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NO. 151 5 SATURDAY,TUESDAY, JANUARYJUNE 27, 6, 2017 2018 7575 cents Cents Volunteers City Council needed to preview, Jan. 8 By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—The first full City Council meet- help with ing of the new year, which includes a new president and committee assignments, is now scheduled for Monday evening. tax returns The City Council will meet Monday, Jan. 8, at 7 p.m., with communications from Mayor Brian Sullivan beginning at 6:30 p.m. in City Council chambers at City Hall. The meeting was rescheduled in hilltowns to Monday after Winter Storm Grayson froze much By AMY PORTER of the Northeast on Thursday forcing City Hall to Correspondent close and subsequently a rescheduling of the City HILLTOWNS – Volunteers are needed to help Council. prepare tax returns for low-to-moderate income Among the items on the agenda are several from individuals in the hilltowns. The Volunteer Income An image of Park Square in Westfield taken mid-day on Thursday Jan. At-Large Councilor Dave Flaherty, as well as several Tax Assistance (VITA) program will be offering tax 4, 2018 shows very few cars and plenty of snow. (Photo submitted) appointments from Sullivan. preparation assistance beginning in February First, in “Communications from the Mayor,” through mid-April to qualified households earning Sullivan is expected to request the appointment or $54,000 or less. reappointment of several individuals in various “By volunteering for just a few hours a week capacities in the city. from early February through mid-April, you could Local communities Among those are the reappointment of Historical help to provide thousands of dollars in benefits for Commission Chairperson Cindy Gaylord and Ward working, income-eligible individuals and families Five member of the Parks and Recreation Commission in the hilltowns,” said VITA Program Coordinator Michael Tirell. Also to the Parks and Recreation Michele Kenney. tackle Winter Commission in Ward Two, Meagan Laramee is Kenney said no experience is necessary, as volun- expected to be submitted for appointment. teers will receive training and materials appropriate for their position. Training will be held at the end of See City Council Preview, Page 8 January at a time and location to be announced. Storm Grayson There is no risk to volunteers, as they are covered By GREG FITZPATRICK under the Volunteer Protection Act and are not Correspondent accountable for tax returns filed to the IRS. Three WESTFIELD – With some parts of Western Massachusetts getting nearly volunteer positions are available: Greeters, tax pre- a foot of snow from Winter Storm Grayson, local public works departments parers, and checkers. were out in full force. Greeters help create a welcoming atmosphere at According to the city of Westfield’s Assistant Department of Public VITA sites while also helping to check in families Works (DPW) Director Francis Cain, crew members started pre-treating the and individuals accessing VITA services. While tax roads around 4 a.m. on Thursday. Westfield DPW had contractors arrive training is not required for greeters, a positive atti- around 11 a.m. and all of the workers were out in the city, plowing and treat- tude is critical to being effective in this important ing roads until 9 p.m. role. Tax preparers work with filers to prepare their While Cain pointed out that the storm included a lighter snow with not as federal and state income tax returns. Volunteers much as ice, DPW workers still had to overcome the powerful winds. receive free, in-depth training and must pass an IRS “You had to deal with the drift,” said Cain. certification test. Checkers scan each return for Westfield schools cancelled classes Thursday and initially issued a two- accuracy and completeness. Volunteers with tax hour delay on Friday before the school day was ultimately cancelled. City preparing experience are more suited for this posi- operations were also shut down by Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan on Newly elected City Council President John J. tion. Thursday, with City Hall closing at 12:30 p.m. and the scheduled City Beltrandi, III. (Photo by Amy Porter) The two locations being offered to families for Council meeting that night being moved to Monday, Jan. 8. tax preparation in the southern hilltowns include the Also, the Westfield DPW reported through the city’s website that they Huntington Food Pantry on 63 Old Chester Road on will be continuing to collect trash from the Wednesday-Thursday pick-up Thursdays, and the Village Enterprise Center, 26 schedule through Saturday. Granville offering Main Street Chester on Friday mornings, so volun- Doug Roberts, the DPW Director in Granville, echoed Cain’s description teers must have time available during the day. of the storm. While Roberts mentioned that every storm has its own unique Kenney said college students and seniors are obstacles, he felt that his crew had a successful experience on Thursday. warming shelter encouraged to participate as volunteers. “Our operations went pretty smooth,” said Roberts. “Roads were kept Volunteers as well as families who are interested passable and made safe soon after the storm ended.” in information about getting their taxes done may Being a small community of around 1,500 people, Roberts doesn’t con- to the community call and leave a message for Program Coordinator tract out, instead he uses five or six full-time and part-time employees in the By GREG FITZPATRICK Michele Kenney at the Hilltown CDC, at 413-296- DPW to assist him in the storms. Correspondent 4536 x 100, or by email at MicheleK@hilltownCDC. GRANVILLE – The National Weather Service org. See Storm Grayson, Page 8 is predicting very cold temperatures along with The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program is high winds until late Saturday night. This forecast made possible through a partnership of the HIltown has prompted Granville Emergency Services to Community Development Corporation and the open a warming shelter at the Granville Town Berkshire County United Way. Hall. According to the Granville Fire Department, Third arrest made in the shelter opened on Friday at 9 a.m. and will run as long as necessary. The shelter will run 24 hours a day with Granville EMS members on hand. Dec. 16 assault case Directly from the Granville Fire social media page, it states, “If you are in need of the shelter By DAN DESROCHERS both of Westfield, in relation to the but are unable to get there, please contact our Correspondent Dec. 16 assault, with Noel also fac- dispatch center (413-586-1508) and ask them to WESTFIELD–According to ing additional charges related to an have someone assist.” Westfield Police, they have made a alleged Dec. 21 assault, as well. third arrest in connection to a Dec. Noel and Sein, III, were both 16 assault that sent one person to the arraigned on Dec. 26 at Westfield hospital. District Court on charges of unarmed According to Westfield Police robbery, assault and battery serious Westfield Police seek The Village Enterprise Center at 25 Main Street in Capt. Michael McCabe, Westfield bodily injury and assault and battery Chester, one of the locations for VITA tax preparation. Police arrested Andrew R. McGuire, with dangerous weapon in relation 22, of Springfield, in connection to the Dec. 16 incident. In addition, applicants for Citizen with the alleged assault that took Noel was also arraigned on a charge place Dec. 16. McGuire was charged of assault and battery serious bodily Police Academy Trash Pickup Update: with assault and battery with serious injury for the Dec. 21 incident. bodily injury, while also being Regarding the Dec. 16 incident, By DAN DESROCHERS January 5, 2018 arrested on three additional arrest police previously reported that the Correspondent WESTFIELD — The Department of Public Works warrants. alleged victim of the assault report- WESTFIELD—Police are looking for residents would like to notify residents on the Wednesday/ According to McCabe, police ed the incident to police at their to join them for their Citizen Police Academy start- Thursday trash pick-up schedule that they will be were reportedly informed of Washington Street station around ing on Jan. 30. working through Saturday to catch up on trash McGuire’s location at an address in 7:30 p.m., Dec. 16. According to The Westfield Police Department is accepting pick-up. The weather has caused some delay, and Westfield, which prompted police to police, the victim was reportedly applications from those interested for the next they are working on it as best they can. Please leave locate and arrest him. assaulted at East Bartlett Street and Citizen Police Academy, which begins on Jan. 30 your barrels out and they will get to them. Thank Previously, police arrested Carlos you for your patience and understanding. Noel, 18, and John A. Sein, III, 21, See Third Arrest, Page 8 See Applicants, Page 8 PAGE 2 - SATURDAY,