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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com
VOL. 86 NO. 101
“The world does
not require so much to be informed as reminded.” — HANNAH MORE
75 cents
FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2017
CDBG public comment hearing reveals uncertainty
Peter J. Miller, Westfield director of community development, reviewed the CDBG FY17 Action Plan at the end of the public comment period Thursday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – A handful of people attended the public hearing Thursday to comment on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Action Plan for FY 2017 (July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018). Peter J. Miller, the city’s director of community development, gave an overview of the city’s plans based on level funding of $323,448, plus a contingency plan containing a 30% cut in the allocation to $226,413, per HUD (Housing and Urban Development) instructions.
Miller said that President Trump has filed a “Build the Wall” supplemental, part of which was to eliminate CDBG in FY17. “I anticipate that we’re going to be level funded. We’ll see where this all goes. Additional cuts will be felt for sure,” Miller said. Even with level funding, the city’s program income is down from what it has been in the past. Miller said that the past couple of years the city received program income of several hundred thousand when The Mill at Crane Pond and General Shepard Apartments refinanced and repaid CDBG loans, increasing the amount
See Foundation, Page 5
Baltazar Construction is seen doing work for the Feeding Hills Rd. project, right on the corner of Hudson Drive back in late March. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Rte 57 project update from Mass DOT By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – Since the Feeding Hills Road project got underway in late March there have been updates made to that project. However, based on information provided by Mass DOT, who is overseeing and paying the $3.97 million it costs for the project, crews are continuing construction operations as scheduled. Baltazar Construction is the contractor and according to Patrick Marvin, a member of the Communications Office at Mass DOT, Baltazar is currently conducting drainage work which is expected to last for the next several weeks. Marvin also added that the construction for new signals is scheduled to start next week. Reported by the Westfield News on March 9, this improvement project will include three different parts: Widening Feeding Hills Rd. and putting in left-
handed turning lanes at the intersections of Powder Mill Rd., Rebecca Lobo Drive, Hudson Drive, and North Longyard Rd.; drainage improvements from Powder Mill Rd. to Hudson Dr. and another installed in the North Longyard section. The third and final element of the project will feature new sidewalks and bike lanes along Feeding Hills Rd. from Powder Mill Rd. to Hudson Dr. The construction hours for Baltazar will most likely be Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., excluding holidays. According to Brown, construction will continue through November of 2017. During the construction time, the traffic on Feeding Hills Rd. may be reduced to just one travel lane. Residents are asked to refer to the town websites as there will be periodic construction updates. You can also call the Southwick DPW at 413-5696772.
57 Years and Counting at Westfield Bridge Club
By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD-With its origins starting in 1960, the Westfield Bridge Club has created lasting friendships and memorable moments for its players throughout the years, and now as it marks 57 years of continuous play – one change is coming starting May 4. “With many of the players preferring not to drive at night, we will begin meeting Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. at the American Inn in Southwick,” said Vi Martinell, who has helped coordinate logistics for the weekly Wednesday evening gathering along with longtime friend and bridge partner Cindy Fullerton. On the evening of April 26, a festive reception at the American Inn started at 6 p.m. to mark the end of an era for the players – for some since the 1970’s. Judy Fiore, a retired real estate broker with Fiore & Darling Real Estate now Century 21 Fiore & Darling, was one of the first to arrive and sat at the card table with her friend Dr. Nettie Maria Stevens Science and Innovation Center.
See CDBG, Page 5
Flood Commission seeks federal funding for overdue rehabilitation
Westfield State Foundation to hold annual fundraiser By PETER CURRIER intern, WSU ’17 WESTFIELD – Westfield State University will hold the 4th annual Pathways to Excellence gala on Friday, May 5 in the new Dr. Nettie Maria Stevens Science and Innovation Center at 5:30PM. The fundraising event will showcase the work and innovations by students and faculty at the university. Tickets are $75 per person or $700 for 10 tickets. They must be purchased by May 1st. “Students and professors will be showing poster presentations and hands on demonstrations,” says Lisa McMahon, Director of Advancement at WSU, “One student will be doing Dr. Nettie Steven’s fruit fly experiment.” “We are so impressed by the students’ knowledge, poise and passion,” says McMahon. The fruit fly experiment is a callback to the new buildings namesake, who discovered the X and Y chromosomes and was a student at Westfield State in the late 19th century when it was Westfield Normal School. Guests will receive a booklet detailing all the events and giving information about the new building. The official ribbon cutting for the science building will occur at 11AM the same day. There will be entertainment and dinner throughout the evening. Some students will be performing a portion of “Spring Awakening,” a play that recently ran at the University. The evening will conclude with a dessert finale in the Stevens courtyard just outside. All funds raised by ticket sales and donations will be used by the Westfield State Foundation for internships, scholarships, and various student initiatives. Some of the largest sponsors include Westfield Bank, Elm Electric, Westfield Gas and Electric, Baystate Dental, Berkshire Bank, and Six Flags. The event will be co-chaired by Kristin Hagan, James Hagan, Westfield State Trustee Event Co-chair and part of the WSU class of 1984, George
of money available. The current year program income is $7,500, plus a carryover from the previous year of $110,000, for a total available with a level funding allocation of $440,948 for FY17. The hardest hit in either scenario are the public services funded by the CDBG money. Public services are capped at 15% of the total, and nine programs are slated to divide $48,500, or in the contingency plan, $33,962. Over the past couple of years, a cap of $78,000 was divided among eleven programs.
See Bridge Club, Page 8
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—After a two-year lull, the Westfield Flood Control Commission (WFCC) is once again attempting to get federal funding to rehabilitate two major dams in the city. The WFCC has renewed its application with the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), which is overseen by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), for an as-yet-unspecified amount of “funding consideration” for repairs to the Arm Brook and Powdermill Dams and Reservoirs. The application for funds was last submitted in 2015 but was put on hold at the federal level through 2016. Now, according to Al Giguere, WFCC chairman, the program is possibly starting once again. “Hopefully this year, if Congress funds the US farm bill, we can fund the initial step for rehabilitation process,” Giguere said. The US farm bill is the omnibus bill that deals with many topics and legislation under the USDA’s scope. According to Giguere, if the money is made available, funding for a rehabilitation process on the Arm Brook and Powdermill Dams could be possible, especially considering the status of the dams. “They will go through a selection process and we should be high on the list because they are considered high hazard dams,” Giguere said. The two dams in question are considered high hazard because of the area that they protect. According to Giguere, if they should fail during a flood damage could occur portions of the Massachusetts Turnpike in the area, Routes 202 and 10, portions of the Union Street corridor and parts of the railroad system in the city. Additionally, Giguere said that both dams are past their life expectancies, which is about 50 years. The two dams were built in the early- to See Funds, Page 5