Search for The Westfield News
WEATHER TONIGHT Mostly Clear. Low of 45.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 237
The Westfield News will run its masthead in pink, in recognition of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
75 cents
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2016
National Guard to test Westfield water, Barnes Aquifer Natalie Gaudino and Malerie Hinckley, new owners of Farmhouse Finds Custom Design, were showcasing their Samantha Cowles of Southwick is all smiles - with son Oliver business at the Westfield Farmers’ Market on Thursday after- as she wraps up her weekly shopping at the Westfield noon. The women will also participate in the December marFarmers’ Market. ket.
Farmers’ Market expands For Holiday Season By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD-While the Westfield Farmers’ Market closed up its season on Thursday evening, Deborah Randzio, market manager, was excited to announce that the market would expand to include two dates during the holiday season. “The market is expanding into winter this year on a trial basis, opening on Nov. 19 and Dec. 10 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” said Randzio, adding vendors will set up their specialty products inside the Episcopal Church of the Atonement on Court Street. “We will have many of our regular summer vendors returning with jams, jellies, and winter products as well as a few new crafters joining us for the first time,” said Randzio. Among those who have already signed up to participate are Natalie Gaudino and Malerie Hinckley of Farmhouse Finds Custom Design, and Jim Fortini of Fortini Gelato and Sorbetto. At Thursday’s market, Gaudino and Hinckley noted they recently started their business, “inspired” by vintage
farmhouse style furniture and accessories that they repurpose. “Old is new again,” said Gaudino, noting that some of their popular sellers include decorative Ball jars, signs, shutters and windows. Hinckley added the two friends enjoy “junk hunting” at estate and tag sales among other “picking” opportunities. Currently, the women have an assortment of their wares for sale at the Hinckley Harvest Farmstand on Russell Road, and will participate in the Dec. 10 market. Randzio noted that an important asset of the weekly farmers’ market has been SNAP matches that have benefitted individuals of all ages, from students and mothers with children to seniors. “With the SNAP match program we have been able to give away over $2,000 a week in healthy food at reasonable prices,” said Randzio. “The program not only helps individuals but also supports local agriculture.” Samantha Cowles of Southwick, who was enjoying making some last-minute purchases with her son Oliver in tow,
praised the SNAP benefit. “I have attended the majority of the markets this season,” said Cowles. “My staples have included homemade bread, mushrooms, duck eggs and vegetables, and by also receiving the SNAP match, I have been able to provide more options for clean eating for my family.” Cowles added that there is also something special about attending the market. “Shopping outside is always great,” said Cowles, adding, “I’ll be back for the winter markets.” Looking back at the “fabulous” season, Randzio said the market has quadrupled in size since 2015 when seven vendors participating was the norm. “We have built the market up to 35 now even though some vendors may only participate once a month,” said Randzio. Many of the businesses that have been staples to this year’s market will return in November and December, including Jenny Doser, owner of Relax. Rinse. Repeat. Doser was showcasing her latest
were able to evacuate the woman, however. Regan said that she initially refused medical treatment, but eventually decided to go to the hospital via Westfield Fire ambulance for evaluation. Regan said that in addition to the people, there was a dog and at least one cat in the home at the time of the fire, and both were able to get out. The owner of the home–who wished to remain anonymous–said that there were three other cats that also reside there that have not been found, but that they are outdoor cats and did not suspect that they were in the home at the time of the fire. The owner was not home at the time of the fire, either. Regan said that the origin of the fire is
Several Grandparents raising Grandchildren in Westfield as well as throughout Western Mass., attended the event at the Westfield Senior Center. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Forum allows grandparents to speak out about struggles
some future date,” Beltrandi said. 16-17 people signed a petition to oppose the zone change. Also speaking at the City Council meeting during public participation was Don Podolski, owner of New Horizons Bikes on Franklin Street, requesting that the city consider a change in the design for the upcoming milling of Franklin Street next spring. “I’m here to speak for the local bicycling community,” he said about the project which will be funded through Chapter 90 funds. He asked that the city consider making the proposed 5-foot shoulder a dedicated bicycle lane. He said the current plan changes the road from two lanes to one, with a center turning lane and the 5-foot shoulder, which
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent WESTFIELD – The Attorney General’s Office hosted the “Information Exchange for Kinship Caregivers” forum at the Westfield Senior Center on Thursday night. The forum is a part of the Attorney General’s 2016 Fall Listening Tour. Just last week, the Attorney General’s Office held a forum in Pittsfield. Communities having forums taking place in the coming weeks include Worcester, Greenfield, Lowell, Dartmouth, Bourne and Boston. The main emphasis on the forum at the senior center was towards grandparents raising grandchildren that are affected by opioids. There was a panel on stage that started the forum by addressing the crowd. Representing Grandparents Raising Grandchildren was Chairman John Lepper and Commissioner Margo Chevers. From the Attorney General’s Office was Assistant Attorney General Abigail Taylor, and Catherine Madden, the Project Manager. Local businesses in the area were present as they set up tables and made their resources available after the forum was finished. Communicating with the grandparents in the crowd was critical for members of the panel. “The objective is to exchange information with them,” said Lepper. The panel did a slide show presentation and reported what they have found in regards to statistics about grandparents raising grandchildren. According to the National Statistics on Grandparents Raising
See Code Changes, Page 3
See Forum, Page 3
See Fire, Page 3
City council discusses code changes By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – The largest group of people in attendance at the City Council meeting on Thursday evening left soon after John Beltrandi withdrew his request for a zone change from residential to business at 255 Southampton Road during a scheduled public hearing. Beltrandi said he had originally intended to obtain a zone change to purchase the home of Gerald and Suzanne Tracy at the location, in order to locate his real estate office in the building. The property is at the corner of a residential area on Route 10, across from a business zone. 2016-17-westfieldcity-council “I request to withdraw without prejudice due to overwhelming negative feedback, and hopefully come back at
See Barnes Aquifer, Page 3
See Holiday Season, Page 3
One hospitalized after Southampton Road fire By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–A fire at a home on Southampton Road sent one resident to the hospital late Thursday morning. The fire started around 10:15 a.m. Westfield Fire and Police Department personnel responded to the fire, which began at a residence in the Henry’s mobile home park on Southampton Road. Westfield Fire capt. Chris Regan said that there were five residents that live in the home and all were able to get out safely, which one of them going to the hospital with injuries. Also in the apartment were several animals. The exterior of the home on Regan said that the woman who was Southampton Road, along with injured was initially unable to get out of the the porch where the injured party home completely and was stuck in the porch had difficulty getting out of. of the residence. Police and Fire personnel
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—The National Guard is putting a plan in place to test ground water at Barnes Regional Airport. The testing will be done to determine if PFOS and PFOA chemicals are at high levels in the water and if the cause can be linked to a firefighting foam that was used from 1970 to 1987 at Barnes and other guard, naval and Air Force bases. Previous studies done by the city on the water found that water from certain wells had elevated levels of the chemicals and resulted in three wells being put offline. “We’re going to have a kickoff meeting next week to start the process,” John Richardson, environmental coordinator for the guard, said. “We do a work plan, how many wells we are going to drill, what the strategy will be, then a field effort which will probably be done in the spring.” Once the testing is done, Richardson said that the results should be back later in the spring. However, he was unsure of what steps would be next because the link to the foam and contamination has not yet been determined. However, he said that if there is a link found, the city would probably be compensated in some way, but was unable to be more specific. Barnes Airport is situated on top of the Barnes Aquifer, which is where the wells that have been shut down get their water from. The firefighting foam, known as aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, is a commonly used fire suppression chemical
STATE SENATE DEBATE ON PUBLIC TV TONIGHT Humason (R-Westfield) & PaRkeR-o’GRady (d-soutHamPton) CANDIDATES FOR THE 2ND HAMPDEN-HAMPSHIRE DISTRICT 7:30 p.m. TONIGHT on WGBY (and 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 9)
Public Television for Western New England