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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
KATHARINE WHITEHORN
www.thewestfieldnews.com
75 cents
MONDAY, JUNE 12, 2017
VOL. 86 NO. 138
Chester residents listen to debate on Gateway budget at Annual Town Meeting on Saturday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Chester Moderator Richard Holzman, a former superintendent at Gateway, said the debate was the same twenty years ago. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Chester Town Meeting has final say on Gateway budget By AMY PORTER Correspondent CHESTER – In order for the Gateway Regional School District to pass its budget, four towns must vote in favor of their assessments. Before Chester met for its Annual Town Meeting on Saturday, three towns (Middlefield, Montgomery and Blandford), all of which had decreases in their assessments, had voted for the budget, and two towns which faced high increases (Russell and Huntington) had voted it down. Chester also faced an increase, but a lower one of approximately $14,000 more than last year. When Article 9 for the above minimum contribution, the only portion of the budget that towns may vote up or down, came up for a vote on Saturday, Finance Committee chair Andrew Myers offered an amendment to lower the assessment from $413,788 to $348,159. When asked from the floor why the figure was reduced, Selectman Barbara Huntoon said the amount would level fund the Gateway budget, which contained a 1.5% increase. Huntoon also cited declining student enrollment as one reason the selectmen were supportive of
Jacob’s Ladder Business Association produces map By AMY PORTER Correspondent CHESTER – The Jacob’s Ladder Business Association (JLBA) has created a regional map to promote businesses and tourism in the hilltowns. The map, entitled “Hilltown Destinations,” includes hiking trail heads, JLBA businesses, money saving coupons and other hilltown attractions. The 18” by 24” map was presented at the JLBA meeting on June 8 at the Chester Common Table Restaurant at 30 Main Street, which also celebrated the farm to table restaurant’s first anniversary in business. The map is scheduled to be mailed early this week directly to households in all JLBA-member towns, including Chester, Huntington, Russell, Blandford, Granville, and Montgomery, among others. More than a year in the making, its purpose is to market tourism opportunities in the area. JLBA president Michele Kenney said the map’s creation was a team effort. JLBA vice president Christina Beeke compiled all the business information for the map. The design and cartography was See Map, Page 3
the amendment. Myers said Gateway’s assessment is over 50% of the town’s budget. He said there were three reasons to ask Gateway to come back with another budget, the first being economic trends. He said the region’s population has leveled out, with the percentage of under-20 and 20-to-64 year olds going down, and over-65 year olds going up. Despite these trends, he said, spending levels have gone up. “With stagnant growth and per capita spending going up, we need to do some things to change that trend,” Myers said. He added that the district school population has also decreased from a high of 1,600 in 1993, to approximately 800 today. Myers also said although the overall school budget is up 1.5%, the assessments for all the towns increased by 2.5%, but disproportionately for the towns that were increased at a higher rate due to their percentage share of the student population. He noted that Russell was facing almost a $200,000 increase, and Huntington, about $140,000. “Russell can’t afford that. Our decision is, are we going to join those towns that voted the budget down and said they can’t
John Baldasaro, chair of the Chester Board of Selectmen, points towards Chester Elementary School while discussing school enrollment. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Barnes Air National Guard gives tour of base By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—Since the Air National Guard at Barnes is fully contained within the City’s Ward Six, they hosted Ward Six City Councilor Bill Onyski to provide information on the base’s practices regarding environmental issues and clean-up, as well as other information of their duties and work yesterday. The event further explained what the missions of the Guard are in Westfield, as well as what is done if a fuel spill or other event may occur at the base. Also included was a tour of the base, with several questions being answered by members there. “We like having community outreach,” Vice Commander of the 104th Fighter Wing Col. Peter T. Green, III, said of the event. “We are of the community, we are part of the community.” See Barnes Tour, Page 3
Body of missing swimmer found By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent WEST SUFFIELD – The search for the missing swimmer on the Middle Pond section of Congamond Lake came to a close on Saturday morning. The Southwick Police Department announced that at approximately 10:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, the body had been found and identified as Michael Chace, 33 of Enfield, Conn. Authorities believe that the individual may have drowned. The Southwick Police Department originally received a 911 call at approximately 2:39 p.m. on Thursday afternoon from a woman who reported that her friend was swimming from a boat on Middle Pond, dove underneath the water and didn’t resurface. Immediately, Southwick Police and Fire arrived to Middle Pond on the shoreline on Babb’s Beach in West Suffield. The Southwick Diving Team began to conduct a rescue operation in order to find the swimmer. The diving team, along with the police and fire departments, worked for a little less than an hour on the rescue operation, before switching to a
afford it,” Myers said. The third reason Myers gave for the Finance Committee’s decision was the process. “We think we should have a seat at the table. Gateway is adding more meetings to include the towns. That is a step in the right direction next year, but it didn’t happen this year,” he said. “Make no mistake, we need good schools, and we need to support those schools,” he added. Gateway Regional superintendent Dr. David B. Hopson was then recognized from the floor. “The reality is, if you vote this down, Gateway
See Swimmer, Page 3
See Town Meeting, Page 3
McLean most at home on Softball Field Two of the 100,000-gallon containers for jet fuel on the Barnes Air National Guard Base.
“The easiest way for your children to learn about money is for you not to have any.”
By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD-Westfield native Donna McLean is passionate about softball. Her love of the game over a span of 42 years remains constant – especially in light of her recent return from the USA Senior Softball Rock ’n Reno (Nevada) Tournament – the team she plays on – the Twisted Fossils – won the 50’s Division. The Twisted Fossils, based in Massachusetts, has players across the state as well as from Connecticut and New York. Of the senior softball teams competing from June 2-4, the Twisted Fossils bested Nevada (NV) Sage, 19-8; Been There! Done That! from California, 16-4; Runnin’ out of Time, from Nevada, 26-5; Spokane (WA) Sparx 50, 22-6, and the Arizona Dream Team (AZ), 19-18. In the championship game, the Twisted Fossils beat the Arizona Dream Team, 20-13. “It still feels the same playing softball from Little League to now but at an older age,” said McLean from her home in Connecticut’s Litchfield County. With the championship win, the Twisted Fossils have been invited to play in the Tournament of Champions See Softball, Page 3
Southwick first responders, along with the Massachusetts State Police and Environmental Police, have discovered the missing swimmer on Middle Pond on Saturday morning. (WNG File Photo)
Southwick Police investigating damages to tree service By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – A tree contractor reported to Southwick Police last week that some of their equipment had been damaged. Tree 413, who has a location on 642 College HWY, said they had damages to their electrical wiring and brake lines to one of their trucks after an employee went to start the truck. Owner Joseph Alexopoulos reported that the incident could have occurred on Tuesday night however, Southwick Police Lt. Kevin Bishop said that he believes the damages could have happened on either Tuesday night or early on Wednesday morning. According to Bishop, Alexopoulos is tallying up the damages and it could be up to $50,000. Alexopoulos commented that he believes a competitor is trying to shut down his business. On the Tree 413 Facebook Page, the company said they will give a cash reward to anyone that gives information that leads to an arrest. Lt. Bishop said that the incident is under investigation. There will be more updates on this story if further information in the investigation is revealed.