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 THURSDAY,TUESDAY, JUNEAPRIL 27, 22, 2017 2021 VOL.75 cents 90 NO. 94 Free virtual Permits granted for workshop on April 24 to help home business and students fill out residential kennel federal college Balloon float for Verizon aid application communications tower scheduled By AMY PORTER By AMY PORTER Staff Writer Staff Writer MASS. – A statewide campaign WESTFIELD – The Planning Board issued two special called “Worth It” to encourage stu- permits, amended another, and scheduled a balloon float for a dents and their families to com- new Verizon wireless communication tower at 70 East plete the Free Application for Mountain Road. Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) The balloon float for the Verizon kicked off last week, and a virtual tower was scheduled for two consecu- day to help students fill out college tive Saturdays, May 22 from 9 a.m. to aid applications is planned for 1 p.m. and May 29 from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, April 24. with two successive rain dates for each, According to the announcement, and a hearing for a special permit fewer high school seniors have scheduled for June 1. The company is filled out the FAFSA this year than also seeking a waiver from the Zoning in the previous two years, and the Spring pondering Board of Appeals in May. Department of Elementary and Feeding the ducks in the pond at Stanley Park. (Marc St.Onge/THE WESTFIELD A special permit was issued to Secondary Education (DESE), the NEWS) Andrea York Photography to open a photography studio in her Department of Higher Education, home at 52 Murray Ave. York said she has had office space in and the Massachusetts Educational the Bismark Building since 2013, which she will retain to Financing Authority (MEFA) are meet clients. She previously added studio space in Pilgrim working along with other partners Candle in 2019, but had to close it last year when the owners to help more students complete the FAFSA and keep college an option. Historical Commission votes to needed the space. After an “exhaustive search,” she and The “Worth It” campaign states Donald York, co-owner, decided to convert their two-car that the Free Application for consider certain monuments to be garage at Murray Ave. into a photography studio. Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form Donald York said that 90 percent of the photography busi- is the key to unlocking college ness is done on location for clients in parks or at their homes. financial aid from federal, state, considered historically significant He said the proposed studio space will be for headshots or the and local sources. Filling out the occasional family portrait. He said they are in a residential FAFSA helps keep college an The vote allows the these monuments to be historic so the neighborhood, but don’t expect more than three to four cars a option for the fall but does not CPC can give the funding.” week for the home business. Plans are to leave the overhead commit you to enrolling. Community Preservation Gaylord said that Theroux has learned door in place with minor interior renovation, and no exterior The federal deadline to submit a how to repair some of these monuments signage. Committee to fund on his own. Some of the larger ones, like FAFSA is June 30, 2021, although Planning Board member Jane Magarian asked them about each college may have its own the Grand Army of the Republic monu- monument repairs ment in Pine Hill Cemetery, will require the existing sign for a photography business. Andrea York said deadline. For priority consideration that the sign, York Photography Studio, was found in a flea in Mass., students should submit By PETER CURRIER extra help. Staff Writer She said the General Shepard statue market in Maine, and put up to be decorative. She said she is their applications by May 1, 2021. willing to take it down. On Saturday, April 24, a free, WESTFIELD – The Historical may cost $30,000 to repair. The Civil Commission voted unanimously Monday, War monument will cost about $15,000. Chair William Carellas opened the hearing up for public drop-in, virtual FAFSA Festival participation, and read a letter from Peter and Lisa Orzechowski will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 April 19 to declare that several monu- During a Community Preservation ments in Westfield have historic value for Committee meeting April 8, Theroux on Murray Avenue, who called the Yorks “great neighbors,” p.m. Experts from MEFA will be and said they had no concerns. John Beltrandi also spoke in available all day to answer stu- the purpose of securing funding to have said that the Grand Army of the Republic dents’ and families’ FAFSA ques- the monuments cleaned and repaired. monuments are graffitied and stained, favor of the home business. The permit was granted with no tions and help them complete the Historic Commission Chair Cindy and the largest stone is separating at the signage, and hours permitted seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 7 online application one-on-one. Gaylord said that Westfield Veteran’s seam. p.m. To register for the festival, go to Grave Officer Gene H.Theroux is seek- “At the GAR monument there are 14 A special permit was also granted to Bethany and David www.mefa.org, and fill in your ing to do repairs on significant grave- smaller monuments that we are going to Smith for a residential kennel at 20 Old Holyoke Road, zoned name, high school and what topics stones and monuments that have deterio- raise and level out,” said Theroux. rural residential. you would like covered. According rated throughout the city. Gaylord said He said he had a conservator look at Bethany Smith said she currently has three mixed-breed to the website, students may log in that Theroux was looking to repair the some of the monuments throughout rescue dogs and would like to get a fourth. She said when she anytime on Saturday, April 24 from Gen. Shepard statue and Civil War monu- Westfield and found that some of the called Animal Control, they said she would need a permit. 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. ment at Park Square, several monuments plaques cannot be read anymore because Smith said her dogs are up to date on all their shots, neutered Other events and opportunities to in Pine Hill Cemetery, and at least one of how much corrosion they have. The except for the puppy who is not old enough, and have all been get assistance with federal student monument on Southampton Road. Historic Commission voted unanimously through basic obedience. loans are listed on the DESE web- “Gene Theroux works hard to restore to consider any monument that Theroux Magarian asked Smith if she had plans to breed dogs in the site at https://www.doe.mass.edu/ the gravestones of veterans in the city,” wants to repair as historically significant. future, and she said she did not. She also thanked Smith for FinancialAid/events.html. said Gaylord, “Before they can grant him This allows the CPC to fund the cleaning the money, we have to vote that we find and repair projects. See Permits, Page 3 Local authors, books to take center stage on the Green By LORI SZEPELAK WhipCity Wordsmiths group have gathered as Buffum. and fantasy novels and short stories. Correspondent an informal group. Buffum said that all health department and • Mimi Caban is the author of “Binge WESTFIELD – From history and fiction to “The group is welcoming to all writers and CDC rules regarding the COVID-19 pan- Visioning Techniques” and is working on memoirs and dark fantasy, the WhipCity supportive of all members,” said Buffum, not- demic will be observed to ensure the safety of other projects. Wordsmiths Book Show on the Green prom- ing she suggested this literary event earlier everyone attending the free event. • Glen Ebisch is a “prolific author,” notes ises something for everyone on May 23. this year during an ArtWorks of Westfield “I feel that local authors should have a con- Buffum, adding he has written “multiple mys- “Area residents will have the wonderful strategic planning meeting. nection to the community in which they live tery series.” opportunity to engage with the authors and “The literary presence in Westfield has and work,” said Buffum. “Reading is still a • Judith Foard-Giucastro has written fiction, purchase their books,” said Cheryl Crowe, a grown significantly since the first Articulture means to escape from the rigors and stresses a holiday memoir, and just published a new board member of ArtWorks of Westfield. event in 2016 when we had six authors,” said of day-to-day life. To be able to suspend memoir. “There will be authors of all ages and back- Buffum, adding by 2020 there were 21 authors belief, to be able to step into another world • Richard Wayne Horton is the current Beat grounds of writing, something for everyone.” onboard for Articulture including authors created in the imagination of an author/writer Poet Laureate of Massachusetts and a Pushcart The book show is planned from 11 a.m.-3 from Hampshire and Franklin counties. and experience a story is magical.” nominee, notes Buffum. “He tells enigmatic, p.m. with a rain date of June 6. “COVID derailed the event,” said Buffum. Buffum shares some insight about the often dream-like stories that deliver some ArtWorks of Westfield members are hosting “Several of the Hampshire and Franklin authors who are set to participate in the book form of direct experience to the listener,” said the show which is being coordinated by Susan County authors and publishers will join us at show including: Buffum, adding he has several books in print.