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WEATHER TONIGHT Partly cloudy, T-storms. Low of 60.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com
— CARL SANDBURG
MONDAY, JULY 13, 2015
VOL. 84 NO. 175
“Back of every mistaken venture and defeat is the laughter of wisdom, if you listen.” 75 cents
Seeding needed at Whalley Park By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – The Parks and Recreation Commission is making a plan for turf improvements at Whalley Park. The Commission met with Joe Wood of TruGreen this week who offered a report from his last application and a recommendation for the future. Wood said there are thin, weak spots on several fields, including the back soccer field. The front soccer field is in better shape. “It’s responded very well to treatment and parts of it are in really good shape,” said Wood. “There are almost no weeds or crabgrass.” The softball field and one baseball field are both very spotty. Wood said a second application of weed control was necessary. “It would clean up 70-80-percent of the weed population and about 85-percent of the crabgrass,” he said. Wood said all fields would benefit from seeding this fall. Wood told the Commission if they provided the seed, he would apply it using a special wide tractor applicator. “I would apply it at a highly reduced rate of $600 per acre,” said Wood. Normally, seeding costs up to $1,800 per acre. Wood was not sure how many acres he would recommend at a minimum for seeding this week, but planned to give a written proposal and ost to the Commission. Commissioner John Whalley asked if he could go to $500 per acre, but Wood said $600 was his rock-bottom cost. “I want to help you out,” he said. Wood said the hill at the entrance to the park could use seed as well, however he suggested a hand-pushed split spreader would provide the best application there. Wood said helping create optimal playing fields was his goal. “I’m looking to do a fantastic job restoring and renovating the fields,” he said.
Do Not Call Registry:
Rumors and facts By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – Every January and June, a rumor circulates that cell phone numbers will be made public to telemarketers. According to Snopes.com, an Internet rumor buster, this rumor is false. Cell phone users do not have a deadline to register their phone number with the National Do Not Call registry – it can be done at any time. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), despite emails circulating on the Internet, consumers should not be concerned that their cell phone numbers will be released to telemarketers at any time in the near future. In addition, according to the agency, it is not necessary to register cell phone number on the DNC Registry to be protected from most telemarketing calls to cell phones. The DNC Registry accepts registrations from both cell phones
and land lines. You must call from the phone number that you want to register. If you register online, you must respond to a confirmation e-mail. Add your phone number for free by visiting donotcall.gov, or calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to register (TTY: 1-866-290-4236). If you register online, you will receive a confirmation email from donotcall.gov. You must click on the link in the email within 72 hours to complete your registration. The FTC has also reported on its website that scammers have been making phone calls claiming to represent the National Do Not Call Registry. The calls claim to provide an opportunity to sign up for the Registry. These calls are not coming from the Registry or the Federal Trade Commission, and you should not respond to these calls.
Marsha and Ron Messier of Chester show Ron Messier’s wood carvings and pyrography (woodburning). (Photo by Amy Porter)
Hilltown artisans display their wares By AMY PORTER Correspondent WORTHINGTON — Hilltown artists and craftspeople displayed their work this weekend at the Hilltown Artisans Guild Summer Show at the Worthington Town Hall. Visitors enjoyed a wide array of handmade goods, including fine art, pottery, photography, jewelry, specialty soaps and woodworking items. Avril Marriott of Huntington displayed her whimsical mice characters from the Mouse Academy. The mice were divided into working country mice and city mice who had gone to the Mouse Academy and earned advance degrees. Marriott is also working on a children’s book to feature her mouse characters. William Mikuski of Blandford featured his coin banks, made out of decommissioned post office lockbox doors housed in wooden boxes of oak, cherry, maple and ash. Each bank has a solid brass coin drop, and either a combination lock or key – or both – from the original post office box. The oldest lockbox door in the collection dates from 1880. Mikuski himself is a retired mail carrier who had routes in Blandford, Russell and parts of Westfield. Some of the other artisans featuring their work included Ron Messier of Chester, woodcarving and pyrography, artists Steve Hamlin and Linda
Westfield water main break to be worked on WESTFIELD (WWLP) – People living in some city neighborhoods may be experiencing no or low water pressure Monday morning after a water main break on Falley Drive. Westfield Police Sgt. Kevin Bard said repair work on the water main at Falley Drive should last throughout
Retired mail carrier William Mikuski of Blandford displayed his unique handcrafted coin banks made from original post office lockbox doors. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Hamlin of Huntington, and artist and potter Tania Coletta of Huntington. The Hilltown Artisans Guild is a network of diverse professional
craftspeople and artists who reside in the hilltowns of western Massachusetts. Members benefit See Artisans, Page 3
Trio of new Eagle Scouts honored at ceremony
Monday. Bard said the water main break happened around midnight at the intersection of Crawford Drive.
Bard said crews would start work once the sun comes up. He said he expects work to begin around 7:30 a.m. Monday.
By KATHLEEN HARRINGTON Correspondent WESTFIELD – Visitors to Amelia Park Children’s Museum find a manicured landscape and brightly painted picnic tables thanks to the efforts of Boy Scout Liam Sheehan. On Sunday, his efforts, hard work, organizational skills, and leadership earned him the rank of Eagle Scout. Sheehan along with brothers Matthew
and Steven Cole were awarded the highest honor in Scouting in a ceremony at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church in Westfield. All three were responsible for planning, coordinating and executing community service projects to benefit the community. Matthew Cole’s service project was to clean up and paint the See Eagle Scouts, Page 3