The Westfield NewsSearch for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews 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 $1.00 MONDAY,TUESDAY, JULY JUNE 19,27, 20172021 VOL. 75 cents 90 NO. 169 Two weeks left for candidates to take out nomination papers By HOPE E. TREMBLAY certified. Other residents new to the cil race or any ward races other than Ward 2 incumbent Ralph J. Figy, returned as of Friday. Editor committee have taken out candidate Ward 1 candidate Mary Beth Berrien, Ward 3 incumbent Bridget Matthews- Andrea L. Pennington returned WESTFIELD – Candidates for the papers but have not returned them, who took out papers June 21. Kane, Ward 4 incumbent Michael papers and had signatures certified for 2021 local election have until July 30 including potential candidates Jason Incumbent Ward 1 Councilor Burns, Ward 5 incumbent John J. a Westfield Athenaeum Trustee six- to take out nomination papers and so A. LaFleur, Thomas A. Lewis, Martha Nicholas J. Morganelli Jr. took papers Beltrandi III and Ward 6 incumbent year term. far, the school committee race has M. Breton and Kathleen L. Hillman. June 24 for ward 1 and at-large but William Onyski have all taken papers Nomination papers must be several newcomers who could face The mayor’s race has three candi- has not returned signatures yet for and thus far are unopposed. returned to the Board of Registrars by incumbents. dates who have taken out nomination either seat. Signatures for Burns, Beltrandi and 5 p.m. Aug. 3 and the board must file For the four-year at-large commit- papers – incumbent Donald F. Incumbent at-large councilors Onyski have been certified. papers with City Clerk Karen M. tee seats, incumbents Heather W. Humason Jr., Michael A. McCabe Cindy C. Harris and Brent B. Bean II Municipal Light Board members Fanion by 5 p.m. Aug. 17. The last Sullivan, Cindy A. Sullivan and and Efrain Luna. As of July 16, have both returned papers and had Kevin M. Kelleher Sr., ward 1, Ray day for a candidate to withdraw is Timothy J. O’Connor have taken out Humason was the only candidate with signatures certified. Incumbents Rivera, ward 2, Dawn Renaudette, Aug. 18 at 5 p.m. Ballot positions will papers, with Cindy Sullivan having certified signatures according to the Kristen L. Mallo, Dave Flaherty, Dan ward 3, Francis L. Liptak, ward 4, be drawn Aug. 23. returned and certified her signatures. city clerk’s office. Allie, Richar K. Sullivan Jr. and Joseph B. Mitchell, ward 5 and Robert If needed, a preliminary election Jeffrey Gosselin, a former committee Also as of July 16, there were no James R. Adams have all taken papers Sacco, ward 6, have all taken nomina- will be Sept. 21. The general election member, has also had his signatures newcomers for the at-large city coun- but not returned them. tion papers but none have been is Nov. 2. City youth is opening act for concerts By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Editor WESTFIELD – Matthew “Matty” Bussell, 12, was bit by the performing bug five years ago and has sung around the country. He will lend his talents to the Westfield Concert Series Powered by Westfield Gas and Electric as the opening act for three summer con- certs beginning with the July 24 show. Bussell said it’s fitting that his first performance is opening for The Killer Queen Experience. “I love Queen,” he said. Bussell, who enjoys singing Matthew Bussell will be the open- songs from various genres, has ing act for the free Westfield been practicing several 80s songs Concert Series, which has its first for the first show, as well as a few show July 24. (THE WESTFIELD medlies. He said he loves to sing all NEWS SUBMITTED PHOTO) kinds of songs and right now, Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind” is schedules and he also takes voice a favorite. lessons at the University of “I’m going to sing that at the Hartford. The iconic Union Agricultural Hall on the Blandford Fairgrounds has last-minute renovations being done concert, and I’ve been practicing a “It’s okay, though, because he at the entrance way. Greg Girard, vice president of buildings, grounds and maintenance, on left, and lot so it’s my current favorite,” he loves it and I love watching my Matthew Ripley, executive vice president, are overseeing the project. (LORI SZEPELAK PHOTO) said. children perform and succeed and While most of Bussell’s peers are do what they love,” said Pam spending their days at typical sum- Bussell. mer camps, taking a swim and Pam said when Matty joined the playing video games, Bussell has Boys & Girls Club of Greater Blandford Fair been hard at work not only gearing Westfield’s theater group at age 7, up for the concerts – which take she had no idea that five years later place behind the Boys and Girls he would have sung in Houston and organizers seek Club and include the Aug.28 New at Club events as well as in Kategory 5 show and the Sept. 25 Washington, D.C. at the national Santana tribute band Jingo – but he Boys & Girls Club Youth of the is also learning piano, taking dance Year awards, or become an opening volunteers to classes and rehearsing for two act for a concert series. plays; The Addams Family with his “I had no idea that joining the theater camp in Granby, Conn. and Boys & Girls Club would lead to help prepare Shrek with the Opera House Players this,” she said. “It’s crazy.” in Enfield, Conn. Bussell said performing makes “I’m busy but I love it,” he said, him happy because it makes others noting he is especially excited to happy. fairgrounds perform at the concert series. Bussell, who will be a seventh By LORI SZEPELAK “It’s been almost two years since grader at Westfield Middle School Correspondent I’ve performed,” Bussell said, not- this fall, said he looks forward to BLANDFORD — “We’re back!” ing that COVID-19 put a damper the concerts and performing for the “That’s our tagline for this year’s Blandford Fair,” on live performances. “I can’t audience, including his extended said Greg Girard, vice president of buildings, grounds wait.” family and friends. He will take the and concessions. Bussell comes from a talented stage for 30 minutes at each show. The Blandford Fair, soon to mark 153 years of enter- family. His mother Pamela was a Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and head- taining crowds from horse shows and animal rides to an singer who attended the Berkeley lining acts take the stage at 7:30 art show and homestyle country dinners, will be con- School of Music and was a musical p.m. The concerts are free and ducted Sept. 3-6 at the fairgrounds on North Street. theater actor. His older sister Julia donations are accepted for Westfield “The fair has only been forced to cancel during the is also studying musical theater in on Weekends and Westfield 1918 pandemic, one year during World War II, during college and performs. Bussell also Kiwanis. Western Mass Shop Local the Flood of 1955, and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 has an older brother, Scotty, and his will have vendors on site and pandemic,” said Girard. father, Scott, who do not perform refreshments are available to pur- Every Saturday this summer, work crews are needed but are Bussell’s biggest fans. chase. More information is at west- to help spruce up the grounds, from assisting with paint- Pam Bussell said since the fieldlivemusic.com. ing buildings and mowing to general maintenance tasks Reed Spaulding, 5, of Huntington, is all in on mov- COVID bans were lifted, she is “I’m really excited,” he said. “I ing the pedal tractor pull at the Blandford only home one night a week hope a lot of people come out to see See Blandford Fair, Page 3 Fairgrounds on June 26. (LORI SZEPELAK PHOTO) because of Bussell’s rehearsal the show.” Westfield State University announces details of opening day By PETER CURRIER will be welcomed back to campus “In the coming weeks, we will be She said that research has found tion throughout June. 611 incoming Staff Writer Aug. 26. Returning students will be sharing more information regarding that connections made during orien- students visited the campus while WESTFIELD — Westfield State welcomed back Aug. 29. On both of a resource fair, ‘Westfield Welcome.’ tation are “directly related to con- 345 experienced students acted as University released information on those dates, dormitory keys will be and other opening day events on nections students make during their “champions” to show the new stu- the Fall 2021 Semester move-in distributed to students at the Horace Aug. 26 and 29 as well as Orientation first few weeks on campus.” dents the campus and the resources plans for students July 15, ahead of Mann building. and ‘Welcome to the Nest’ events “As a campus, and as a nation, we offered to them. what university officials are hoping Balch said in her letter that throughout that last week in August. have had a year away from each When students finally return to is a more typical semester than the Westfield State is accepting propos- Please consider submitting a pro- other. Let’s show our students how campus in full, they will be required previous three.