Search for The Westfield News
WEATHER TONIGHT Clear. Low of 50.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 83 NO.185
SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 2014
“Hope is
a waking dream.” — Aristotle, Greek philosopher
75 cents
Housing legislation’s local impact mulled
Kevin J. Major Memorial Hockey Tournament Susan Canning holds a pair of autographed Boston Bruins jerseys signed by Terry O’Reilly and Adam McQuaid as part of a fundraiser at the Amelia Park Ice Arena in memory of her son Kevin J. Major who was an avid hockey player. More than 2,500 visitors are expected to attend the Kevin J. Major Memorial Hockey Tournament which started Friday, August 8 and will continue until Sunday, August 10. This weekend’s opening ceremony is today at noon and features hundreds of raffle and auction items. See photos from yesyerday’s action Page 9. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Babe Ruth champs raising funds for Florida By Peter Francis Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Westfield 14-year old Babe Ruth squad, who recently were crowned champions of the New England region in Newtown, Conn., are on their way to the Babe Ruth World Series, to be played in Ocala, Fla. later this month. As is the case with any great championship team, community support has been an integral part of the team’s success, and that support will have to continue if the boys are to continue their winning ways in the Sunshine State. So far, the team has raised over half of the $40,000 they need to for the team’s 16 players and three coaches to make the trip, according to Westfield Babe Ruth President Dan Welch. “The response has been great. I’ve been See Babe Ruth, Page 8
By Peter Francis Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A bill signed this week by Gov. Deval L. Patrick strengthening the governance structure of local housing authorities throughout the Commonwealth has received rave reviews from legislative leadership but raised questions from the local housing authorities themselves. Two of the largest proponents of An Act Relative to Local Housing Authorities include the leaders of both houses on Beacon Hill, Speaker Robert DeLeo (D-Winthrop) and outgoing Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth), with DeLeo referring to the legislation as “a crucial step to helping families across the Commonwealth enjoy safe and fulfilling lives.” Murray, who will be replaced by Sen. Stanley Rosenberg (D-Amherst) as Senate President this fall, said the bill “strengthens accountability, increases oversight and encourages innovation in public housing across the state.” At the local level, many regional housing authorities are still curious how the bill will affect them as it promises to provide the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) with “tools necessary to monitor LHAs operations and hold them accountable”, while increasing “efficiencies and economies of scale for delivery of services to tenants and staffing and assistance in the field.” The sprawling bill also looks to “incentivize” LHAs to create innovative practices to improve the lives of residents through a “performancebased monitoring program” to provide uniform assessment standards for evaluating LHA operations. New guidelines for designating a LHA as “chronically poor performing” have also been created, along with the position of Chief Administrative and Financial Officer (CAFO) to oversee troubled LHAs. The bill also would establish capital assistance teams to allow LHAs to work collaboratively and provide capital, maintenance and repair planning and technical assistance to LHAs. Undersecretary Aaron Gornstein, when asked of how many LHAs are classified as “chronically underperforming”, he replied that the department doesn’t use that definition now. “The housing authorities have been working very effectively in serving their tenants and improving their properties,” he said. “But there are some housing authories that have faced difficulties.”
The 2014 Babe Ruth Baseball 14-Year-Old New England Regional champions hoist their prize. (File photo by Frederick Gore)
Pop star guitar up for grabs in raffle By Carl E. Hartdegen Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Fans of Katy Perry have an opportunity to add a guitar signed by the pop star to their collection of fan items and help local breast cancer patients at the same time thanks to a raffle offered by the members of Pink Women Around You (PinkWAY). PinkWAY is an organization of breast cancer survivors dedicated to supporting the Center for Comprehensive Breast Health at Noble Hospital and the patients who rely on the facility for treatment. Members of the group are promoting a raffle which offers as the first prize a guitar autographed by recording artist Katy Perry. Tickets are available at the Noble Hospital office of the center, officer manager Lois Menard said. Menard said that PinkWAY not only supports the programs at the center but also offers assistance to “any patient who has financial hardship” and is often used to help patients buy supplies such as wigs or prostheses. The winning ticket for the Katy Perry raffle prize will be drawn at an Oct. 12 dinner dance which will be staged to raise funds for PinkWAY at the Gremio Lusitano Club at 385 Windsor St., Ludlow, starting at 4 p.m. More information about the event and the raffle may be obtained from Menard at the center’s office (572 6070) or from members and organizers Maureen Ender (351-6825), Leonor Salvador (530-2972) or Robyn Hersey (455-3377).
A guitar autographed by pop star Katy Perry will be the prize of a raffle staged by the member sof PinkWAY, an organization of breast cancer survivors, to benefit Noble’s Hospital’s Center for Comprehensive Breast Health. (Photo courtesy PinkWAY)
See Local Impact, Page 8
Busy street closing WESTFIELD – Motorists who travel on Noble Street will be obliged to find an alternate route Monday when the roadway will be closed. Police Capt. Michael McCabe reports that, starting at 7 a.m. Monday, the roadway will be closed as workers prepare for construction in the area. He said that the road will be closed during the day for at least three days but reports that the street will reopen each day at 3 p.m. when contractors stop work for the day. Officers will be on duty at the intersections of Noble Street with McKinley Terrace and South Street to assist Noble Street residents and motorists with a legitimate need to get to the street.