TONIGHT Rain, Freezing Rain. Low of 31. The Westfield Search for The Westfield News News Search for The Westfield News “CHERISH YOUR Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THEWILDERNESS ONLY .” WEATHER CRITIC WITHOUT— MaxINE KUMIN TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.comWestfield350.org The WestfieldNews “TIME IS THE ONLY VOL. 86 NO. 151 Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns 75 cents VOL.88WEATHER NO. 31 WEDNESDAY,TUESDAY, JUNE FEBRUARY 27, 2017 6, 2019 CRITIC75 Cents WITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK SelectLow of 55. Board towww.thewestfieldnews.com pursue special town meeting VOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents for North Pond land preservation By GREG FITZPATRICK dents in order to overturn the CPC’s Correspondent vote. SOUTHWICK – The Citizens Despite that, the Select Board Restoring Congamond (CRC) met informed the CRC that they would with the Select Board on Tuesday rather have a warrant article drafted night in the auditorium of the to go at a special town meeting Southwick Town Hall to discuss the instead of a petition. Due to the fate of preserving 146-acres of state informing the Franklin Land vacant land adjacent to North Pond Trust that they have only until from development. March 1 to have the $5 million “We’re asking the Select Board raised, the Select Board believes to designate $500,000 to preserve Many residents in town attended the Select Board meeting on Tuesday setting up a special town meeting the North Pond property,” said night to support preservation of open space adjacent to Congamond’s would be a quicker option to help CRC President Deb Herath. land. However, the vote was four Beth Thomas. “I really hope you avoid reaching the deadline from Citizens Restoring Congamond mem- The Community Preservation people in favor and four people not can overturn that decision.” the state. ber Deb Herath speaks to the crowd Committee (CPC) met on January in favor, causing the request not to After the January 31 vote, the Last year, the land owner, Denise about the importance of passing the 31 to vote on whether to allocate pass. CRC announced that they would be Leclair-Robbins did agree to a $500,000 in funding to help preserve $500,000 from their account to put “If the land is open for use, many establishing a petition in attempt to the vacant land next to Congamond’s towards preserving the North Pond will benefit,” said CRC member get 200 signatures from voting resi- See Select Board, Page 8 North Pond. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick) Zoning committee Council Preview: reviews short-term Feb. 7, 2019 By AMY POrtER Correspondent rental regulations WESTFIELD – The City Council will hold a regular meeting on By PETER CURRIER Thursday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. in City Correspondent Council chambers, Room 207 at City WESTFIELD- The City Council’s Zoning, Planning, and Hall. On the agenda, are many reports Development sub-Committee met Tuesday evening to dis- WTA IT instructor Jeffrey Richardson, sophomore Ksenia from sub-committees, most of which cuss zoning ordinances for short-term residential rentals and Zinchenko, and juniors Deajah Barbour, Orion Dirgo and David have met or are meeting this week to discuss an upcoming review of city zoning laws. Tikhonchuk from the CyberPatriot teams. (Photo by Amy Porter) and last week. Councilor Nick Morganelli, Chairman of the committee, “I am very impressed by the Ward 2 Councilor said that he received an email from Councilor Dave Flaherty amount of work being done by the stating that some Westfield residents are not comfortable WTA Internet Technology and City Council committees and their chairs,” said President Ralph having short term rental properties, such as those run by Air City Council President Ralph J. Figy. BnB, in their neighborhoods. In the email, Flaherty added J. Figy. (WNG File students compete Under communications from the Photo) that some property owners, “want the government to mind Mayor, his office is requesting accep- tance of two gifts from the Friends of See Zoning Committee, Page 8 in National Youth Westfield 350 celebration. The first is a metallic mural by artist Pat Conant, depicting signature scenes throughout Cyber Defense competition Westfield’s history to be placed on the wall outside the By AMY POrtER Council Chambers. The mural was funded by a grant from Select Board approves Correspondent the Westfield Cultural Center. WESTFIELD – Students in the Internet Technology shop at Also being requested for acceptance are two time cap- Westfield Technical Academy have just finished competing in sules donated by Firtion-Adams Funeral Services and a CDBG application for FY19 stone marker for the flag plaza outside of City Hall, By GREG FITZPATRICK CyberPatriot, the National Youth Cyber Education Program’s Cyber Defense Competition. Several of the students, along explaining the location and directions under which the time Correspondent capsule would be opened. SOUTHWICK – At Tuesday night’s meeting at the with WTA IT instructor Jeffrey Richardson described the com- petition and its purpose to the School Committee on Monday Figy said an appropriation request of $525,000 from Southwick Town Hall, the Select Board made a motion to Free Cash for the Department of Public Works Wastewater accept the application from the Pioneer Valley Planning night. The competition puts teams of high school and middle Division is for odor control at the Sewage Treatment Commission (PVPC) for a proposed Community Facility. Figy said the current odorizer is “on borrowed Development Block Grant (CDBG) for Fiscal Year 2019. school students in the position of newly hired IT professionals tasked with managing the network of a small company. In the time,” and needs replacement. The Sewage Treatment Federally-funded and designed to assist small cities and Facility is located off of Union St. near the salt pile, he towns in meeting their community development needs, the rounds of competition, teams are given a set of virtual images that represent operating systems and are tasked with finding said. The request will be referred to the Finance sub-com- CDBG program is through the Massachusetts Department of mittee. Housing and Community Development. cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the images and hardening See Council Preview, Page 3 See CDBG, Page 8 See WTA IT Students, Page 8 Mayor Sullivan proclaims February 9 as Don Wielgus Day WESTFIELD – Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan has proclaimed Saturday, February 9, 2019 as Don Wielgus Day. Veteran Services Director Julie Barnes will present the Mayor’s proclama- tion at the Westfield Republican Lincoln Day Brunch at East Mountain Country Club at 10 AM on Saturday, February 9th. Jim Lyons of Andover, the newly elected chair of the MASS GOP, will be the keynote speaker and receive the group’s Lincoln Leadership Award. Master of Ceremony Senator Don Humason will be joined by special guests and elected officials to honor citizens and veterans for their service to the community, state and nation. Other honorees are: Outstanding Community Service: Harry Rock Veteran Of The Year: Don Wielgus Lincoln Leadership Award: Jim Lyons – Andover Youth Award: Joe Tierney Volunteer Award : Doug Lyman – Chicopee Don Wielgus, a Marine who served as Squad leader of a Flame Thrower Unit, served in Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, and as an Orderly to US Navy Admiral James Russell at NATO headquarters in DON WIELGUS (Photo Courtesy Westfield DON WIELGUS (left) Republican Committee) (Photo Courtesy Westfield Republican Committee) See Don Wielgus Day, Page 2 STORE HOURS Beat the chill with a new grill Mon.–Fri. 8am–8pm, Sat. 8am–7pm Sun. 9am–5pm WESTFIELD rockys.com 2 Free St. 413-568-9251 10.875x2 WEST NEWS 1901562_ROCKYS-FebruaryGrillingAds.indd 2 1/29/19 8:42 AM PAGE 2 - WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2019 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS TONIGHT THURSDAY FRIDAY AM Freezing Rain, Rain. Becoming Partly Sunny. 37-40 49-53 Today, Increasing clouds, with a high near 40. North wind around 6 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Tonight, rain likely before 9pm, then freezing rain. Low around 31. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is Rain, Freezing Rain. 100%. Thursday, a chance of drizzle or freezing rain before 8am, then a chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 40. North wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Thursday Night Rain. Low around 35. Northeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 80%. Friday, Rain likely, mainly before 31 - 32 noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 53. WWLP.COM • Working For You TODAY 7 AM 5:12 PM 10 hours 12 Minutes SUNRISE SUNSET LENGTH OF DAY ODDS & ENDS LOCAL LOTTERY LAST NIGHT’s numBERS MASSACHUSETTS Police get in MassCash 10-12-13-23-26 Mega Millions 03-34-36-59-66, Mega Ball: 7, Megaplier: 2 snowball Estimated jackpot: $139 million Numbers Evening 2-1-7-1 fight with Numbers Midday DON WIELGUS 3-3-6-1 (Photo Courtesy Westfield Republican Committee) Powerball kids during Estimated jackpot: $204 million Don Wielgus Day Continued from Page 1 snowstorm DUVALL, Wash. (AP) — Police grabbed Naples, Italy. Sportsmen Club and Friends of the Senior a tactical shield and engaged in some fun as According to City Chair Dan Allie, “Don Center. He is a very active member of St. a major winter storm blanketed parts of has served the community of Westfield and Peter & St. Casimir Parish. 6 days a week, Washington state. CONNECTICUT veterans for many years in so many ways.” Don picks up and delivers food for the Members of the Duvall Police Department Cash 5 07-08-14-15-16 Don is a member of American Legion Post Westfield Food Pantry and Samaritan Inn.