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JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com WestfieldVOL. 86 NO. 151 Cultural CouncilTUESDAY, awards JUNE 27, 2017 more 75 cents than $25,000 to local arts programs By AMY PORTER asked to break down their requests by line Correspondent item, which is helpful to the committee in WESTFIELD – Morgan Drewniany, their process. chair of the Westfield Cultural Council, Some of the grants included $500 for said letters were sent out on Dec. 20, the program “Dancing in each Other’s awarding $25,100 in WCC grants for Shoes” at the Senior Center, and another community art and music projects in three to take place at the Westfield 2019. Athenaeum: How to Draw Manga Altogether, 41 applications with Workshop, awarded $225; Astronauts and requests totaling $54,610 were submitted Aliens Soap Making, $255; and Acrobat This is one of two murals chosen to beautify the Gaslight to the WCC this funding round. 28 proj- Li Liu, $500. District in 2018. ects were awarded full or partial grants WCC Chair Morgan Drewniany “Celebrate Westfield the 1600’s” was totaling $25,100, which included the awarded $1500 for a program in the were awarded grants include the 350th Utility Box Mural $23,600 annual award from the “We’re lucky in that we can make par- Westfield Public Schools to study Program, a continuation project awarded $1500 this year Massachusetts Cultural Council (MCC), tial awards, so the events can still eventu- Westfield history in honor of the 350th to create more anniversary-themed art on utility boxes. plus some returned unspent funds from ally happen with other sponsorships,” anniversary. last year’s projects. Drewniany said. She said applicants are Other 350 anniversary projects that See Cultural Council, Page 8 Federal Police Commission to government appoint new officers to shutdown affects address staffing concerns local food pantry By PETER CURRIER names under consideration Correspondent in the active list: Officers By GREG FITZpaTRICK WESTFIELD- The Juanita Mejias, William Correspondent Westfield Police Cavanaugh, and Seth SOUTHWICK – The partial Federal Commission will meet Florek. Both the appoint- Government shutdown that has occurred since Monday evening for its first ment of a new sergeant and December 22 has not only affected federal work- regularly scheduled meeting lieutenant would be effec- ers, but has also had a negative impact on the of the year to discuss several tive February 16th. many American people that receive food stamps. new appointments of police As Chief Camerota had Although the Trump administration has said officers. indicated in the past, the that Americans will receive food stamps through The first major item on commission will also February, there’s no guarantee that the benefits the agenda is the annual appoint seven full-time of food stamps will continue if the shutdown is appointment of special officers who have not yet still in effect in March. According to data from police officers. Attached to attended the police acade- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Our Community Food Pantry Director Sally Munson is seen at the pantry with some of the the agenda item is a list of my. There are nine people Program), the countries’ food stamp program, 26 people who will be con- under consideration for the it’s been recorded that this past September, about daily produce they have available. (WNG File Photo) sidered for the annual seven openings: Kevin $4.7 billion in benefits were given throughout appointment. All new Westfield Gabryel, Robert Reyome, each state. appointments of officers Police Chief Steven Wood, Joseph Kelley, The potential negative impact that the govern- Granville, and Tolland that are in need of food come in the wake of a staff- John Camerota Kyle Allen, Brian Turgeon, ment shutdown could have on people who regu- on a weekly basis, has recently had people that ing crisis in the police depart- Zachary Coderre, Patrick larly receive food stamps has created an uptick receive food stamps reach out to the pantry for ment. Lusteg, and Andrew Harris. in clients for the Our Community Food Pantry. food. Police Chief John Camerota, who The seven that will be chosen do not The Our Community Food Pantry, which serves has been in the department for more yet have an effective start date. They individuals and residents of Southwick, See Food Pantry, Page 8 than 40 years, said he has never seen a must receive a waiver to begin work staffing problem like this before. As of before they attend the police academy. this month, the police department The academy does not start until June expects to have 17 officers on leave for but the department cannot wait six various reasons ranging from injury to months for new officers. The Police GEA president military deployment. The department Commission will also vote to create a James Duggan has begun pulling officers from special list of people to fill five reserve officer urges Gateway units to run regular patrol shifts. More positions at the February meeting. School recently, when students returned from The new appointments come after Committee to winter break the school resource offi- the finance committee voted to grant endorse MTA cers were not present. $100,000 in overtime funds to the #FundOurFuture The next agenda item will be to police department. Due to the staff resolution. interview and appoint a full-time lieu- shortages, remaining officers have had (Photo by tenant to replace lieutenant Michael to work longer hours to maintain mini- Amy Porter) Ugolik, who is planning to retire in mum staffing standards. As a result, the February. The only name on the active overtime budget was being quickly list is that of Sgt. Steve Dickinson. depleted. The commission will also interview “We’re taking measures to hopefully and appoint an officer to the position of get through the rest of the fiscal year,” full-time Sergeant. There are three said Chief Camerota. Congamond Lake ice fishing on hold Gateway Education Association By GREG FITZpaTRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – Typically, a few weeks seeks endorsement of MTA into the winter season, activities can be seen taking place on the ice covering Congamond Lake. However, due to the frequent tempera- #FundOurFuture resolution tures above freezing, there’s been little to no ice on the lake this season. By AMY PORTER Duggan said a new foundation budget based on “We really don’t have any ice to speak of,” With open water and very little ice, Correspondent the committee’s recommendation would mean an said Lake Management Committee Chairman there hasn’t been much activity on HUNTINGTON – At Wednesday’s School additional $190,100 for Gateway. Dick Grannells. “It’s extremely, extremely Congamond Lake this winter. Committee meeting, Gateway Education Locally, the resolution has been signed by school hazardous this year.” (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick) Association president James Duggan asked the committees in Amherst-Pelham, Chicopee, According to Grannells, he’s seen the ice school committee to support a resolution urging Easthampton, Greenfield, Northampton, Palmer, start to freeze on some parts of Congamond Lake, but the above freezing nights legislators to create a new foundation budget. Springfield School Committee and Springfield and warm days has caused the ice to never make it to the shore. Duggan has taught history and social studies at the Empowerment Partnership Board, South Hadley, Grannells also pointed out that during this time in the winter season there could school since 1996, and is advisor to the National and West Springfield. sometimes be 30 inches of ice on Congamond Lake. Honor Society. “The support for the Fund Our Future campaign “We’re just not seeing the persistent cold,” said Grannells. Duggan said the Massachusetts Education has continued to grow, but needs your help,” Southwick Chief of Police Kevin Bishop, who’s also the town’s harbormaster, Reform Act of 2013 created a bi-partisan Foundation Duggan said. is also concerned about the lack of ice on Congamond Lake. Review Committee, which looked at the Ch. 70 A draft resolution “in support of full funding for “The Southwick Police Department will never say the Congamond Lake is safe funding for schools, and determined in 2015 that our public schools,” prepared by the Massachusetts for ice fishing,” said Bishop. the state was underfunding schools by more than $1 For any questions about the current status of Congamond Lake, contact billion. See #FundOurFuture, Page 8 Grannells at the Department of Public Works at 413-569-6772. PAGE 2 - FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2019 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Westfield 350th speaker series continues Nearly 400 people flocked to the First Congregational Church on Wednesday night for the latest Westfield 350th speak- er series talk on Shay’s Rebellion pre- sented by Dennis Picard. The next talk will be Wednesday January 16 at 630pm also at the First Congregational Church and will speak about the Canal Greenway from history to the modern rail trail and presented by Bob Madison. (Photo courtesy Westfield 350th Committee) ODDS & ENDS LOCAL LOTTERY LAST NIGHT’s numBERS Wisconsin town MASSACHUSETTS TONIGHT SATURDAY SUNDAY Lucky For Life 09-13-21-34-43, Lucky Ball: 9 rejoices after MassCash 03-14-20-24-33 missing teen Mega Millions Estimated jackpot: $50 million Numbers Evening 9-5-9-9 found alive Numbers Midday 0-1-2-6 MADISON, Wis.