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 TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2020 VOL. 89 NO. 096 City Council votes to pay down water bond with Air Force funds By AMY PORTER the bond sale to the end of ing and final passage of a Staff Writer May rather than June, due to zoning amendment giving the WESTFIELD – On April the market. Building Inspector broader 16, the City Council voted to “I thought it would be bet- authority to include site grad- apply the $1,350,917 settle- ter to move it forward then ing information as part of the ment funds received in wait to see whether it would building permit process. December 2019 from the be approved or not,” Barnes “This came through as a United States Air Force for said about the request to the recommendation from costs incurred related to the council. Planning Board, is widely treatment of contaminated Barnes said the outstanding supported in the building water sources towards a por- bond needs to be renewed by trades, and went through a (THE WESTFIELD NEWS FILE PHOTO) tion of the $13 million water June, and he would put these public hearing with no oppo- bond passed in 2018. proceeds against the note to sition,” said At-large everybody for their help,” he Greenway Rail Trail is a park, Finance subcommittee reduce the amount. Councilor Dave Flaherty, said. contradicting an opinion from chair Ralph J. Figy said the At-large Councilor Kristen chair of the Zoning Planning A second reading and final the city’s Law Department. KRISTEN L. MELLO passage was also taken for a In other business, renewals vote was requested by Mello thanked Mayor Donald At-large Councilor and Development subcom- Treasurer Matthew Barnes, F. Humason Jr., the Law mittee before the unanimous zoning amendment submitted for junk licenses were also who has moved up the time- Department, former Mayor vote was taken by the Planning Board to passed for a number of busi- table for the next bond sale. Brian P. Sullivan, Senators go. “Thanks to everyone who Ward 5 Councilor John J. strengthen marijuana regula- nesses. Beltrandi, who chairs Barnes said the proceeds, Richard Neal, Ed Markey and had a hand in it,” Mello said. Beltrandi III thanked every- tions by required a special the License committee, said which were received on Dec. Elizabeth Warren, New York The vote to apply the fund- one for their work on the permit if an establishment is they were annual renewals 2, had been put in a separate Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and ing to the water bond was amendment. “The Planning located within 500 feet of a that he wanted to see passed, bank account to track the former Councilor Andrew K. unanimous. Board and Building park. in order not to hold up any- funds. He said he has been Surprise for their work on the Other positive votes taken Department put a lot of effort Flaherty said the item was one. “We checked everything, working with a bond advisor reimbursement and directing at the April 16 council meet- into this. It’s a long time com- amended in ZPD to include and everything is in line,” he who advised him to move up the money where it needs to ing included the second read- ing, and a good thing. Thank the phrase that the Columbia said. Couple receives surprise parade on Rouse requests what would have been their wedding day COVID-19 By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Editor WESTFIELD – Matthew McKearney tracing assistant and Maddie Scozzari should have been married April 18. Because of the By HOPE E. TREMBLAY COVID-19 pandemic, the couple post- Editor poned the wedding and decided to spend WESTFIELD – The Massachusetts Department of their would-be wedding day relaxing at Health is coordinating efforts to assist communities home. with COVID-19 contact tracing, a daunting task for But the couple’s parents couldn’t let Westfield, which had 247 the day pass without acknowledging positive cases as of April 20. Gov. Charlie Baker announced the Community Tracing Collaborative earlier this month and said 1,000 individuals would be deployed through the pro- gram, including college stu- dents. This initiative is a collabo- ration between the adminis- tration and Partners In Health, Well wishers parade past the Day Avenue home of Matthew McKearney and and is the first of its kind in Maddie Scozarri April 18, 2020, which was supposed to be their wedding day. the nation, according to (MARC ST. ONGE/THE WESTFIELD NEWS) Baker’s office. The initia- tive focuses on tracing the JOSEPH ROUSE what was supposed to be the most parents still reside there, while Scozzari’s contacts of confirmed posi- memorable day of their lives, so they two sets of parents live on the Cape. The tive COVID-19 patients, and supporting individuals in planned a surprise “wedding parade.” parents planned the event together and quarantine, and builds on the efforts already underway At 3 p.m. Saturday, the couple was made the trip to Westfield. from the Command Center to leverage public health surprised when they heard car horns “They told us to be home for a deliv- college students to augment the contact tracing being honking and people yelling outside their ery,” McKearney said. “We got flowers done by local boards of health. Day Avenue home. delivered, so we just thought that was Last week, Westfield Health Director Joseph A. “Maddie was working on her com- it.” Rouse said the DPH has “really stepped up” its assis- puter and I was taking a nap,” McKearney Instead, the couple was feted with the tance to the city and he hoped Westfield would have at said. “She woke me up and we looked parade as well as dinner from The least one person helping trace city residents tested for outside and saw everyone.” Tavern and champagne to mark the day. coronavirus. While “parades” and drive-by cele- “We were both disappointed we had to Rouse noted that a community tracer would not be brations have become the norm for reschedule,” McKearney said. “When paid through the city’s budget. Matt McKearney and Maddie Scozzari birthday parties during orders to stay at we saw everyone, Maddie was very “This will all be funded by the state,” he said. during the surprise parade of friends home, this one was a little different in emotional.” Rouse said the college students being deployed are and family Saturday, their intended that not only was it for a wedding, but The couple moved their wedding at fully engaged in their public health studies and would wedding day which had to be post- also because most of the people in the the Mount Washington Resort in New be assigned through the state. poned. (MARC ST. ONGE/THE parade drove several hours to honor the Hampshire from April 18 to July 31 with WESTFIELD NEWS) engaged couple. See COVID-19 Tracing, Page 6 McKearney is from Attleboro and his See Parade, Page 3 J. Dog Hauling touts other small businesses By AMY PORTER “When I first started my to get things done while were more they could do for Staff Writer business, I had a lot of ques- they’re at home. “The good each other,” Rivest said. He WESTFIELD – Wade tions, and I got a lot of help. weather helps,” Rivest said. said he wants people to know Rivest, owner of J. Dog I’m just paying them back,” As for the cross-promotion, that it’s getting difficult for Hauling in Westfield, said he Rivest said, adding that he Rivest said he has always small business owners. has always sought to promote wants to keep people interest- done it since he opened his “When the economy takes a other local businesses, after all ed in helping small businesses. business, but he stepped up the hit on business owners, it’s the help and support he Rivest said his business is frequency about two months pretty scary,” Rivest said. received when he opened his open, and he is starting to get ago, and he is trying to feature J. Dog Hauling specializes veteran-owned franchise in busy, although he said he is other businesses on his per- in decluttering residential and 2018. operating with one crew sonal page five or six times a commercial properties by Since the coronavirus shut instead of two. “We’re one of week. He said he features doing non-hazardous remov- down non-essential business- the lucky ones,” he said. businesses that are still open, als and small demolitions. es, Rivest has been stepping He said people are getting and ones that are still closed; They are open for business, up the cross-promotion, fea- stir-crazy, and giving them- businesses involved in the and may be contacted at 413- turing local businesses on a selves projects that require community, and people who 378-0718, or on Facebook at regular basis on his personal hauling away things they’re helped him when he started. JDog Junk Removal & Wade Rivest of J. Dog Hauling in Westfield. (WADE RIVEST Facebook page. tired of looking at, and trying “I think people wish there Hauling Westfield. PHOTO) PAGE 2 - TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2020 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS UPDATE: Hooplandia will move hoops tourney, festival to 2021 SPRINGFIELD – Organizers of in Western Massachusetts and Basketball Hall of Fame, “From the be announced; Hooplandia, the planned 3-on-3 bas- Connecticut will remain as the lead beginning, the intent has been to – and Hooplandia Showcase ketball tournament and festival philanthropic recipient of the event, build a legacy event that will last Games on The Court of Dreams at scheduled for this June at The Big E which was slated to host 2,500 teams and grow for decades, celebrating Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame.