Westfield350.com
Westfield350.com WEATHER WEATHER TONIGHT WEATHER TONIGHT Partly Cloudy.
The Westfield Westfield News The Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com www.thewestfieldnews.com TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017
TONIGHT Low of 55.
Partly Cloudy. Partly Cloudy. Low 59. Low ofof55.
VOL. 86 NO. 151
VOL. 86 86 NO. NO. 227 151 VOL.
Search for The Westfield News
Search for The Westfield News
“ASearch utumn , the year The Westfield News ’s “Tforime is The only last, loveliest smile .” criTic wiThouT “Time is The only ambiTion.” criTic wiThouT — WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT JOHN STEINBECK ambiTion.” JOHN STEINBECK
75 cents
75 75cents cents
TUESDAY, JUNE 27,22, 2017 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2017
Cowles Bridge stalemate By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—It was discussed yesterday that there have been no new developments on the waiver request from the Westfield Fire Department for Cowles Bridge. Westfield City Council’s public health and safety subcommittee discussed the bridge, which runs along Route 10 and 202, for the second time in about two weeks, after the Westfield Fire Department has been unable use the bridge with several fire vehicles due to The posted weight limit on weight limits and the need of a waiver from the Cowles Bridge.
Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). The city and the Westfield Fire Department have been awaiting word on a waiver, but according to Westfield Fire Deputy Chief Pat Eghloff, no waiver has been received yet. “As of today, the liaison of the state said there is nothing new,” Eghloff said to the committee at the meeting yesterday. Eghloff also noted that the original estimated time given by the state for the waiver has elapsed, and said that the department received no word from either Rep.
John Velis or Sen. Don Humason on the matter yet. Velis and Humason attended the committee meeting that occurred about two weeks ago on the matter. MassDOT previously sent a letter, dated Aug. 3, to the department requesting that they refrain from using the bridge with vehicles above the posted weight limits until a waiver has been received from MassDOT. The Westfield Fire Department complied and also applied for a waiver following the letter from the state. According to Eghloff, the department has been con-
A portion of Cowles Bridge, which is along Southwick Road tinuing to monitor the situation, which has included a log of every fire-based incident that is called in on the other side of the bridge. The department has also been using alternative routes to respond to incidents on the other side of the bridge and
the department is in the preliminary phase of looking into pursuing a lighter truck, according to Eghloff. The item was voted on to keep within the committee until a waiver was received. A corresponding report was provided to city council.
Police seek missing teen By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–The city’s police are seeking information on a missing Westfield teen. Police reported that David Benitez, 16, left his home and was last seen at 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 20. Police reported that Benitez is describe at 5 feet, 10 inches tall, about 150 lbs., with short brown hair. Benitez was last seen wearing tan pants, a black t-shirt, a baseball cap and white-and-black Jordan sneakers. If anyone has any information about Benitez, they are urged to contact the Westfield Police Department at (413)5625411.
Resident Holly Robbins was one of several who urged caution on the hospital zoning change.
Those for and against Baystate Noble’s zone change plan speak out By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – The City Council allowed more than one and a half hours for the public hearing on the proposed zoning change for Baystate Noble Hospital on Thursday evening. President pro temp Mary O’Connell presided as city councilors, neighbors, city and hospital officials all weighed in on the pros and cons of the changes. Ward 2 Councilor Ralph J. Figy, the petitioner for the zoning change began by thanking the public for coming out for the second public hearing in one week, and sacrificing personal time with families. He called the public hearing on Tuesday with the Planning Board “very productive,” and started by proposing several changes, the first being to change the name from a Medical Services District to a
MARY ANN BABINSKI
MARY O’CONNELL
Hospital Zone, which he thought would alleviate some concerns. Figy also noted Planning Board chair Philip McEwan’s concern about setback footage of 20 feet in the ordinance, and recommended changing the
language to state that footage would be increased by the permitting board. He also took McEwan’s suggestion to change no parking within 20 feet of street line to lot line.
City Council tackles agenda items By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – Ward 4 Councilor Mary O’Connell filled in as City Council president for Brent B. Bean, II who was unable to attend due to urgent business at the university, during Thursday’s meeting council meeting. While the public hearing took up the majority of the two and a half hour-long meeting, other business before the council was also heard, and many items referred to sub-committees. Immediate consideration was granted and voted for Edward Burzdak as a Parks and Recreation basketball referee for a seasonal position. City clerk Karen Fanion submitted the order for polling locations for the 2017 elections. Fanion also submitted the call of the city to the preliminary election on Tuesday, September 26 for Ward 4 only, to See City Council, Page 8
See Zone Change, Page 3
A photo of David Benitez, as posted on the Westfield Police Detective Bureau’s Facebook page.
WE2BA offers opportunities for businesses to get involved in the schools By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – The Westfield Education to Business Alliance (WE2BA) held its monthly meeting at the Stanley Park Pavilion on Thursday morning to discuss several ways the school district and area businesses can work together to prepare the future workforce, and promote opportunities in the business community. Margaret Toomey, Westfield High School Family Consumer Science teacher, introduced a brand new project. Toomey said WHS and Westfield Tech are planning to collaborate on a student-made video that would go into various businesses and interview them about what skill sets they look for in their employees. Toomey introduced Eric Grigoryan, a senior in the Multimedia II class, who would be involved in the project, which will be led by Computer Science teacher Karen Whitaker. Grigoryan said he’s been working with video since age 14, when he started filming weddings with his father, a wedding photographer. WHS recently entered a video by Grigoryan about the benefits of walking and bicycling and risks of driving into the Hampden District Attorney’s PSA challenge. Grigoryan said that businesses inter-
Allan Fowler of Commonwealth Corporation presented the Signal Success employment readiness curriculum being used in Westfield Technical Academy. viewed for the video project will be asked who they are, what they do, and the skill sets needed to work there. “I believe my peers will benefit from the knowledge you have and what it takes to be successful,” Grigoryan said. Businesses who are interested in getting involved in the project may contact Kate See WE2BA, Page 8
Fire pit ordinance discussed
WSAA plans ways to help loved ones in Puerto Rico
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—A new ordinance proposed on fire pits in the city has been sent back into a city council subcommittee for more review. The Westfield City Council’s Public Health and Safety subcommittee discussed METAL FIRE PIT (WNG File photo) a draft ordinance that would address fire pits, chimeneas and other outdoor fireplace use in the city. The draft, crafted by the subcommittee’s chairperson At-Large Councilor Dan Allie, had input from the city’s law department as well as had influences from Massachusetts state laws and suggestions from Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP). The ordinance, which was laden with legal language, was voted to stay in committee with eventual next steps potentially being public hearings, city council vote and review from MassDEP.
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent WESTFIELD – As Hurricane Maria swept through Puerto Rico and caused much devastation, a local organization in Westfield is working on helping those in need on the island. The Westfield Spanish American Association held a meeting on Thursday night to begin discussions on how they can help so many of their friends and family that are facing adversity with the hurricane. The immediate question that came to mind from committee member Eddie Diaz was figuring out what to do since all of the committee members have family and friends that are currently in Puerto Rico as well several other residents that live in Westfield. “There’s a lot of anxiety here locally,” said Diaz. “What can we do for Puerto Rico?” See WSAA, Page 3