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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 270
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2016
— JEANNETTE RANKIN
75 cents
City advancement officer tapped to advise Governor
Dewey defeats Truman By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD – It wasn’t that long ago that most pundits and polls said that Hillary Clinton would win the Presidential Election, making Donald Trump at one point a massive underdog. Recently though, Trump has closed that gap to make it seem like a respectable race, but there was one election that was perceived to be such a gap that analysts actually stopped polling potential voters. If you’re not sure what election I’m talking about, maybe this will ring a bell–”Dewey defeats Truman.” Yes, the iconic photo of Harry S. Truman holding the newspaper with that embarrassing headline after being named president is cemented in many people’s memories, and we can thank the 1948 election for that mishap. Well, that and political polling. “No one gave Truman a chance,” Westfield State University political sciences professor Dr. David Smailes said. “Life Magazine even ran an article two weeks before the article called, ‘Our next president crosses the water’ or something like that and had a photo of Thomas Dewey crossing the San Franscisco Bay.” Indeed, Truman faced not only a battle from Dewey but a battle from public perception. It seemed that everyone thought that he had lost before the election even happened– sort of like how people felt about Trump not too long ago. “I think what makes this election relevant is the fact that so many people had decided fairly early on that Dewey was going to win the election,” Smailes said. “But no matter what the polls tell you will happen, we won’t know until Election Day.” Smailes said that this is a reminder that polling data and polls have a fair amount of uncertainty to them. This is especially true today, since polling has become more volatile and inaccurate as the years have gone by. One reason for this is due to lack of responses garnered from traditionally telephone interview polling. According to the Pew Research Center, from 1997 to 2012 contact rates of those called for an interview dropped 28 percent. Even worse, when people were contacted those who actually allowed an interview dropped from 36 percent in 1997 to just 9 percent in 2012. If it wasn’t enough of a detriment that responses are low though, Pew even found that this has caused a problem with who has responded to the interviews. According to their research–which, if polling is skewed to begin with, makes you wonder if you can trust it–those who agree to interviews are also more likely to participate in political volunteering. This means that the information they provide is likely swayed more so than the average American, which can show some drastic differences in polls. Additionally, those who make $25,000 or less had a 4 percent lower response rate than those who make $500,000 a year or more, further skewing statistics. So, as you see the polls come in over the couple of days and you contemplate allowing them to impact your own vote, ask yourself “Did Dewey even defeat Truman?”
“You take people as far as they will go, not as far as you would like them to go.”
Congamond Rd. would be fully reconstructed if the project becomes in effect. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Road project on hold, waiting for decision on Mass Works Grant By GREG FITZPATRICK Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – The Southwick DPW and town officials are anxiously waiting to see if the application for the Mass Works grant will be accepted. The grant involves the reconstruction of Congamond Rd. and Gillette Rd. It involves installing a sewer line as well as new sidewalks, straightening of the road, improvements to drainage, and the bike path. Receiving the grant would cover $1.95 million of expenses towards the project. As the wait is still on going, the town is confident Mass DOT will take their project. “I thought we put together a pretty good application,” said Select Board Chairman Russ Fox. “Hopefully one of them is going to have Southwick’s name on it.” The application from the town was sent out about two months ago. Fox says there has been a reason that there is still a wait on the decision. “There’s still from what we’re told, other letters being given out,” said Fox. According to Southwick DPW Director Randy Brown, the design for the entire road reconstruction of the project is more than 75% complete. If the town was indeed awarded the application, Brown believes the project won’t go out to bid until February or March of 2017 and actual construction wouldn’t start until at least late in the summer of 2017. Brown also mentioned that a possible town meeting regarding this project is in the works in order to help secure funding.
Westfield Athenaeum Toy & Book Sale By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondnent WESTFIELD-A Teddy Bear Clinic will be an added bonus to this fall’s Children’s Toy & Book Sale, hosted by the Friends of the Westfield Athenaeum. Sale hours are Nov. 17 from noon to 8 p.m., Nov. 18 from noon to 8 p.m., Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Nov. 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A special Friends Preview Night is slated from 4 to 8 p.m. Nov. 16 and is open to members of the Friends group. “Friends of the Westfield Athenaeum members with current paid memberships are invited to preview and purchase books and toys before the toy and book sale opens to the general public,” said Bill Westerlind, president, Friends of the Westfield Athenaeum. Westerlind added that membership forms will be available at the door on preview night for anyone wishing to join the Friends group or renew one’s membership. The new feature, a Teddy Bear Clinic, is planned Nov. 19 from noon to 3 p.m. “Children and parents are encouraged to bring in any beloved stuffed animal that has been so thoroughly loved that it may be in need of some
tender loving care,” said Westerlind. “The clinic and medical attention (repairs) are free.” Another special event is “Educator Night” which is observed during the preview hours. “Local teachers and educators will be invited to shop along with Friends members before the sale opens to the public,” said Westerlind. “The idea of a special educator preview was born at our sale last November after we observed so many teachers from city schools and surrounding communities buying shopping bags full of books for their classrooms at our spring book sale events. The feedback has been very positive.” Westerlind said each teacher will receive a special discount shopping certificate toward their entire purchase. “A valid educational institution ID must be presented at the door that evening,” said Westerlind. Westerlind noted that for the first time for this popular sale, the event will be conducted in the former Carson Center. “The Westfield Athenaeum is undergoing some major, extensive and much needed renovation activity, limiting the availability of the Lang See Athenaeum, Page 8
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–City advancement officer Joe Mitchell was added on Friday to Gov. Charlie Baker’s Advisory Council on Veterans’ Services. Mitchell and 11 others were chosen to be part of the council, which will help to inform the governor’s office on issues related to veterans in the state. Mitchell served eight years in the US Air Force, seeing combat time in fighter jets over the Persian Gulf and Bosnia. He is also currently JOE MITCHELL a veterans’ services officer for Westfield, working under director Bobby Callahan. “I’m honored to serve, it really is my honor and in this role myself and the other members will be advising the governor on policies that will benefit the veteran’s community,” Mitchell said. Mitchell said that in his new role he will attempt to bring attention to issues that have plagued Westfield veterans for many years. “I like to think I can bring a unique perspective to the governor’s council in that I already spent a number of years helping the Westfield veteran’s community,” he said, “and have had a firsthand account of seeing their needs in regards to education, housing, jobs and substance abuse issues.” Mitchell said that as a Westfield veterans’ services officer he has been able to assist his fellow veterans with the abovelisted issues, in addition to PTSD treatment and medical care, including services through the Holyoke Soldier’s Home. According to a press release from Gov. Baker’s office, the council’s focus will be to improve veterans’ access to employment, training, healthcare, housing and education “that will best position veterans to enter or re-enter the Commonwealth’s workforce successfully.” Additionally, they will review and assess state and federal laws, regulations, programs and services related to veterans.
CPA project reviewed by Finance Committee By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – On Thursday, the Finance Committee reviewed the $250,000 appropriation from the Community Preservation Act (CPA) undesignated account to reconstruct the Hotel Bismark’s porch facade, following unanimous approval of the grant by the Community Preservation Commission (CPC) last month. Joseph Shibley, owner with his wife Donna of the hotel in which their business Pilgrim Candle is housed, gave a short presentation on the history of his request to the committee. Shibley said that he was approached by the Community Preservation Commission, who told him there might be funds to help save the historic front porch on the 1900 building. Shibley hired Huntington architect Jeffrey Scott Penn who has done a lot of work with historic buildings, and the plan was See CPA, Page 8
Architect Jeffrey Scott Penn and Joseph Shibley, owner of the Bismark Hotel building with a rendering of the refurbished porches. (Photo by Amy Porter)