TONIGHT Scattered T-storms. Low of 70. Search for The Westfield News The WestfieldNews Search for “I TheT IWestfieldS NOT NewsLOVE Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews THAT IS BLIND, Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIMEBUT IS JEALOUSYTHE ONLY .” WEATHER — LaCRITICWRE NCWITHOUTE DURRE LL TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. SearchJOHN for STEINBECK The Westfield News LowWestfield350.comWestfield350.org of 55. Thewww.thewestfieldnews.com WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY VOL.WEATHER 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 CRITIC75 cents WITHOUT VOL.TONIGHT 87 NO. 190 FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2018 75AMBITION Cents .” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY,Business JUNE 27, 2017continues as City Council 75 cents returns from summer break By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – After a six week break, City Council mem- bers came back together Thursday, ready to ask questions and move some items forward and others to committee. The Council voted unanimously for a STEP (Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program) grant from the Executive Office of Public Westfield firefighters Keith Lemon and Mike Albert use a chain Safety and Security to the saw to cut a hole in the roof of a Pequot Point Road house in ordr Westfield Police Department in to bring a hose to bear on a smoldering fire in the attic. (Photo by the amount of $6,764, to be added Carl E. Hartdegen) to a previous grant award of $9,534. A second request from the Mayor for immediate consider- Lake house burns ation of an appropriation of $1,219 from the Personnel, Full-time John Oleksak spoke at a public hearing at City Council for a zoning By CARL E. HARTDEGEN Hourly to Payroll, Full-time change on his property on Airport Industrial Road. (Photo by Amy Porter) Correspondent Hourly was paused when At-large WESTFIELD – Four residents of a house at 78 Pequot Point Road Councilor Brent B. Bean, III chal- get back to what we’ve been argu- with partial state matches to Barnes – and their dog – escaped injury Thursday afternoon when a fire lenged Council members on pass- ing about,” Bean said. A motion Airport; one for $35,193 for an drove them from their home on the shore of Pequot Pond. ing items through on immediate was made to move the appropria- update to the noise exposure map, A city firefighter who responded to the blaze was transported to consideration. tion to the Finance committee, and one for $162,720 for the design Baystate Noble Hospital with non life-threatening injuries. “I thought we were trying to get which passed without dissent. phase for airport drainage improve- Firefighters were alerted to the fire at 4 p.m. and Dep. Chief Eric away from immediate consider- The next items, also for immedi- ment. Bishop reports firefighters found the house fully involved when they ation. I can appreciate the grants. ate consideration were the accep- Ward 6 Councilor William arrived at the fire scene. I’m not in favor of moving this tance of two grants from the Bishop said that the fire involved both floors of the house and was money around. I’m just trying to Federal Aviation Administration, See City Council, Page 3 venting out from the rear of the structure when firefighters first arrived. City engines two, three, four and the tower truck responded to the alarm. Firefighters from West Springfield responded to a call for mutual aid and assisted city firefighters at the fire while firefighters from Holyoke went to the Westfield headquarters to provide coverage Sidewalk Cafe and Drop-Box for the city while the city’s first line firefighters were engaged at See Lake House Burns, Page 5 Ordinances get support; CFO job description gets new life By AMY PORTER have sidewalk permits,” Figy said, Correspondent adding that the Health Department 250th committee WESTFIELD – The first read- was excited to have it under its ing for the ordinance to regulate purview. sidewalk cafes was voted by the At-large Councilor Matthew City Council at Thursday’s meet- Emmershy commented on the per- receives state funding ing, after a brief discussion. mit dates of April 1 through Oct. By GREG FITZPATRICK Ward 3 Councilor Andrew K. 31. “If we have an unseasonably Correspondent Surprise expressed displeasure, warm March, it happens, I don’t SOUTHWICK – The 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee will be and said since an amendment he WESTFIELD CITY HALL think we should be restricting holding their monthly meeting on Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Southwick had suggested for a pilot program two completely different things; them,” he said. Emmershy also Town Hall. to allow streetside dining, or the second requiring blocking asked for clarification about the At the last meeting in July, the committee discussed different monthly “StrEatery,” was not in the ordi- parking places which would also fee, which Figy said had originally events that could be a part of the celebration. Some of the ideas include nance; he had considered not sup- require a street use permit. He said been suggested at $100, but was traditional events in Southwick like the town fireworks or the steak roast porting it. the sidewalk cafe ordinance will removed when it became a part of hosted by the Rotary Club. Other events are new ideas like a pumpkin carv- Ward 2 Council Ralph J. Figy, be under the Board of Health as its the annual licensing by the Health ing contest or a 250th beer that will be created by Westfield River Brewery. who chairs the Legislative & granting agency, and restaurants Department. Select Board Vice-Chairman Russ Fox, who’s organizing the committee, Ordinance committee, noted that could apply for the permit as part “There’s no reason we can’t acknowledged that it’s important to have the balance of both types of events. they had held four meetings on the of its annual licensing with no have a fee for it. I think it’s worth ordinance. Figy said a sidewalk additional fee. “There are other See 250th State Funding, Page 3 café and street side dining were sidewalk cafes operating that don’t See Ordinances, CFO, Page 3 Vehicle crashes into business By GREG FITZPATRICK House, 784 College Correspondent Highway, after a vehicle SOUTHWICK – At approximately crashed into part of the 8:30 a.m. Thursday both Southwick building. police and fire responded to D & J Hash According to Southwick Chief of Police Kevin Bishop, a 93-year-old male was operating a vehicle in the parking lot of the local breakfast spot and lost his footing and drove the car into a railing that holds up the awning for the door to enter the establishment. Following that, the elderly male then put his vehicle in reverse and struck a parked car. Although Bishop believes that the reason for the acci- dent could be medically related, the operator nor any- one else was injured in the incident. Despite the parts of the Jazz, Big Band Sound at MusicFest exterior of the building being pushed in and having some Above, Wanda Houston enjoys having the kids’ front and center at Westfield On Weekend’s MusicFest. Edward interior damage, there was Orgill and the Western Mass All Star Jazz Big Band with Wanda Houston brought the big band sound and jazz A vehicle crashed into the entrance of no extensive damage from to the Park Square Green in Westfield. See additional photos Page 8. (Photo by Lynn F. Boscher) D & J Hash House on Thursday the accident. morning. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick) PAGE 2 - FRIDAY, AUGUST 17, 2018 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS WESTFIELD SENIOR CENTER Dozynki—Polish Harvest Festival ‘My Life, My Health’ Workshop Series at the WESTFIELD — St. Joseph’s Polish National Catholic Church in Westfield, MA will hold its annual Dozynki—Polish Harvest Festival on Sunday, WESTFIELD —Beginning in September, the Westfield Senior Center, 45 Noble Street, will be the host September 9, 2018. The festival will be held from 12:00 to 4:00 pm at the par- site for a six-week workshop series on chronic disease self-management entitled, My Life, My Health. This ish social center and parish grounds, Main Street and Clinton Avenue, unique program is designed for older adults who struggle daily with chronic conditions such as heart disease, Westfield, MA. The Harvest Wreath, which will be blessed during the 8:00 am arthritis, diabetes, asthma, cancer, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s disease, and others. People with chronic health Mass that morning, will be carried in procession to the festival at 2:00 pm. A conditions face challenges every day. They must manage their medical condition and also maintain their abil- Dozynki program, highlighted by members of the St. Joseph’s Dozynki ity to complete the simple everyday tasks that most people take for granted. Simultaneously, they often have Dancers will perform traditional Polish folk dances. Polish music will be to deal with the frustration, anger, and depression that may accompany any chronic health problem. Workshop played during the duration of the festival. participants will learn how to manage all aspects of their chronic conditions including how to eat well, control Our 2018 program will also include games for children and youth as well as pain, begin and maintain an exercise program, manage stress, and increase energy levels. The workshops will the adults. New food additions and other surprises will be added to this year’s be held on Thursdays September 6, 13, 20, 27 and October 4 and 11 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. There is no charge format.