Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.comTheThe Westfield WestfieldNews News 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 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents $1.00 WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2020 VOL. 89 NO. 157 Mayor Big E cancellation Humason is ‘heart breaking’ reflects for local businesses on passage By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Editor SOUTHWICK – Moolicious of his first Ice Cream owner Joseph Deedy said he was “disappointed” with the announcement that The Big E budget was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. However, By AMY PORTER he wasn’t surprised. Staff Writer WESTFIELD CITY HALL “We knew it was coming, but WESTFIELD – “Overall, I’m it was hard to hear,” Deedy said. pleased. As difficult as it was a Big E Public Relations and budget year, because of the coro- Communications Manager navirus and the Commonwealth, Catherine Pappas sent the official I’m pleased with the process and City Council passes announcement Monday after- happy that my first budget passed noon. 10 to 3,” said Mayor Donald F. “On behalf of the staff and Humason Jr. after the City final FY21 budget trustees of Eastern States Moolicious Ice Cream brings Council vote to pass the Fiscal Exposition, I bring you a very its popular Moo-Nut to The Big Year 2021 budget June 29. By AMY PORTER proponent of setting aside funds for difficult message to convey. For E each year. (THE WESTFIELD “I hope we can build upon that Staff Writer the OPEB obligation, said the the safety of our fairgoers, staff, NEWS FILE PHOTO) in the future, and as we get better WESTFIELD – The City Council amount was “so ridiculously low, I vendors, entertainers, exhibitors, numbers, make better budgets voted on the Orders of Appropriation don’t see why we’re even bother- sponsors, suppliers and the Harvest Fair will also be can- for our city,” Humason added. at a Special Meeting June 29 before ing,” to which Ward 1 Councilor broader community, we have celed. Humason said that going back passing the final Fiscal Year 2021 Morganelli concurred, calling it made the decision to cancel the “It’s going to be awful,” he one month, when the School budget on a vote of 10 to 3, with “insufficient.” The vote was the 2020 Big E,” she wrote. “Please said. “It’s a big loss for us and for Committee budget was being Councilors Dan Allie, Dave Flaherty closest of the night, ultimately pass- know that this decision was not the employees we hire,” finalized, there was no informa- and Nicholas J. Morganelli Jr. vot- ing at 7 to 6, with Councilors Brent made lightly. In fact, it was one Mountain said. “It’s heartbreak- tion from the Commonwealth ing “no.” B. Bean II, Michael Burns, Ralph J. of the hardest decisions we, as an ing.” about what local aid might be “Overall I’m pleased. As difficult Figy, Flaherty, Morganelli and organization, have had to make Mountain had begun planning this year. He said there still isn’t, as it was a budget year, because of Richard K. Sullivan Jr. voting no. in modern times.” and purchasing supplies for the adding that in a normal year, cit- the coronavirus and Commonwealth, When it came time to pass the For small businesses like fair. ies and towns would have been I’m pleased with the process and FY21 Budget as a whole, several Moolicious, the 17-day Big E “It takes months to get ready,” given cherry sheets listing the happy that my first budget passed 10 councilors took the time to comment fair was a crucial part of its he said. “It’s a snowball effect.” amount of local aid from the to 3,” said Mayor Donald F. on the process and state their rea- yearly budget. Mountain said COVID-19 has Humason Jr. after the meeting. sons for voting for or against the “In those 17 days, if you do it hit small businesses hard. He See Budget, Page 3 The orders of appropriation budget. right and you have a niche, you said he hopes his regular Big E included approvals of the Enterprise “I’m going to be a no as you can make more than in your customers will be willing to trav- Funds in the city, which are the know,” Flaherty said, adding that he storefront,” Deedy said. el to Granville to purchase his accounts with money paid for by did want to give credit to the Mayor For Deedy, he is already trying famous Granville Country Store other sources or raised by fees due to the difficult process. “There to move forward to attempt to Cheese. charged in exchange for service. are significant obligations not just recover from the loss. The Granville Country Store, These accounts include the Water from the past mayor, but from many “We have our scoop truck that at 11 Granby Road in Granville, Department, Sewer, Stormwater, the mayors going back,” Flaherty said. will be around town and we have is open daily from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. Ambulance Fund, the Community He noted that the budget contains a our Big E favorites – the Moo Pappas noted that The Big E Preservation Account, and PEG 2.5 percent tax increase while a lot Nut and fritters – in our restau- Fair is so much more than just a (Public, Education and Government) of people and businesses are hurt- rant,” he said. fair, it is tradition, it is celebra- community access. ing. Deedy said the revenue loss tion, it is the showcase of every- Also passed were the appropria- Flaherty said the budget does not will trickle down. Not only will thing we are so proud of in New tions for Workers Compensation and contain adequate funding for road businesses such as Moolicious England. “This is why our hearts Unemployment for FY21. repair or the schools. “We have yet miss out, but the businesses are heavy as we bring you this A $20,000 appropriation to the again kicked the can down the road, Moolicious contracts with, such news.” OPEB (Other Post Employees and we are passing on our obliga- as Mansfield Paper for the nap- There is precedent in the Benefit) account generated a discus- tions to our kids down the road,” he kins Deedy used at the fair and Exposition’s 104-year history sion. Millie’s Pierogi where Deedy MAYOR DONALD when the Fair was put on hold F. HUMASON, JR. At-large Councilor Flaherty, a See City Council, Page 3 purchased his pierogi. “It definitely trickles down – during WWI and for five years there’s a ton of money that flows during WWII. We’ve made it through The Big E,” he said. through difficult times before… Deedy said he “cried for five the Flood of 1936…the Hurricane Demonstrators return to WSU for second week minutes, then moved on” and is of 1938 and, 9-11, and together already planning how to make up we’ll get through these unprece- some of the revenue. The Three- dented times as well. to protest inaction against campus sexual assault County Fair is the last hold-out “We know our faithful fairgo- for regional fairs, but Deedy said ers will be disappointed.,” Pappas By PETER CURRIER he expects that will be canceled. stated. “This decision was diffi- StafF Writer Deedy said making up for the cult and complex, but we all WESTFIELD — More than a losses would be tough, but “we know in our hearts that it’s the dozen demonstrators returned to the will look for other opportuni- right thing to do for the health Westfield State University campus ties.” and safety of the 1.6 million Monday afternoon for the second Moolicious, at 258 Feeding people who support us each week to protest what they have per- Hills Road in Southwick, is open year.” ceived as inaction by the school daily 12-9 p.m.. The Big E is slated for Sept. administration in dealing with a For John Mountain, owner of 17-Oct. 3, 2021. All purchases student who sent what they call The Granville Country Store, for the Zach Williams concert, Student protesters await the arrival of more students and members of the disturbing messages to a woman opportunities to recuperate the scheduled for Sept. 20, will be WSU administration before beginning the protest. By the and, about two over a dating app. loss of The Big E could be fewer refunded in full. The Big E Box dozen protesters were present. No members of the administration ever and farther between, especially Office will be contacting ticket arrived. (PETER CURRIER PHOTO) See Protest, Page 3 because he expects the Granville purchasers directly. Baystate grant targets opioid crisis, addiction By LORI SZEPELAK create grief support groups for families Sister Madeleine Joy, SP, and Cindy Correspondent and friends “who lost loved ones to sub- Hadge, BS, CPS, IPS, are co-facilitators WESTFIELD-A $20,000 grant has set stance use disorder.” for the support groups which will meet in motion a collaboration between CORE “The grant will also provide funding Tuesdays for friends and family mem- of Greater Westfield and the Genesis for the City of Westfield’s Drug bers who have lost a loved one within Spiritual Life & Conference Center to Addiction and Recovery Team (DART) the last six months to addiction, and on offer a series of Grief and Loss Support program,” said Cotugno. “DART pro- Thursdays for friends and family mem- Groups for people who have been vides access to harm reduction tools, bers who have lost a loved one more impacted by the opioid crisis and addic- such as Narcan and safety plans for use, than six months ago to addiction.