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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
than the person who knows it all is the person who argues with him.” — STANISLAW J. LEC
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 179
“The only fool bigger
75 cents
MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016
A look back on this year’s Southwick Days
Southwick Days was successful once again this year. (Westfield News File Photo)
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The fun-filled four day event in Southwick is what brings a majority of the Southwick community together. As Southwick Days ran from July 22 thru July 25, this year’s festivities may have concluded, but the look back on the outcome is also important. “All in all, it was a good event,” said Rotary Club Fundraising Chairman Bob Fox. “Everybody had a great time.” During the opening night on Thursday, the carnival rides started up. As the carnival rides have been known to start on Friday and go through Sunday, this year the carnival aspect to Southwick Days started on Thursday and ended on Saturday. With the fireworks on Friday and the parade on Saturday, the carnival is able to capitalize on those two events. Since the fireworks are an important part of Southwick Days,
having a successful outcome is important to the Rotary Club. “We try to raise enough money to pay for most of next year’s fireworks,” said Rotary Club member Joe Deedy. “That’s the whole key for us.” Both Deedy and Fox stated that the estimated cost for the fireworks this year was around $9,000. With the many expenses the Rotary Club incurs for Southwick Days every year, this year the predicted cost in total could be at $17,000. Although the exact numbers are not expected to be ready for another couple of weeks, Fox and Deedy already know what the current plan will be moving forward for the Rotary Club. “What we’re trying to do now at this particular point, is to raise enough money so we can start it again next year,” said Fox. Knowing that the focus is moving forward with the money for See Southwick Days, Page 3
Humason negotiates compromise Ride-for-Hire Bill BOSTON – As one of six members of a legislative Conference Committee, State Senator Don Humason helped negotiate a compromise bill focused on regulating transportation network companies, such as Uber and Lyft. “In some areas of the state, including my district, transportation options are really limited. For that reason, it was important to me that we allow these innovative companies to continue to grow in order to meet our constituents’ unmet transportation needs, ” said Senator Humason. “I am proud of the bill we were able to produce, and I appreciate my colleagues’ inclusive and thoughtful approach to this process.”
STATE SENATOR DON HUMASON The finalized bill would create a new division with the Department of Public Utilities, which would oversee regulations related to transportation network companies. Ride sharing drivers would be subjected to back-
ground checks by both the hiring company and the new division, as well as display state-issued decals on any vehicle used for ride-sharing services. Additionally, the legislation includes a 20 cent surcharge per ride, which will be directed towards infrastructure repairs and improvements. Under the legislation, 10 cents of the surcharge would go directly towards infrastructure repairs in the municipality where the ride originated. MassDevelopment would receive 5 cents per ride to support small businesses that could be impacted by the industry, while the remaining 5 cents would go to MassDOT for statewide transportation improvements.
The bill gives authority to MassPort and the Boston Convention Center Authority to develop regulations regarding transportation network companies’ ability to retrieve passengers from their property. “It is important to increase safety measures for passengers. However, I also voiced my concerns about the potential negative impacts of overregulation on the industry and Massachusetts’ reputation as a hub for innovation. I think we did a good job of balancing those two priorities in this bill,” said Humason. Following unanimous approval in both the House and the Senate, the bill now goes to the Governor for his consideration.
Political initiatives supporting local manufacturing and education By NORMAN HALLS Contributor Having an understanding of local businesses and manufacturing could save the local economy that supports education and the municipal progression. Recently, a journalist was interviewing a group from a steel town as to their
thoughts on why the steel company shut down. They really didn’t have an answer as to why and who closed the plant. They would of course like the steel company back. But, the former employees will have to be trained for today’s technology. The local union officials, politicians
and the state Economic Development Office should have kept their eye on the business. In the report, Governance and Development Review, it said: “the answer lies in the interaction of two factors: the technical and economic characteristics of the different
Wheels for Whiskers Car Show Brian Grady of Westfield points out a detail to son Calvin of a 1926 Dodge Brothers Special Touring at Wheels for Whiskers Car Show. See additional photos Page 11.
industrial sectors; and the political and bureaucratic characteristics of the respective local governments.” The approach that is needed, and the local industry and municipality should coordinate efforts to prevent businesses leaving their community. In Memphis, TN, a medical device industry has a $2.6 billion impact on the local community and nearly 17,000 employees. But, because of the lack of a trained workforce, they were considering going off shore. The local Chamber of Commerce said: “If we don’t get serious about this and start seeing some ways to address this issue, we’re going to be left behind.” Groups came together to develop a plan to train and assist in upgrading equipment for the manufacturer. John Threadgill, of the Chamber of Commerce said: “What we dismissed 20 years ago as something that wasn’t important to the economy anymore, and just kind of let it go, is coming back now in the place of career and technical education.” Business and industry today are looking at their cash flow and keeping their inventory low. They need to keep their customer satisfied with quality products they can deliver on time. Last year, a report out of Canada said: businesses are moving their production back. Many have stopped the endless “should we stay or go” debate. Companies have
(Photo by Marc St.Onge)
See Initiatives, Page 3
City resident renovating historical building By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–A Civil War-era building in the city is getting a heavy makeover. The West Farms Schoolhouse, a one-room schoolhouse located in the Wyben section of Westfield, is receiving a lot of work and restoration from the Westfield Historical Commission’s Walter Fogg, as he tries to turn the dilapidated building into a place where people can learn about life in Westfield in the late 1800s. And Fogg is hoping for assistance from the public in getting the building back to its original condition. “There’s about $63,950 we still need total,” Fogg said about the cost of work. “In the scope of historical renovations though, that’s peanuts. “If we can bring more money from grants and fundraising and get volunteers to help, we can signifi- The schoolhouse’s bell. cantly lower that cost.” Currently, the schoolhouse has a new foundation that was done in 2014, slate for the chalkboards that was donated by Storrowtown Village and a potbelly stove that was renovated by Good Time Stove Company in Goshen. However, a lot of renovations still need to be done for it to be complete. Among the work that still needs doing: the tin ceiling and wooden floors need to be repaired, the chimney needs to be rebuilt and the outhouse needs to be torn apart and reassembled. Fogg, who is 72, has been doing the work alongside Tim Wohlhueter of Squaw Hollow Restoration, of Wales, Massachusetts. Wohlhueter, Fogg said, specializes in 17th to 19th century house and barn restoration, which makes him qualified for the work. Others who have contributed their efforts include Dick Patterson and Bob Allen of Wyben, as well as Scott Duncan of Southampton. The schoolhouse was originally erected in 1862, Rotted away ceiling. replacing a oneroom schoolhouse that was destroyed by a fire the year before. It served the community as the educational boon for children until 1939, when the city fully transitioned to larger 12- to 24-room schools. The schoolhouse has its connection to the city as more than just an old school, though. Fogg said that it was chosen as the teaching school for then-Westfield State College for those studying to become teachers. The teachers-to-be would come to the school and work alongside the residential teacher, learning the craft and helping with students. Fogg hopes that this connection helps spark more interest and activity from the community and the university. If you would like to help, email Fogg at wkfogg@comcast. net for more information.