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Bowlers relish their ‘lane’ time By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent SOUTHAMPTON-Bowling has been a passion for several women in the Greater Westfield area – some spanning close to 50 years – and on Thursday mornings they gather at the Canal Bowling Lanes to socialize and enjoy some exercise. For many of the women who were eager to return to the sport they love after a short summer hiatus – memories of bowling at The Bowling Center in Westfield, owned by the Romani family, were ever present. The “Romani League” at the Canal Bowling Lanes meets Thursdays at 9:30 a.m. and is much more than bowling three strings. “I love this league because it’s a social group,” said Carolyn Tauscher, age 88, of Westfield. “We have a Sarah Kirst and Sandra Jablonski lot of fun and it’s a great keep score for their respective team way to make new members. Kay Caputo is seen in the friends.” background. Tauscher, who has been bowling for more than 40 years, added that many of the league members enjoy socializing after their weekly gathering. “Many of us go out to lunch after we bowl,” said Tauscher. See Bowlers, Page 3
New retailer coming to Westfield By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondnent WESTFIELD—A new retailer will be coming to Southampton Road in Westfield after the planning board voted to approve the plans during their meeting last week. The city’s planning board voted to approve the proposal for a Dollar General at 627 Southampton Road last Tuesday, concluding a public hearing and discussion that began on Aug. 15. It is the second proposal for a Dollar General in that area of Southampton Road, with the first one seeking a special permit from the planning board that failed. The construction for the site can begin following the 20-day appeal period, according to Jay Vinskey, city planner. The proposal that was approved is for an approximately 7,500 square-foot locaJay Vinskey, city tion that will be on about a 1.1-acre porplanner for Westfield tion of land Hometown Structures owns on Southampton Road. According to a previous article in The Westfield News: “Andrew Kurtz, owner of Hometown Structures, said that See New Retailer, Page 5
Local ‘whiskers’ are world champs By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD-Beards and moustaches come in all shapes and sizes, and for two city men, their attention to detail recently won them awards in the 2017 Remington Beard Boss World Beard and Moustache Championships in Texas. “I never expected it,” said Jay Cole during an interview on Friday afternoon at the Skyline Trading Company on Elm Street. Cole took first place in Natural Full Beard, 31-45 centimeters. “The category is judged solely on length, shape and density in See Whiskers, Page 3
Mike Adams and Jay Cole recently won awards during the 2017 Remington Beard Boss World Beard and Moustache Championships in Texas.
Huntington’s fireworks on Saturday night, captured by Adam Sullivan Photography.
2017 class of inductee Rebecca Lobo during a news conference at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Sept. 7, 2017, in Springfield, Mass. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)
Lobo, McGrady, Self and McGraw headline Hall of Fame class By PAT EATON-ROBB AP Sports Writer SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Tracy McGrady says his wife, Clerenda, has been trying to get him to say that he deserves to be in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The seven-time NBA All-Star and two-time league scoring champion couldn't bring himself to do that, until Friday night. He went to the podium during his induction pumping his fists in the air as the crowd chanted "T-Mac," then celebrated his 15 years in the league. "On this day, I can finally say, 'Yes I deserve to be here,'" said McGrady, who played for seven teams, starring with Toronto, Orlando and Houston. "I am truly humbled. I'm grateful and proud to be in the class of 2017." McGrady was among 11 basketball greats enshrined Friday night. The class also includes former ABA and NBA star George McGinnis, former UConn and WNBA star Rebecca Lobo, Kansas men's coach Bill Self, Notre Dame women's coach Muffet McGraw, former Texas high school coach Robert Hughes, former Harlem Globetrotters player and now owner Mannie Jackson, NCAA administrator Tom Jernstedt and former European star Nick Galis. Former Chicago Bulls general manager Jerry Krause, and former Globetrotter and New York Rens player Zack Clayton were honored posthumously. McGrady had earlier told reporters his celebration was being tempered by the impact of Hurricane Harvey on his family and neighbors in Texas. His estate in Sugar Land, Texas, suffered only minor damage from the storm, allowing him and his wife to take in the families of five relatives and friends for three days after mandatory evacuations. He also put on a Labor Day feast at a church in the Houston area for about 800 victims of the storm. "My sister was at the house, and I was trying to take her home and driving to her house. Just seeing cars under water and you don't know if people are in there — it's real," he told reporters. "I'm being as vocal and proactive as I can." Other inductees were vocal about other issues Friday night. Jackson talked about being born in a box car in Missouri and rising to become a player and later a successful business executive and owner of the Globetrotters. His was the most political speech of the night, calling for unity in a divided nation, saying he does not believe the country can endure if it does not cast indifference, hatred and bigotry aside. "If basketball can be a showcase for non-discrimination, for integration, for performance-based emotions, why can't we do that over in every part of our society?" he asked. Lobo and McGraw celebrated the growth of women's basketball. McGraw became just the sixth women's coach to be enshrined. "I'm grateful for Title IX and the opportunities that it's given to women like me, who dreamed of a future where we could do the same job as a man, where playing a game could lead to a 40-year career," she said. Lobo told a story about when her oldest daughter, Siobhan, was 5 years old and saw her father watching a UConn men's game. She said to him, "I didn't know boys play basketball too." See Basketball HOF, Page 11
Huntington celebrates volunteers with fireworks By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON –The “Huntington Celebrates” fireworks went off Saturday night in the Gateway Regional High School fields as planned. Capt. John McVeigh of the Huntington Fire Association, who sponsored the event, said 600-800 area residents gathered to participate in the activities, listen to the band “Relentless,” and watch the first fireworks held in town in twelve years. The Huntington Fire Association successfully raised $7,000 over the last two years for the fireworks through boot drives, private donations and a bonfire held last November in Pettis Field, which drew 200 people and raised more than $1,000. Town residents also voted at the annual town meeting to transfer $10,000 from free cash for the celebration. Huntington Celebrates also Capt. John McVeigh of the had a purpose, to say thank you Huntington Fire Association to those who serve the town, as the event began. (Photo by whether police, fire, EMS, veter- Amy Porter) ans or town volunteers. “It is these important people who make our community such a special place to live,” he said. The event was free, and opened to the public at 5 p.m., with the fireworks going off at 8 p.m. Along with the music, there were food vendors and merchandise for sale before the main event. Donations were also accepted toward next year’s fireworks. One of the pre-firework activities was a Children’s Muster, a firemen’s obstacle course for children led by the Chesterfield Fire Association. Kids who participated got See Fireworks, Page 5
Granville DPW completing paving work in sections of town By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent GRANVILLE – Throughout last week, the Granville DPW was paving a number of streets in town. According to Granville DPW Director Doug Roberts, both East Hartland Road and South Lane have been fully paved while the area of Deadman’s Corner and North Lane were also paved. With most of Granville being at 1,000 feet of elevation, and some areas like North Lane at about 1,200 feet above sea level, the evenings are a lot colder and the colder nights make it more likely for cracks to occur on the roads so it was important for the Granville DPW to get the paving done sooner rather than later. “We always try to minimize disruption,” said Roberts. “This is about as late as I like to go.” For more information on the paving or anything else related with the DPW, call 357-8585, ext. 6.
Granville DPW workers are seen paving the intersection of South Lane and East Hartland Road. (Photo courtesy of Doug Roberts)