TONIGHT Clear Sky. Low of 55. Search for The Westfield News The Westfield THSearchINK forIT TheIS JUST WestfieldAS News News “I Westfield350.comTODAY IN WESTFIELDThe HISTORY: Westfield NewsIMPORTANT TO SING ABOUT 1787 A Meteor appeared Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns BEAUTIFUL“TMORNIME ISINGS THEAS ONLY WEATHER in N.E., blazing in sky, IT IS TO TALK ABOUTCRITIC SLUMS WITHOUT. TONIGHT size of hat, visible I JUST COULDN’TAMBITION WRITE .” Partly Cloudy. ANYTHING WISearchTHOUT for HOPE TheJOHN Westfield IN STEINBECK IT.” News Low of 55. for 15 mins. Westfield350.comWestfield350.org Thewww.thewestfieldnews.com WestfieldNews — OsCAR HAMMERSTEIN II Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHERVOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 CRITIC WITHOUT75 cents VOL.TONIGHT 87 NO. 195 THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018 75AMBITION Cents .” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com Family thankful, RetiredVOL. 86 NO. 151 K-9 Jax passes awayTUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents By GREG FITZPATRICK grateful for community Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Police Department support after fire announced on Wednesday that By LORI SZEPELAK retired K-9, Jax, had passed away Correspondent at the age of 12-years-old on WESTFIELD-Peter Liptak was introduced to Tuesday, due to a short illness. Hampton Ponds during the summer of ’76 – and never Jax started his K-9 career with left. the Southwick Police Department “The rent was $50 a month for a cottage which was a in May 2007. During his career good deal,” said Liptak as he and his wife Donna sat in in the K-9 unit, Jax worked a neighbor’s living room on Pequot Point Road on alongside his handler, officer Wednesday afternoon. Tom Krutka. “I loved Hampton Ponds so much that when Throughout their time togeth- September came, I knew I was staying here,” he added. er, Jax was successful on numer- The couple and their four children, Ann, a junior, and ous occasions on finding lost Joan, a senior, both at the University of Massachusetts children, wanted suspects, drug at Amherst, and James, a junior, and Sara, a senior, both searches, and other situations. at Westfield Technical Academy, experienced the “Jax quickly earned the reputa- unthinkable on Aug. 16 – their home at 78 Pequot Point tion amongst the police world as Road went up in flames. The Liptaks also have two having an amazing nose in both beloved dogs, Brownie, an English Springer Spaniel, narcotics and tracking human and Dottie, a miniature French poodle, and fortunately scent,” said Krutka. both were at a local groomer during the time of the Early into Jax’s career, Krutka A ‘Welcome to the Lake” sign still stands at After retiring in May of 2017, Jax lived the the entrance to the home of Peter and afternoon blaze. rest of his life with Krutka. (Photo from Tom See Jax, Page 3 Donna Liptak at 78 Pequot Point Road Krutka) where a fire engulfed the home on Aug. 16. See Family, Page 3 Blandford Fair Gateway School volunteers Committee preps still sought for NEASC By LORI SZEPELAK accreditation visit; Correspondent BLANDFORD-Volunteering at the Blandford Fair has First Congressional District U.S. House of Representatives been a family tradition for many in town and the surround- of Massachusetts in the U.S. First Congressional District eliminates student ing communities – including Christine and Michelle Tighe House of Representatives of Massachusetts Challenger of East Otis. incumbent U.S. Rep. Tahirah Amatul-Wadud. The mother and Richard Neal (D-MA) (Photo (Photo Courtesy Tahirah Amatul- parking fees daughter team spoke courtesy Richard Neal) Wadud) recently with The By AMY PORTER Westfield News about Correspondent the importance of vol- HUNTINGTON –The Gateway Regional School unteering to assist organizations that depend on volunteers WGBY to Host Committee met on Wednesday, one week before the for its survival. first day of school begins on August 29. Following “I have been volunteering at the Blandford Fair on and off Labor Day weekend, school will resume on Tuesday, for most of my life,” said Michelle Tighe, who has the role Sept. 4. of social media supervisor. Democratic Jason Finnie, Tighe noted that for the past six years she has been volun- Middle/High teering at the art barn. School Principal “I like watching the expressions of people when art work Primary Debate spoke to the catches their eye and it speaks to them,” she added. School Committee Christine Tighe, who has volunteered for 28 years at the about the upcom- fair and is entering her fourth year as supervisor of the art ing New England barn and art show, echoed those sentiments. for the First Association of “I like seeing people’s faces when they see art work that Schools and they don’t expect,” she said. Colleges (NEASC) The two women are encouraging local residents to con- Congressional accreditation visit sider volunteering during the fair – now in its 151st year – to the high school which is scheduled Aug. 31-Sept. 3. later this fall, and Gateway Middle School and asked members to High School Principal Jason See Volunteers Sought, Page 2 District make themselves SPRINGFIELD — A date has been set for a televised Finnie. (WNG File Photo) available on the Democratic primary debate between the candidates vying for afternoon of Sunday, nomination in the First Congressional District of Massachusetts Oct. 28 to speak with team members. “It would be in the U.S. House of Representatives. great to have all of you there,” he said, acknowledg- Food, Vendors and Incumbent U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) will join chal- ing that Sundays aren’t convenient. lenger Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, a Springfield Attorney, on Finnie said he participated in a NEASC visit to a Entertainment Schedule Thursday, Aug. 30 at 8 p.m. for a 30-minute forum hosted and school a year ago. He said every ten years they go moderated by local PBS station WGBY, in partnership with the through a school, although it’s been a little longer League of Women Voters in Congressional District 1 — since they visited Gateway. “Ideally, it’s meant to be for Westfield Food Fest Springfield, Franklin County, Central Berkshires & a reflective process,” he said, one that offers “another By AMY PORTER Williamstown. The debate comes ahead of Massachusetts’ Sept. set of eyes on the good we’re doing, and where we Correspondent 4 primary. may be lacking.” WESTFIELD – The Westfield Rotary Club Food Fest WGBY’s Carrie Saldo, host of Connecting Point, will moder- Finnie said the group is made up of all volunteers begins on Friday, August 25, from 5 to 10 p.m. and continues ate the Aug. 30 exchange. Each question will be asked of each and a chairperson who is usually a retired school on Saturday, August 26 from 12 noon to 9 p.m. Elm Street administrator, adding that this chairperson will be the will be closed to traffic from School Street to Franklin Street See Primary Debate, Page 8 for the free two-day festival. See Gateway, Page 3 On Saturday from 12 noon to 3 p.m. the Westfield Food Fest will also feature a car show. Interested participants should contact [email protected]. The cost to have a car displayed is $10 in advance, $15 the day of the event. See Westfield Food Fest, Page 3 Beech Hill Road project is complete By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent GRANVILLE – The Granville DPW, Palmer Paving, Andy Gogol Excavating, and Rafferty Fine Grading announced that they have completed the paving of Beech Hill Road as of Tuesday morning. Located off Route 57 on the western side of Granville, the project consisted of replacing all cross pipes, removing hazard- ous trees, adding a drainage system, grounding the road up, grading and finally paving. “We try to do one big project a year to keep our roads in great shape,” said Granville DPW Director Doug Roberts. The Beech Hill Road project was funded with local money The Granville DPW finished paving for the Beech and Chapter 90 funds at an approximate cost of $230,000. Hill Road project on Tuesday morning. (Photo from For more information and updates about projects with the Doug Roberts) Granville DPW, contact the DPW at 413-357-6007. Attendees enjoy the 2017 Westfield Rotary Club Food Fest (WNG file photo) PAGE 2 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2018 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Volunteers Sought Continued from Page 1 “I enjoy helping because it is a more hands-on approach to and musical acts, there are innumerable amusements to keep volunteering,” said Christine Tighe. fairgoers entertained during their visit. Michelle Tighe concurred. For many fairgoers, the homestyle dinners are always at “We have teens to persons in their 70’s volunteering,” she the top of one’s list to enjoy – especially since a slice of said, noting that currently there are still positions available as homemade pie is served for dessert. This year, workers will youth and adult hall monitors, persons greeting patrons at the be serving a meatloaf dinner on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., a art barn, as well as working at the gate and handling ticket baked ham and beans meal on Saturday from 4:30 to 6:30 sales. p.m., and a barbecued chicken dinner from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. “We can work around anyone’s schedule,” she said, noting on Sunday. A Yankee pot roast dinner closes out the fair on that shifts typically last three hours. “Also, help is greatly Monday from noon to 2:30 p.m. appreciated if some would like to help with grounds work “It’s a fair where children can win prizes, see animals close and/or help setting up.” up, and be entertained,” said Christine Tighe.