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WEATHER TONIGHT Mostly clear. Low of 36.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
is never found again.” — Benjamin Franklin
www.thewestfieldnews.com SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2014
VOL. 83 NO. 86
Solar farm lease to go to Council By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – City officials are finalizing the language of a 20-year solar array lease package which will soon be submitted to the City Council for review. The lease would authorize Citizens Energy Corporation to construct a 2.5-megawatt solar array on the former Twiss Street landfill which has been closed and capped. Mayor Daniel M. Knapik said Thursday that the Boston-based Citizens Energy, which is operating two similar solar farms in Agawam, was selected as the vendor for the project because of its experience in the field of renewable energy. Citizens Energy was one of three firms which responded to a request for proposals released by the city last summer after Axio Power Inc. withdrew from a previous lease agreement for a solar array at Twiss Street. “This is a project we’ve been trying to do since I came into office,” Knapik said. Health Director Joseph Rouse reported Wednesday to the Board of Health that Citizens Energy will assume responsibility of maintaining the 10 acres of leased property on the capped landfill. “There will be cost avoidance to the city because (Citizens Energy) has to maintain that leased area under terms of the agreement,” Rouse said. “They are aware of the restrictions of and conditions for maintaining the landfill cap.” Knapik said that the city is anticipating revenue of $75,000 a year for the lease and an additional $7,500 in lieu of tax payment annually to the city. The city will purchase the solar power which will reduce energy consumption at the Twiss Street Transfer Station by an estimated 43 percent. “This project will provide a new source of revenue for operations and allow us to diversify our energy portfolio and build some certainty as it relates to our energy costs going forward,” Knapik said in a prepared text released in October. City Purchaser Tammy Tefft said the lease agreement is still being finalized, but that it may be ready to submit to the City Council shortly. “I’m hoping to get it to the (City) Council for their next meeting (on April 17), and if it’s not ready then, for their May 1 meeting,” Tefft said. “The Law Department is still reviewing the lease contract language and is preparing the resolution which will be submitted to the Council.” The City Council has to approve any lease agreement longer than three years.
“Lost time
75 cents
Frozen in time
Munger Hill second grade student Mackenzie Burnette, shows off her gymnastic skills by portraying gymnast Jordyn Wieber as part of a special history project Friday. Wieber was a member of the gold medal-winning US women’s gymnastics teams at the 2011 World Championships and the 2012 Summer Olympics. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Ashley Kane, a second grade student at Munger Hill Elementary School, portrays the popular television chef Julia Child as part of a special history project. See additional photos Page 8. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Deedy family gives back with benefit breakfasts By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – The Deedy family, owners of Moolicious Farm on Feeding Hills Road, believes in giving back. Joseph Deedy said it’s just what they do. “I grew up on welfare,” Deedy said. “Giving wasn’t something we did, but I think it’s what we should do.” Deedy and his wife Kristi, and his sister Betz and her husband Kelly Magni, all believe in giving back and paying it forward. “Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?” said Deedy. “When you see someone who needs help, you help.” Last year Deedy took his idea of giving and extended it to several nonprofit groups and organizations fundraising for charities and youth.
“People wold come to me and ask for a donation for their fundraiser and they got a T-shirt and gift certificate, but we wanted to do more,” Deedy said. “A lot of people can’t pay to rent a hall for a fundriaser and I figured everybody eats breakfast and we have the space, so I started doing fundriaisng pancake breakfasts here.” Last year, the Deedys helped raise $6,000 for local groups, including Team Justice Racing, Ryan’s Rally For Autism, Westfield Youth Football and others. Moolicious kicked-off its fundraising season last week with a Relay For Life team breakfast. This Sunday from 8 a.m. – noon, Ryan’s Rally For Autism will hold its second annual fundraising breakfast. The group is a Western New England Walk Now
‘Grab and go’ larceny reported By Carl E. Hartdegen Staff Writer WESTFIELD – City officers investigating a reported robbery at knifepoint found that the incident was actually a ‘grab and go’ larceny which occurred during an illegal commercial transaction – two young men the “victim” thought were customers fled with the marijuana he thought he was going to sell them. A Russell Road resident came to the police station at 7:55 p.m. Wednesday and told Officer Michael Csekovsky that he had been robbed by new friends. The man told Csekovsky that two young men he said he had met recently sent him a text message asking for a ride and he agreed to pick them up at the Munger Hill School parking lot. The 19-year-old man said that he first picked up his 15-year-old girlfriend and then met his two new friends, who he identified by name, at the school. He said that after they got into the back seat, one of them pricked the back of his neck with a knife and he surrendered his wallet – which contained his driver’s license, his food stamp card and $300 in cash – and the two robbers fled into the woods. Det. Brian Freeman had been interviewing the victim’s girlfriend and, after the two officers compared notes, Csekovsky returned to the putative victim and told him that his account conflicted with his girlfriend’s story. The man then told Csekovsky that he See Larceny, Page 8
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Patrick unveils development plan By STEVE LeBLANC Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Deval Patrick has unveiled a $100 million proposal he says will spur economic growth by improving job opportunities, expanding the state’s international marketing efforts and ending barriers to high-tech workers who want to change jobs. Patrick’s plan released Thursday would eliminate so-called noncompete agreements designed to discourage workers in high-tech companies from quitting and taking their skills to a competitor. Patrick said the agreements stifle
competition. He said tougher protections for trade secrets is a better solution. Patrick’s plan would also step up investments in the state’s older, financially strapped municipalities known as Gateway Cities. Patrick wants to promote marketrate housing in the cities, speed the cleanup of old manufacturing properties for reuse, and give cities and towns greater control over the number of liquor licenses in their communities by ending existing statutory limits. “I welcome this news,” said Westfield Mayor Daniel M. Knapik
Friday morning. “Like many older cities, known as Gateway Cities, Westfield has struggled with financial cost and complexity of cleaning up former industrial sites.” “Fortunately, we have very few, and presently we have been successful in addressing the contamination at the Elm Street site with state assistance,” Knapik said. “A key to slowing suburban sprawl and preserving our open space is to better utilize the space in city centers.” “This, of course, costs money, as there are a variety of obstacles in See Development, Page 8
MAYOR DANIEL M. KNAPIK
CPC: Funding for Boardman Field approved By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Community Preservation Commission voted to send a funding recommendation to the City Council to release additional funding to upgrade facilities at the newly constructed Boardman Field. Park and Recreation supervisor James Blascak requested the CPC to authorize use of $14,497 to purchase and install equipment not installed under the initial construction of the field.
The CPC voted last year, and the City Council appropriated, $426,000 for the athletic field, located next to Westfield High School, construction. Principal Planner Jay Vinskey said that the facility was actually constructed for $329,000. “There is $96,000 sitting in that construction account,” Vinskey said. “The request is to use some of those remaining funds for enhancements to the same project.” Blascak said that he is seeking to purchase four benches for players and coaches; 2,000 feet of protective
netting; four lacrosse goals and nets; two 4-inch Classic Alumagoals and two sets of transport wheels to move those goals; and two signs identifying the facility as Boardman Athletic Field. “Currently there is no place for the athletes to sit,” Blascak said. “Last fall they had to sit on the ground.” The Westfield Gas & Electric Department installed several utility poles along the Montgomery Road end of the field to support the protective netting intended to stop balls
from going into the road, but the black HIPP netting was not purchased during the initial field construction. Blascak said the Alumagoals can be configured for several different field sports and will be positioned in different areas of the field with the transport wheels. The Boardman Athletic Field will be erected near Montgomery Road on the west side of the field and near the Westfield High School parking lot on the southeast portion of the field.
Blascak said the total cost of the improvements is $14,497. Boardman Field is used by Westfield High School and St. Mary’s High School girls teams. CPC Commissioner Dan Kelly made the motion to approve the $14,497 funding request, which also has to be appropriated by the City Council, with the condition that the remaining $80,000 be returned to the Community Preservation Act account. The motion was approved by a 4-0 vote.