TONIGHT Partly Cloudy. Low of 57. Search for The Westfield News The WestfieldNews Search for The Westfield News “AS FAR AS WE CAN Westfield350.com The Westfield News DISCERN, THE SOLE Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TPURPOSEIME IS THE ONLYOF HUM AN WEATHER EXISTENCECRITIC WITHOUT IS TO KINDLE TONIGHT A LIGHT IN AMBITIONTHE DARKNESS.” Partly Cloudy. OFJOHN MERE STEINBECK BEING.” Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.comWestfield350.orgLow of 55. Thewww.thewestfieldnews.com WestfieldNews — Carl Jung Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHERVOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75CRITIC centsWITHOUT VOL. 88 NO. 131 THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2019 75 Cents TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 151 All-abilitiesTUESDAY, playground JUNE 27, 2017 moving forward, 75 cents but some residents want more baseball By HOPE E. TREMBLAY baseball. of mobility to traverse with their children Correspondent The all-abilities playground was spear- and grandchildren. She said it would allow WESTFIELD – Community Development headed by Mandi Riel Rodriguez. She has for all-inclusive play and teach teamwork. Director Peter J. Miller outlined the proposal two children with special needs and wanted She said it’s a step in the right direction. for an all-abilities playground on Cross them — and all children — to be able to play “We can’t change the world , but my hus- Street last night. safely with their peers. Her 5-year-old band told me we can start in our little cor- A few dozen residents attended the meet- daughter has cerebral palsy and has a tough ner,” said Rodriguez. Mandi Riel Rodriguez speaks on some of the ing to gather information and take the oppor- time navigating typical playscapes. Miller said the city is applying for a needs the new playground should include for tunity to weigh-in on plans. “The slides are high off the ground, stairs $400,000 grant to help pay for the project. consideration as Community Development Miller received mixed reactions, with and ladders, too,” Rodriguez said. The entire cost is estimated at close to Director Peter Miller and Mayor Brian Sullivan most residents in attendance in favor of the She noted that the proposed playground listen. (Don Wielgus Photo) plans and others hoping to bring back more would also be easier for adults with any sort See Playground, Page 8 Action items City Council passed at City Council appoints new meeting By AMY PORTER personnel Correspondent WESTFIELD – The City Council met on Wednesday, a director meeting that was rescheduled due By PETER CURRIER to the Westfield Technical Correspondent Academy graduation on Thursday. WESTFIELD — The At-large Councilor John J. Personnel Action Committee Beltrandi, III served as president (PAC) and City Council approved pro-temp in Ralph J. Figy’s the appointment of Dennis Miles absence. as the new city personnel director During public participation, Wednesday. Ward 1 resident Jean Carpenter Miles first appeared before the asked for air monitoring for two PAC where his extensive resume weeks at four locations on the was read by City Councilors north side, including Southampton Starfires vs. Blues Cindy C.Harris, William Onyski, Newly appointed Road Elementary School, Route and Brent B. Bean II. Personnel Director 202 at the Turnpike, Southampton Pitcher Mitch McQuate contemplates what to throw next. See story and photos in Dennis Miles. (Photo today’s Sports Section. (Photo by Shelia Connally) Road on the bridge over the See New Director, Page 8 by Amy Porter) Turnpike and Cabot Road near the proposed site of the Turnpike Industrial Park, due to the high volume of traffic and poor air qual- ity in the area. Your spare change Immediate consideration was Diamond celebration set for Chamber given for acceptance of By LORI SZEPELAK Phelon, who first joined the organization Massachusetts Department of Correspondent around 1990 with her former business, can help make a Transportation (MassDOT) WESTFIELD-Later this month the Parker, Phelon & Associates. Aeronautics Division grants to Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce Phelon was named executive director of Westfield Barnes Airport of will take a stroll down memory lane – as the Chamber on Jan. 1, 2011. bang this summer $901,280 for the repair of frost well as look ahead – in celebration of its 60 “From pictures and newspaper clippings, By HOPE E. TREMBLAY heaves on Runway 2-20, and years in the city. it is evident that the membership consisted Correspondent The Chamber’s 60th Diamond mostly of men, which was indicative of this SOUTHWICK – Once again, the town is keeping See City Council, Page 8 Celebration is slated June 13, beginning at time period of 1959 with men holding tradition alive with the annual fireworks display, 5:30 p.m., at The Ranch Golf Club in executive or upper management positions,” one donation at a time. Southwick. Tickets are $60 per person and said Phelon. When the fireworks were nearly canceled several the event is open to the public. Phelon added that another “distinct evo- years ago due to lack of funding, residents stepped “We are going to have quite a display of lution” of the Chamber was the demise of up to continue the tradition that started with the historical memorabilia and the event will be the Spark Plugs. 1948 Southwick Fireman’s Carnival. Since then the quite nostalgic, as we walk down memory “The original purpose of this distin- nonprofit Southwick Civic Fund has spearheaded lane, and look at the future of the Chamber,” guished group of business owners had one collecting donations and this year needs to raise said Kate Phelon, executive director. of the most important roles in the Chamber,” The evening’s menu includes a variety of said Phelon, adding, “it was to enlist the See Southwick Fireworks, Page 8 hors d’oeuvres, cold shooters, a beef ten- financial support and active participation derloin carving station, kabobs, mashed from business leadership.” At-Large City Councilor John J. potato bar, champagne toast and specialty What hasn’t changed over the years, Beltrandi, III served as president cupcakes for dessert. according to Phelon, is the message from pro-temp at Wednesday’s Council “Looking at historical records, the Municipal Light Board meeting. Chamber has evolved in many ways,” said See Chamber 60th, Page 8 votes on Comcast payment By PETER CURRIER Correspondent City Clerk Karen WESTFIELD- Westfield Gas and Electric’s City Clerk reappointed M. Fanion takes Municipal Light Board (MLB) voted to compensate the minutes at the city for a loss in money received from Comcast’s the City Council in lieu of tax payment Wednesday at the MLB unanimously meeting during operations center. the discussion of The MLB discussed the drop in the payment to for three-year term her reappoint- the city by Comcast in recent meetings and brought By AMY PORTER ment. (Photo by up the idea that the lowered rate could be due to the Correspondent Amy Porter) popularity of Whip City Fiber, the MLB’s internet WESTFIELD – City Clerk Karen M. Fanion submitted service in the city. In the fiscal years of 2017 and her request for reappointment until July, 2022 at Wednesday’s 2018, Comcast made payments of approximately City Council meeting. $600,000 to the city. In 2019, that payment dropped Personnel Action Committee Chair Cindy C. Harris asked to $472,000. See City Clerk Term, Page 8 See MLB, Page 8 WESTFIELD 2 Free St. Ready? Set? Grill! rockys.com 10.875x2 WEST NEWS 1904127_ROCKYS-MayGrillAds-V2.indd 2 4/29/19 3:33 PM PAGE 2 - THURSDAY, JUNE 6, 2019 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Holmes, Austin and Rock take top Gateway Awards HUNTINGTON – Seniors Kilee Holmes, Robert Student Council (where he is Treasurer), Concert Austin and Margaret Rock took Gateway’s three top Band, Show Choir, and the Drama Club where he has awards at the senior awards ceremony at Gateway performed numerous roles over his high school career. Regional High School June 5. Holmes was named He has performed and spoken at his town’s Memorial Valedictorian, Austin is Salutatorian, and Rock won Day services, and has taken part in several community the Golden Achievement award, Gateway’s most pres- theater productions with the Westfield Theatre Group tigious honor. as a performer and set builder. He enjoys writing and Kilee A. Holmes is the daughter of Farrah Mercedes composing and was also recognized at the Sr. Awards of Huntington and Justin Holmes of Huntington and is Ceremony with The United States Marine Corps Gateway’s first graduate to be accepted at Harvard Scholastic Excellence Award; a ‘Command of the University, where she will pursue studies in chemistry/ Stage and Emotive Portrayal of a Character’ Award; pre-med track this fall. She is the President of and awards for Leadership in Theater Arts, Premio Gateway’s National Honor Society Chapter; a Director Super Estrella Espanola, and Excellence in Show of Model United Nations, a member of the As Schools Choir, Concert Band and Jazz Band Awards. Austin Match Wits team and President of the Concert Band. will attend Assumption College in Worcester where he An avid runner and member of Gateway’s Cross will study English and Secondary Education. Country Team, Kilee completed her first marathon last Margaret M. Rock will attend Brandeis University fall. She was Gateway’s delegate to massSTAR in this fall as a Music Theater major. At Gateway, she was 2017 and a Girls State Citizen in 2018. She has volun- Chair of Model United Nations, and involved with teered as a recreational soccer coach and at the Drama Club, Concert Band, Show Choir, National Westfield Soup Kitchen.