Page 3 Ann Osowski reviews Monday night’s 23 service providers targeting Westfield Horseshoe League seniors receive grants schedule By LORI SZEPELAK ing that while $47,720 was with Bill Correspondent distributed in grants, the total Babinski, Jr. WESTFIELD-While “hard requests came in at $60,000. and Lee decisions” were made during Roeder noted that because of Small. this year’s grant cycle, Michael the increased need to support Roeder, president, Sarah Gillett services for seniors and con- Services for the Elderly, Inc., tinue the mission of Sarah said that 23 service providers Gillett Services, ideas for a aiding seniors received funds “major fundraiser” within the that will assist with program- coming months is being con- ming in the coming months. sidered by the board of trust- Family legacy lives on as horseshoe Roeder made his comments ees. during welcoming remarks at “We did authorize 7% of our league marks 97th season the 2018 Annual Corporators trust fund to support the orga- Meeting of the nonprofit organi- nizations requesting services By LORI SZEPELAK area. While he discontinued tourna- zation which was conducted and we had a record number of Correspondent ment play in 1968, Babinski was Thursday afternoon at the grant requests this spring,” said WESTFIELD-Now in its 97th sea- always at local meets and served as Westfield Senior Center. Roeder, adding that the founda- son, the Westfield Horseshoe League president of the Westfield club for The mission of Sarah Gillett tion’s bylaws only allow trust- remains a “very active league,” many years. Additionally, he won the Services is to support program- ees to use either 5%, 6% or 7% according to Bill Babinski, Jr., who Western Massachusetts champion- ming that improves the quality of the principal to ensure the continues his father’s legacy of pro- ship five times and the Hampden of life and health of seniors by Mary Madru, a new corporator trust fund remains viable. moting the “rustic sport.” County title four times. He was also awarding grants to nonprofit for Sarah Gillett Services for “We have distributed more “We played horseshoes in our inducted into the Massachusetts groups in the Greater Westfield the Elderly, Inc., reviews the than $1 million since the foun- backyard as kids because our dad Horseshoe Pitchers Association Hall area. Sarah Gillett, who died in agenda prior to the start of the dation was established in would practice every night,” said of Fame. 1904, had made Westfield her 2018 Annual Corporators 1970,” said Roeder, noting it is Babinski, adding he and his sister “Bill never missed a Monday night home for many years with her Meeting on Thursday at the important for the community to Mary Ann Babinski were always try- game in Westfield,” said Lee Small, husband, D.L. Gillett, and son, Westfield Senior Center. learn more about the organiza- ing to beat their father but were current league president. “He always Ralph D. Gillett. Both men were tion’s commitment to support- unsuccessful. sat at the same bench, took down prominent dry goods merchants ing services that help seniors. William “Bill” Babinski, Sr. was a scores, and showed his dedication get legitimate requests and our founding member of the Westfield and love of the game.” in the city. allowable funds are out of synch “It breaks my heart when we See Grants, Page 8 Horseshoe Club and was an avid with requests,” said Roeder, not- promoter of the sport throughout the See Horseshoe Leage, Page 8 DisinvitedWOW! It’s... high school speaker appearing at Southwick VFW By GREG FITZpaTRICK • William Alamed Jr. (killed while tics aside and continues to stand by Correspondent fighting the Vietnam War) what’s right,” said Reyes. “The VFW is SOUTHWICK – On Saturday, • Steven Wentworth (killed in the an incredible organization and these SouthwickA VFW Showcase Post 872 ofwill Great host a PerformersBeirut bombings in 1983) guys demonstrate what true patriotism is Memorial fromFoyer NewDedication York ceremony and New •England Travis Fuller (killed in the Iraq all about.” open to the public, starting at 6 p.m. War in 2005) On April 25, the Southwick-Tolland- The ceremony is focused on remem- During the event at VFW Post 872, the Granville Regional School District bering and honoring threeSaturday, veterans from May 19,community 2018 atwill 8pm also have the opportu- informed VFW Post 872 that Reyes town who will be memorializedCANOE: in the THE nity toMUSICAL view the three plaques. The VFW would be uninvited as a guest speaker at foyer of the Southwick RegionalStarring MarySchool Brown isBonacci asking and the Bob public Plasse to have silence when the dedication ceremony on May 21 at on May 21 with plaques mountedWith Michael on the Rheault being and inJames the Homanviewing area of the plaques. the regional school. wall as part of the memorial. Audiences love this irresistible look at a Jennifer Willard, Southwick-Tolland- The plaques will include modernan image marriage, of using theThe songs event of Hollywood, will also feature Kyle Reyes Granville Regional School District Broadway and the American Songbook. the veterans, their years of life, the year as the keynote speaker. The CEO of Superintendent, did not respond toWOW! our It’s... they graduated high school, and any ser- Silent Partner Marketing and a National requests for comment prior to deadline. vice information.Saturday, JuneThere 23, will 2018 be three at 8pm Spokesman for Law Enforcement Today, According to Troy Henke, who is the veterans that will be a part of the Veterans Reyes was invited by VFW Post 872 to Chairman of the VFW, Superintendent Kyle Reyes, a Southwick native who is the President and Memorial at this time and they are as fol- be the speaker. JUKEBOX U. CEO of Silent Partner Marketing, was uninvited to a speak- lows: Starring Samirah Evans and The Jazz Professors“It’s an honor that the VFW put poli- See Disnvited Speaker, Page 3 ing engagement. (Photo courtesy Silent Partner Marketing) A century of great music, re-imagined by an internationally known jazz and blues artist and a quintet of musicians with pedigree! Super fun! A Showcase of Great Performers WOW! It’s... BANQUET HALL OF THE SHORTSTOPfrom •New 99 Springfield York and New Rd, England Westfield BANQUET HALL OF THE SHORTSTOP 99 Springfield Road, Westfield RESERVATIONS: 413-579-5967 or online at Saturday, May 19, 2018 at 8pm FOR RESERVATIONS 413-579-5967 or online at westfieldonweekends.com westfieldonweekends.com CANOE: THE MUSICAL TheatreA Showcaseseating $30 per of individual Great Performersshow or both for $55 Theatre Seating $3000 Starring Mary Brown Bonacci and Bob Plasse Cocktail fromhour with savoryNew and York sweet hors and d’oeuvres New from England7pm.