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 FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2020 VOL. 89 NO. 195 Artistic oasis $1M ASSISTANCE Municipal set to open; Light Board instructors, seeks more tutors needed information By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent before vote WESTFIELD – As final renovations are made By PETER CURRIER to ArtSpace in the historic Mill at Crane Pond, Staff Writer Crystal Miller is hopeful that instructors and tutors WESTFIELD — The Municipal will want to share their talents with area residents Light Board did not take a vote of all ages – and all abilities. Wednesday evening on the proposal “ArtSpace is intended to become a little oasis of for Westfield Gas and Electric to give art and learning during these difficult times,” said the City of Westfield a $1 million In Miller, who is the owner of the space at 77 Mill St. Lieu of Tax (ILOT) payment to help “ArtSpace was part of my original business plan with city expenses amidst a pandem- when I opened my photography studio, but now ic. finally has a space of its own to exist.” Members of the board cited a lack of knowledge for what the money Miller has described ArtSpace as a “very raw would be specifically used for and a and simple small intimate space” with high ceil- desire to know more information ings, great natural light, and a large sink that will before giving the large amount of be perfect for artists to use. money to the city. The School Miller said she is seeking instructors and tutors Committee and City Council had who specialize in the visual, literary and musical asked the MLB for the cash before their meeting in July. Mayor Donald F. Humason said that the city did not receive the money that it normally would have had there not been a pandemic. The School Committee was able to find $1.5 mil- Renovations are proceeding for a new endeavor – ArtSpace – at the Mill at Crane Pond. lion in free cash that they used to (CRYSTAL MILLER PHOTO) prevent layoffs, but it did not cover the entire budget deficit. arts to begin offering classes in September. Commission Chair Robert Sacco “Instructors or tutors will only pay ArtSpace said that he understands the city’s for the time they use, and can charge each need for the money but that the MLB attendee what they feel is appropriate for their and WG&E are first beholden to their materials and instruction,” said Miller, noting own ratepayers, not to the residents of initially the fee will be $35 for two hours of the City of Westfield as a whole. time. “Any step we take has to be in light “We are trying to keep it reasonable, with the of my fiduciary duty to the ratepay- understanding that the community as a whole ers,” said Sacco. is in need of an inexpensive space for safe, Ward 2 Commissioner Ray Rivera small gatherings to have the outlet, as well as said that the MLB could probably instruction time, particularly for school-age best help the city via their rate for- children,” said Miller. giveness program that the board is On Aug. 12, Miller welcomed Laraine trying to put in place. He said he fears Percoski as ArtSpace director. Together, they that giving the money to the city Crystal Miller is seeking instructors and tutors will work on grants and funding opportunities, Laraine Percoski has been appointed the could get the utility in financial trou- for ArtSpace at the Mill at Crane Pond. director of ArtSpace in Westfield. ble if more storms damage their (SUBMITTED PHOTO) See Artistic Oasis, Page 3 (SUBMITTED PHOTO) equipment again. “We give up that million; we just had a huge storm. We just had a trans- former go down. Anything can hap- pen,” said Rivera. “We have a respon- DAYTRIPPER: sibility to WG&E to make sure they stay viable and that we can keep the rates where they are.” Ward 3 Commissioner Dawn Ecotarium is an indoor and outdoor museum Renaudette said she wants to first see what the city plans to do with the By HOPE E. TREMBLAY A Ferris wheel and roller coaster funds. She said also that she does not Editor made from K’nex mesmerizes visi- want to have to raise rates next year if WORCESTER – Looking for a tors and a game of air-hockey style the company does not have the family day trip geared toward children bumper cars brings out the com- money in the stabilization fund, 10 and under? The Ecotarium in petitor in participants. which the $1 million would come Worcester is a fun and educational The Ecotarium takes guests on a from. museum that combines science and safari with an exhibit on animals of “There are a lot of pieces we need nature in both indoor and outdoor set- Africa and has a display of sea to consider before making any deci- tings. animals. sion on that still,” said Renaudette. It’s just under an hour’s drive and is There’s plenty to do for the pre- Ward 5 Commissioner Tom close to numerous restaurants for school set inside and out, including Flaherty said that the money would those who want to explore the city. not necessarily end up going to where a natural play area with climbing the city says it will go, as that would Masks are required and signs ropes and playscape that are cur- be up to Mayor Humason after the remind visitors to stay six feet apart. rently open. money is transferred. Sanitizer is located throughout the Outside, animals including red Commissioner Sacco said that the museum and employees frequently fox, bald eagles, big cats and even letter sent by the city was a “woefully wipe down exhibits after guests touch black chickens with green feathers inadequate” request in the amount of them. can be viewed from several feet detail that was given to the MLB. Inside there is an exhibit on the sci- away. “I think it would be a very insuffi- ence of amusement park rides. Visitors cient amount of information to act on can play amusement games while The Ecotarium has an exhibit on roads, traffic and sewers. (HOPE E. See Daytripper, Page 5 such a large amount of money,” said learning about momentum and force. TREMBLAY/THE WESTFIELD NEWS) Sacco. Sacco said that the $1 million in assistance would appear on next month’s MLB agenda, but only as a placeholder pending the final city Census workers begin going door to door budget. By AMY PORTER Director Tina Gorman. Staff Writer Gorman said from a grant standpoint, pro- WESTERN MASS – If you are one of the grams like the Senior Center have to follow the people who has procrastinated filling out the national census numbers, which she said they Census 2020 form online, by telephone, or by are “stuck with” for more than 10 years. “For mail, be aware that you may soon be visited by grant purposes, we have to use the 2010 num- a Census taker. due to them for things like hospitals, schools, bers for another year or two. In 2022, we’ll be The U.S. Census Bureau recently announced and transportation, which is needed now more using 2020 figures,” she said. that they would begin the door-to-door count in than ever.” Gorman also encouraged residents to fill out Massachusetts on July 30 in Berkshire, Census data, which is collected every 10 the census now if they haven’t already done so, Hampshire, Franklin, Hampden, Worcester, years, informs where over $675 billion in fed- and avoid having census takers knocking on Norfolk, and Middlesex Counties. eral funding is spent each year in states and their doors during a pandemic. “There is a real concern that Western Mass communities, impacting programs that serve all An interactive map from the UMass Donahue will be shortchanged by the federal government ages from preschool children to seniors; as well Institute of the Census 2020 Self-Response if everyone isn’t counted,” Secretary of State as political representation. Rates for Massachusetts, which is linked on the Francis Galvin, the Census 2020 liaison, said in “It’s really important, when so much of our Secretary’s website at www.sec.state.ma.us/ the announcement. “We want to make sure the funding whether for kids or for seniors and census2020 shows a daily percentage of census people of Springfield and all of Western everyone in between is based on a per person Massachusetts get the federal dollars that are amount,” said Westfield Council on Aging See Census, Page 3 ROBERT C. SACCO PAGE 2 - FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 2020 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Scholarships awarded Pictured are Pastor David Riley, Mackenzie Culver, Emily Sienkiewicz, Shannon Riley, and Congregational President Bill Schneeloch. Not pictured: Alexandra Klinkowski. On Sunday, Scholarships were awarded to deserving students at St John's Lutheran Church. (DON WIELGUS PHOTO) Bill Schneeloch, Miranda Wozniak, Pastor David Riley. Canceled: Led Zeppelin NO-KILL RESCUES Tribute Band ‘Kashmir’ Donations sought for Westfield Homeless Cat Project Concert Aug. 29 in Westfield WESTFIELD - The Westfield efforts to continue. Donations can be AmazonSmile Foundation will donate Homeless Cat Project is seeking food, dropped off or sent to 1124 East 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible WESTFIELD — The Gaslight Entertainment and the supply and monetary donations during Mountain Road, Westfield, MA 01085.