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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
“Tell me what you pay attention to and I will tell you who you are.” — JOSE ORTEGA Y GASSET
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 65
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MONDAY, MARCH 20, 2017
Michael Drive fire causes ‘total loss’ By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—A garage fire on Michael Drive over the weekend caused a reported “total loss” of the property. Westfield Fire Deputy Chief Eric Bishop reported that the department responded to a fire at 62 Michael Dr. on Saturday morning, at around 7:30 a.m. The fire, which started in the attached garage of the residence, spread to the home and caused a “total loss,” according to Bishop. No injuries were reported. According to Bishop, the garage was fully engulfed and the fire spread to the home via the attic. Bishop said that the entire house had “heat, smoke, fire and water damage,” and the total cost of damage was estimated at $440,000, including property inside the home. Bishop reported that the homeowners were alerted to the fire by one of the neighbors—who wished to remain anonymous—that saw it outside. The residents did reportedly have working smoke detectors but due to the location of the fire they did not activate initially. “They did have working smoke detectors but the fire was initially in the garage, and no smoke and heat was making it inside to alert them that a fire was outside,” Bishop said. Bishop added that the safety and evacuation of the occupants is the
A picture reportedly of the fire on Michael Drive, that was submitted to the Westfield Fire Department from someone reportedly near the fire Saturday. priority of the department. The department also requested the assistance of the Russell and Air National Guard Fire Departments’ tankers Bishop said, which are apparatuses that carry larger amounts of water for fire suppression. This was due to previous hydrant issues near the scene. The tankers however, were not used, Bishop said. The Westfield Fire Department and State Fire Marshal investigated the blaze, and Bishop said that the cause was undetermined.
New permit process will be open to the public in April By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Town of Southwick has signed a contract with Full Circle Technologies for an electronic program called Permit Eyes that will make their town permitting process easier. According to the town building inspector, Art Lawler, the new permit system is a web-based product that automates the permitting and licensing process. Lawler believes that there is a clear benefit to the upgrade for the community. “It will allow anyone with access to the internet, to apply and pay for build- The Permit Eyes program is expected to be an upgrade ing Permits online,” said Lawler. With the current system, an individu- from the current program al applying for a building permit would that the town of Southwick have to take the sign-off sheet and uses. (WNG File Photo) bring it to each individual department head in the town for their approvals. With the new system, it will allow review of an application by more than one department concurrently, which is expected to save time and effort. While a “burn-in” period will be conducted before the Permit Eyes program is available to the public, Lawler says that the service should be open to the public in April. Cities and towns throughout the area are known for having this system, as Chicopee started it about a year ago.
After-school programs teach circus skills with takeaways By CAITLIN ASHWORTH Daily Hampshire Gazette EASTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) — Seventhgrade student Serenidy White balanced a yellow plate on a long wooden stick. As the plate spun, the 12-year-old kept her eyes on the plate, concentrating as she lifted a hand, placing the spinning plate on her finger. At White Brook Middle School, White was among her seventh- and eighth-grade classmates showcasing techniques they learned through a residency program with SHOW Circus Studio of Easthampton. Students learned to juggle balls and scarves, spin plates, and balance feathers. See Circus Skills, Page 3
PVPC gives update on Community Development Block Grant By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – It was announced in August of 2016 that Gov. Charlie Baker awarded $28 million in community development block grants to 57 cities and towns throughout the commonwealth. Southwick and Granville received a combined grant of $900,000 which focused on housing rehabilitation, improvements on Veteran Street in Southwick, and an upgrade to the Our Community Food Pantry in Southwick. Just this past week, PVPC (Pioneer Valley Planning Commission) has issued in update with the housing rehabilitation portion of the project. According to PVPC project manager Erica Johnson, the housing rehab is moving along. “It’s a givable loan for people who income-qualify,” said Johnson. In an article by the Westfield News on August 17, 2016, the income qualifications would be that if one person who has a salary of
The Baker-Polito Administration awarded $28 million in community development block grants to 57 cities and towns this past summer. (WNG File Photo) $46,000 or less would qualify, or two people who have a combined salary of $52,000. Overall, there are nine units of housing available. Johnson says that septic replacements, drilling wells, fixing porches, doing siding on windows, are all things that
PVPC offers to the housing rehab recipients. If anyone believes that they meet the qualifications for the housing rehab, and live in either Southwick or Granville, call PVPC at 413-781-6045 and you will be directed to the housing coordinator.
Franklin St. closed following crash By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—A crash involving a scooter reportedly closed a portion of Franklin Street (Route 20) Sunday night. Westfield Police reported that a crash involving a scooter and another vehicle occurred around 7 p.m. near 154 Franklin St., Sunday night, which resulted in the scooter operator being transported to Baystate
Medical Center. The operator had “severe injuries to his head but did survive,” according to Westfield Police Officer Seth Florek. As of Sunday night, no charges were filed in the crash, said Florek. The Westfield Police Traffic Division is investigating the accident, who had a portion of Route 20 closed during the investigation.
UPDATE FROM AT LARGE COUNCILOR DAVE FLAHERTY
Pot, Pot Holes, and Budget Hopefully winter is finally over and we’ll to their property taxes. Congrats to Mr. start seeing flowers and hearing ballgames Mitchell, Mayor Sullivan, and the City Hall in the coming weeks. team for putting this deal together. The city We’ve had a busy couple of weeks at City can certainly use the revenue. Council meetings. I’m not an advocate for Pot, but I know it Pot (aka Marijuana and other names) was is very beneficial for certain health condia topic this week as we’re getting closer to tions, and I know it is used on a regular opening a growing and retail establishment basis by millions of adults. I grew up in the near the airport. The state has issued a 70’s and 80’s and lived through the “just license to a new locally owned non-profit say no” era. I can’t see myself saying both corporation and they are expected to begin “just say no” and “buy your weed in operations in the coming months. I’m not Westfield because we need the money to really a big fan of this, but it’s one of those fix the roads”. I think I’ll stick with “just situations in Massachusetts where Boston say no” when interacting with kids. I’ll is telling us what we have to do (after the DAVE FLAHERTY probably end up voting to approve the agreepublic approved Marijuana on recent ment since the state tells us we have no statewide ballots). A unique part of the law allows the choice other than to accept the law, and because the city to negotiate a Host Community Agreement with deal that was put together seems consistent with expecthe operator. In this case, the business will pay prop- tations. I’d love it if the City Council and Mayor would erty taxes (even though it’s a non-profit), 3% of gross agree to allocate all of the Host Community Fee revesales to the City as a Host Community Fee, an Abuse nues to fixing potholes. Prevention Payment of twenty-five thousand dollars Speaking of potholes, it’s that time of year again. I per year, and a Utility and Infrastructure Fee of 1% of haven’t counted all the potholes, but my guess is that gross sales. They will also pay the normal permitting, we have more potholes than voters in Westfield. DPW licenses, and utility fees. According to City will be out in force in the coming months doing their Advancement Officer Joe Mitchell, the fees are expected to be in the range of $250,000 per year in addition See Flaherty, Page 3
BFMC announces 4th Western Mass Film And Media Exchange PITTSFIELD – The Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative presents the 4th Western Massachusetts Film And Media Exchange on Friday, May 12, 2017 from 11:30AM to 6PM at the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel in Springfield. A day of hands-on workshops and networking opportunities for filmmakers, photographers, students, small businesses and non-profit organizations looking to incorporate the latest techniques in their film and media creation. Workshops and equipment demonstrations will be presented by Vitec Videocom, a Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative partner. Tickets will be on sale on April 1. For information on programs, tickets, and more: Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative at www.berkshirefilm.org or call:413-5284223. Sponsors to date include Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, The Massachusetts Cultural Council and The Westfield News Group. The Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative (BFMC) is a creative economic engine that supports production and workforce development in Western Massachusetts. BFMC develops educational and workforce enrichment courses,
offers networking events for industry professionals, acts as a resource for visiting productions, creates jobs within our communities in the film industry and provides an on line production guide and locations database as a resource for filmmakers. BFMC was formed in 2009, and is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.