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WEATHER TONIGHT Partly Cloudy, Cool. Low of 46
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014
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Springfield car thief arrested in city By Peter Francis Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A Springfield native by way of Louisville, Kentucky was arrested yesterday morning on Springfield Road in Westfield. Miracle Crimes, 28, of 292 Union Street, Springfield, was arraigned yesterday on charges of larceny of a motor vehicle, operating under the influence of alcohol, and speeding. According to the court’s statement of facts, Crimes was traveling westbound at 12:20 a.m. at an estimated 58 mph in a 40 mph zone on Springfield Road when arrested by Westfield police officer John Parrish, who was running stationary radar on the road. Parrish stated that the vehicle Crimes was traveling in, a white Ford Focus, had blown a tire and was driving on a rim. He pulled the vehicle over into the parking lot of the Bertera Dodge dealership nearby and asked Crimes if she was aware she was driving on a blown tire. After engaging in a conversation with Crimes, Parrish smelled alcohol on her breath and asked if she’d been drinking. Crimes said she’d had only one beer, which prompted the officer to ask for her license, at which time she produced a Kentucky drivers license. During the stop, West Springfield police contacted Westfield police dispatch to inform them they were looking for a stolen car which matched the query being run by Westfield police. West Springfield police confirmed that vehicle was stolen, and Crimes was arrested. Crimes was arraigned in Westfield District Court yesterday, where Judge Philip Contant set bail at $250. She is due back in court on October 10 for a pre-trial hearing.
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VOL. 83 NO.190
“Forgiveness
Hangar repairs approved
line of Aug. 20. Owner’s Project Manager Strategic Building Solutions’ Kurt Lavaway told the committee this week that SBS began looking at the construction timeline several weeks ago and found PDS was not on schedule. “We were noticing things were slipping,”
By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Community Preservation Committee gave approval to a funding request to repair Hangar 2 at Barnes Regional Airport, but attached a number of conditions to that vote. The 10,000-square-foot hangar was built in 1939 with a brick, wood and steel structure that fell into disrepair in the 1970s when the original facade was covered with aluminum siding. Airport Manager Brian Barnes said the rehabilitation plan is to repair the “envelope” of the structure, which has been deemed of historical significance by the city’s Historical Committee, and restore it to its original appearance. The level of funding approved last night was significantly below the level requested in the original Community Preservation Act application. Barnes said the original funding request of $750,000 was a rough or “spitball” estimate.
See Extended, Page 8
See Repairs, Page 8
Contractors install new energy efficent lighting in the classrooms of Powder Mill School in Southwick. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Construction timeline extended By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – The Southwick-TollandGranville Regional School Committee approved a change order this week for PDS Construction. The order gives the company five extra days to complete summer work at Woodland and Powder Mill Schools, setting a new dead-
Animal abuse bill heading to Gov. Patrick’s desk By Peter Francis Staff Writer BOSTON — Massachusetts lawmakers have given final passage to a bill that would toughen penalties for those who abuse animals. The House and Senate gave final approval to the so-called PAWS bill — short for Protecting Animal Welfare and Safety — during the legislature’s informal session this week. The bill would raise the maximum prison time from five to seven years for a first offense and up to 10 years for any subsequent offenses. It also would increase the possible fine for committing animal abuse from $2,500 to $5,000 for a first offense, and up to $10,000 for any subsequent
offenses. The bill now heads to Gov. Deval Patrick’s desk for his signature before becoming law. The bill’s sponsor, Gloucester Republican Sen. Bruce Tarr, has pointed to the need for stiffer penalties by citing the case of a dog, “Puppy Doe” that was euthanized after being found beaten and tortured in Quincy last year. “Animal abuse in our commonwealth is simply unacceptable,” Tarr, the Senate’s Republican leader, said in a written statement Thursday. “Now we have acted to increase penalties to send a clear and immediate message.” See Animal Abuse Bill, Page 8
TRACY ROOT
Big Y solar project runoff floods Southwick neighborhood By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – Wednesday’s rain caused major problems for several residents of College Highway who live in front of the new solar project being built by Big Y. Runoff from the project left one homeowner without a driveway and another without a usable backyard. Michael Noble, who lives right next to the access road to the project, said there was
always some runoff from the hill, but not like what he experienced this week. “It was never like this before,” said Noble. “It was never this bad. They cleared out the woods and the water came right through my property – my backyard is destroyed.” Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Randy Brown was on scene during the storm and the next day. He said representatives from the solar company, RGS Energy, and design firm Design Group, Inc., as well as
Mike Noble of Southwick checks the water damage, bottom right, to his yard and driveway after Wednesday’s heavy rainfall. Noble said the damage was caused by the clearing of woodland above is property where a new solar farm is being built on College Highway near the Big Y. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Big Y, were also on-site along with town officials. “There is pretty significant erosion,” said Brown. “It is pretty clear that it is runoff from the project.” The solution to preventing a similar event lies in a redesign of the stormwater plan, which currently includes a rock bed around the property that flows into a detention basin at the front of the property where Big Y is located.
Dirt and debris cover the vegetation in the backyard of Mike Noble of Southwick after Wednesday’s heavy rainfall. Noble claims his property damage is due to the new solar farm being built just above his property line on College Highway. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Noble said the system in place now failed completely and now he has to wait for the cleanup to begin. “It did absolutely nothing. I have a sump pump running to get the water out of my basement, but I can’t use my yard,” he said. “It is a disaster.” Noble said he spoke with Matthew Puntin of Design Group, Inc. and attended a meeting See Project Runoff, Page 3
Last year, Matthew D. Puntin of S-K Design Group of Pittsfield, explained a site plan of a new 1.83 megawatt solar array to members of the Southwick Planning Board. The new array covers 2.7 acres of land south of the Big-Y Supermarket in Southwick. (File photo by Frederick Gore)