TONIGHT Clear. Low of 41. Search for The Westfield News The Westfield “THE DOOR TO THE News Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews PAST IS A STRANGE DOOR. Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME ISIT THESWINGS ONLY OPEN AND WEATHER THINGSCRITIC PASSWITHOUT THROUGH IT, TONIGHT BUTAMBITION THEY PASS.” IN ONE DIRECTION ONLY. ... ” Partly Cloudy. JOHNSearch STEINBECK for The Westfield News Westfield350.comWestfield350.orgLow of 55. Thewww.thewestfieldnews.com WestfieldNews — Loren EISELEY Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHERVOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 centsCRITIC WITHOUT VOL.TONIGHT 88 NO. 95 WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2019 75AMBITION Cents .” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com ElmVOL. 86 NO. 151 Street Urban TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents Renewal Project moves forward By AMY PORTER what we’re going to do.” She said Correspondent the plan would also include ideas WESTFIELD – The Mayor’s for amenities in the commercial office and the Westfield spaces. Redevelopment Authority will be Former City Advancement offi- holding a rollout event for the cer Joe Mitchell said what is differ- Urban Renewal Project in the next ent about this plan than the previ- few weeks for up to 60 invited ous Urban Renewal Plan, 2010- guests, to include investors, devel- 2013, is that the earlier one show- opers, real estate brokers, potential cased one larger mixed use build- tenants and other interested parties. ing, which he said is not something The event will showcase a potential the market would bear today. Eight plan for the long-awaited construc- years have passed since, and this tion project on Elm Street. one is looking at the market and Thanks to a technical assistance what is doable, he said. grant of $50,000 from Even though there are slightly MassDevelopment last summer, different concepts in the new plans, the WRA contracted with Boston Mitchell said the three main focus architects and urban planners Utile points are being executed – trans- WHS track meet at Central High Design to study the city block and portation, mixed use, smart park- Runners are off in the mile run at Tuesday’s meet at Central High. See story and additional photos in utilization of parking, and design a ing. He said the analysis by Utile today’s Sports Section. (Photo by Marc St.Onge) mixed-use residential and commer- Design will also include construc- cial building and parking facilities tion costs, market analysis, poten- that would be a good fit for tial tax credits and financing Westfield’s downtown. options. At a WRA meeting last August Mitchell also said when the pre- which looked at several of Utile’s vious plan passed, the WRA still Westfield Middle School students take flight design concepts, chair Kathleen A. had to clean up properties and M. Witalisz said the grant had acquire them from the city. That By PETER CURRIER given them an opportunity to look Corrrespondent at it, not to go out and say “this is See Elm Street Plan, Page 8 WESTFIELD- Seventh and eight graders from Westfield Middle School were given the opportunity to fly an airplane Monday morning at Barnes Regional Airport as part of the Western Massachusetts Wright Flight program. The program consisted of 12 classes, one per week, Select Board discusses in which the students learned the principles and his- tory of aviation. One week consisted of a trip to the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Conn. feasibility study In other sessions, the students used a flight simulator to get a feel for how a plane is controlled in real time. The 12-week program culminated in a final day in on town buildings which the students were allowed to operate a small By GREG FITZpaTRICK plane over the skies of Westfield and the nearby cities Correspondent From left are Matthew Moriarty, Flight Instructor and towns. The kids were split up into three groups John Domaingue, and Michael Dorunda. Matthew did SOUTHWICK – The Select Board met with Tighe & Bond on Tuesday who took turns flying the planes and doing other night to discuss the municipal buildings feasibility study that the engineer- his 30 minute flight first with instruction from activities. One group would get a tour of the control Domaingue while Michael sat in the passenger seat in ing and environmental consulting firm has conducted. tower and a UH-72 Lakota military surveillance heli- Hired by the Town of the back, waiting for his turn to fly after Matthew suc- copter. Another group would get the chance to oper- cessfully landed. (Photo by Peter Currier) Southwick for $85,000 to con- ate a much more sophisticated flight simulator than duct the study, Tighe & Bond they had previously used. instructor from Northampton Airport. The groups would reviewed with the Select “Flight Simulators are actually generally harder to go up in to one of three small planes, Piper Warrior 2s, Board which buildings may fly than the real thing. Real planes are much more and have the opportunity to fly it themselves with the have issues that need immedi- stable than what they give you in a simulator,” said flight instructor in the co-pilots seat. Each student got to ate work. Wright Flight volunteer William Coughlin as he fly for 30 minutes, including the full takeoff and landing. According to Peter Papineau instructed students on the advanced simulator. None of the students have ever flown a plane before. The of Tighe & Bond, the first pri- The third group was split up further into groups of ority, as indicated from the two who were then paired with a professional flight See Wright Flight program, Page 8 feasibility study, is to have the roof replaced on the Southwick Fire station. Tighe & Bond The Select Board is seen speaking with estimates that the design, engi- representatives of Tighe & Bond on neering, and replacement of Tuesday night at the Southwick Town Southwick Civic Fund preparing the roof would cost around Hall. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick) $285,000. for annual town fireworks “The sooner you address those problems and take care of them, you’re going to get another 30, 40, and 50 years out of the building,” said By GREG FITZpaTRICK tion in town, Southwick Civic Papineau. Correspondent Fund President and Select Board Select Board Vice-Chairman Russ Fox agreed with Papineau’s recom- SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Chairman Joe Deedy will make mendation from the feasibility study. Civic Fund is gearing up for their sure that the summer staple con- “We’ve got to get it fixed because it’s only going to get worse,” said annual summer fireworks. tinues. Fox. Scheduled to take place on July “We’ll still do the fireworks Further in the discussion of the report’s findings, Papineau also said that 20, the fireworks will be set off even if I have to sell my the DPW (Department of Public Works) building needs a new roof. around dusk at the starting line of (Chevrolet) El Camino,” Deedy However, Tighe & Bond is suggesting to Southwick officials that they the motocross track behind laughed. construct a brand-new DPW facility rather than just putting a new roof on American Legion Post 338. There Receiving donations privately the existing building. Tighe & Bond estimates that the amount of money will be a bonfire prior to the fire- from citizens as well as from busi- that could be spent to renovate the structure may cost more than just con- works as well as food vendors, nesses in the local area, Deedy structing a new building. music, and a disc jockey. pointed out that Western Mass Keeping the focus with the DPW, Papineau added that another immedi- The Southwick Civic Fund is Rendering and Westfield Bank ate need that was discovered is a new parking lot at the headquarters. looking to raise $12,000 in order provided timely donations last Following that recommendation, Fox noted that it may not be a smart idea The annual Southwick Fireworks will to purchase the fireworks and hire year. take place on July 20. (Photo from the police detail so that the annual See Study, Page 3 Southwick Civic Fund) vent can become a reality. A tradi- See Civic Fund, Page 3 WHS Marching Band and Alumni gear up for Westfield 350 parade and golf tournament By AMY PORTER who’d like to be involved who has ever par- ated and instrument played, he can start to Correspondent ticipated in the WHS Marching Band. source needed instruments. WESTFIELD – WHS Band Director Kennedy said in some cases he may be able The “uniform” for the 350 Parade is white Patrick Kennedy is asking all marching band to provide harder to get instruments, like top and black pants, black socks and com- alumni to mark the weekend of May 18 and sousaphones, for parade participation. fortable black footwear. To blend in with the 19, 2019 in your calendars. A website has been set up for marching students, WHS 350 Band Polo shirts, with a On Sunday, May 19, Westfield will cele- band alumni to fill out the interest form and WHS Band logo on the left chest and brate its 350th birthday with a parade. download the music they will be playing at Westfield 350 on the right sleeve are avail- Kennedy’s dream is to have a 350 member www.WHSAlumniBand.com. “Go to the able to WHS Band Alumni for $20. Email marching band, with as many alumni as can website – We’re really hoping people will Tracy Lacas at [email protected] to place join with the Westfield High School march- take the next step and download the sheet an order.