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TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 TUESDAY, 2017 MONDAY,JUNE JULY27, 3, 2017
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Huntington Board of Health votes on Transfer Station price increase By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – At its June 21 meeting in Town Hall, the Huntington Board of Health voted not to raise the cost of “H” stickers for bags of trash. The price for stickers will remain at $1 for trash bags up to 30 gallons, and $2 for larger bags up to 60 gallons. In fact; the cost of using the transfer station has gone down this year, with the price of the annual permit reduced from $35 to $30, initially with the intention of offsetting an increase in sticker prices. The new permits, effective July 1, were being sold Saturday at the Transfer station. Permits will also be available for sale on Wednesday, July 5, when the Transfer station will be open from 3 to 6:45 p.m. (in lieu of the July 4 holiday). Regular hours are Tuesdays 3 to 6:45 p.m., and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Instead of raising the prices, the Board of Health has set an ambitious 50% recycling goal with the intent of increasing quantity and improving the quality of the materials being recycled at the transfer station. In 2016, the Town of Huntington had a recycling rate of 21.9%, second lowest among the ten towns that participate in the Hampshire Resource Management Cooperative, Many residents are conscientious about recycling and believe that they
The Huntington Board of Health held a public hearing recently to discuss possible rate increases at the transfer station. (Photo by Amy Porter) are properly recycling, according to a press release posted on the town website at: www.huntingtonma.us, which also states that the Board of Health encourages residents to be aware of recycling’s “Most Unwanted.” Number one on the list is bagging recycling in plastic bags, which is one of the most common problems at the Springfield Municipal Recycling Facility (MRF). Residents are also reminded to keep these items out of their recycling bin: • No Plastic Bags in with recycling– they bind up sorting material at the MRF
• No Placement of Recycling in Plastic Bags • No Cords or wrapping items – these shut down MRF rollers • No Loose Shredded Paper – place shredded paper in paper bags • Keep non-recyclable plastics out of the MRF container, such as pellet bags (see attendant for special collection area), plastic cups, and plastic containers that contained a hazardous material – i.e. windshield washer fluid, bleach, nail polish, motor oil, etc. • No wet-strength paper – soda and beer sleeves and paper items from the frozen food section of the grocery store are reinforced with plastic to prevent them from collapsing when wet. These cannot be recycled into paper. • No food waste in containers – Please rinse. Clean pizza boxes – okay. Pizza in the box is not! • No scrap metal – it damages recycling equipment. Place in metal bin. • No ceramics, drinking glasses, canning jars • No fluorescent light bulbs or CRTs – see attendant for special collection area. Mercury bulbs that are broken have had the mercury released. Place broken bulb in with your household trash. In addition to properly recycling, the Board of Health encourages residents to be mindful to reduce waste and to do all that they can to re-use products or re-purpose them.
The One Call Away Foundation will host two events at Whalley Park on July 22.
Review: ‘I and You’ at Chester Theatre Company By MARK G. AUERBACH Correspondent I hadn’t been to Chester Theatre Company in a couple of years, mostly due to scheduling issues, but it’s a nice intimate venue, in the Chester MA Town Hall, just about an half an hour away from Westfield on Route 20. There’s a new Artistic Director, Daniel Elihu Kramer beginning his second season, and he chose WAM Theatre’s dynamic co-founder and Artistic Director, Kristen Van Ginhoven to stage the season opener, Lauren Gunderson’s See Chester Theatre, Page 8
Lilli Hokama and Paul Pontrelli in Chester Theatre Company’s I and You. Photo: Elizabeth Solaka
(WNG File Photo)
One Call Away offering community events By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The One Call Away Foundation is hosting the 2nd Annual Bike Ride and Barbeque at Whalley Park on Saturday July 22. Registration begins at 8 a.m. and the 70-mile bike ride leaves at 10:30 a.m. Riders will make a rest stop in Otis and are expected to return to Whalley Park at 2 p.m. with the barbeque scheduled at 2:30 p.m. This is a family-style event with numerous activities, including a bounce house, face painting, pony rides, live music, dunk tank and raffle items. There will be a magic show at Noon and the National Guard sponsored BMX team will be doing a free show at 3 p.m. It costs $20 in order to participate in the bike ride, $15 for a passenger, $10 just for the meal, and walk-ins are free. See One Call Away, Page 8
work and determination to work out and eat healthier. John is in the ninth grade where he receives additional support in the classroom through his Individualized Educational Plan (IEP). John is a talented teen who likes to cook and do woodworking projects. He is described as outgoing and engaging. Legally freed for adoption, the children have shared they are looking forward to having a mom and a dad. They may want contact in the future with an adult sibling so a family should be open to maintaining this connection. Who Can Adopt? Can you provide the guidance, love and stability that a child needs? If you’re at least 18 years old, have a stable source of income, and room in your heart, you may be a perfect match to adopt a waiting child. Adoptive parents can be single, married, or partnered; experienced or not; renters or homeowners; LGBTQ singles and cou-
Westfield Lieutenant Colonel Assumes Command of Marine Air Support Squadron CHICOPEE – On June 24th, Westfield native, Lieutenant Colonel Tim Matthews assumed command of Marine Air Support Squadron 6, becoming the first local Marine to lead the squadron in over three decades. As Squadron Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Matthews will oversee detachments at both Westover ARB in Chicopee and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California. The mission of MASS-6 is to provide air Lt Col Timothy Matthews support capabilities for the official command photo. control and coordination of aircraft operation in direct support of Marine Air Ground Task Forces. MASS-6 has recently supported exercises in Norway and South Korea, conducted multiple United States based training exercises, and provided individual augmentees to NATO’s Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan. Lieutenant Colonel Matthews deployed to Iraq in 20042005 as the leader of an Air Support Liaison Team during Operation Phantom Fury/the Election Period and to the Horn of Africa in 2006-2007 as platoon commander assigned to the 6th Provisional Security Company conducting base and port security.In addition to his primary military occupational specialty, Lieutenant Colonel Matthews has served in the Reserve Support Program and as a joint planner for the Joint Planning Support Element, Norfolk, VA. His recent operational deployments include strategic and operational planning for Northeast Asia 2013, embassy reinforcement/ evacuation Libya 2014, and Joint Special Operations Task Force-Bragg 2015. Lieutenant Colonel Matthews is a 1994 graduate of Boston College with a B.A. in History and an M.Ed in Secondary Education. He is 2012 graduate of the Naval War College in Newport, RI with a M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies. He is currently an 8th grade U.S. History teacher in Newton, Massachusetts. Lieutenant Colonel Matthews lives in Westfield with his wife of 22 years, Bridget, and their children Fionnuala, Niamh, Declan, and Deirdre.
104th Fighter Wing reaches out to refugee students
ples. The process to adopt a child from foster care requires training, interviews, and home visits to determine if adoption is right for you, and if so, to help connect you with a child or sibling group
WESTFIELD – On the last day of school with the air full of excitement for summer Col. Tom Bladen, 104th Fighter Wing operations group commander, entered the art-filled halls at Highland Elementary School on his way to visit 8-12-year-old students. The visit was to engage with refugee students who have been in Massachusetts for three months to three years. “Bringing a friendly face to the classroom, to help humanize the pilots was my thought,” said Patricia Wysocki, a teacher for English language learners for the past seven years at Highland Elementary and an adjunct professor at Westfield State University. I wanted the children to know the pilot’s mission is to keep us safe. Your visit was everything I hoped it would be.” The visit served as a means to help the children understand why they hear the loud screeching F-15 jets flying overhead when playing outside their school and homes. “Visiting the students was an incredible experience,” said Bladen. “It was rewarding to be able to draw the connective tissue between the American way of life, the Air National Guard, and the 104 FW. Specifically many of the children came from a hostile or violent environment that was often created by their government. I enjoyed the opportunity to explain our country is built on protecting freedoms for its people, which includes them now, and how the 104FW is a vital piece to protection.”
See Sunday’s Child, Page 3
See 104th Fighter Wing, Page 3
Sunday’s Child: John and Kelsey John and Kelsey are a loving and bonded sibling group of two of Caucasian descent. Kelsey is a sixteenyear girl whose foster mother describes her as a “giggle puss”. If you spend time with her you will quickly see why! She has the biggest smile and an infectious laugh. Kelsey is diagnosed with Down Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy. She was previously using a wheelchair prior to coming into foster care, but now is now walking and making tremendous progress! She is getting stronger everyday and working hard in physical therapy! Kelsey likes to do karaoke, read, and listen to music. One of her favorite singers is “Pink”! Kelsey is in the ninth grade where she receives support in school through her Individualized Educational Plan (IEP). John is a fifteen-year old boy who likes Pokemon, watching TV and working out! John has lost over 100 pounds in the last year due to his hard
Lt. Col. Matthews (left) Sergeant Major Will Singleton is saluting (center), and outgoing commander, Lt. Col. Nate Henderson (right). The photo was taken on the Eclipse at Westover ARB on June 24th.
JOHN AND KELSEY