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TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 TUESDAY, JUNE 27,1,2017 SATURDAY, JULY 2017
Consumer confidence reports available on Westfield water By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—the Westfield Department of Public Works Water Division has released their annual consumer confidence report for residents using public water. The report provides residents with a look at what is in their water, as well as how the overall quality of the product is. The report showed no violations requiring public notification from the city in 2016, in spite of the concerns of contamination from perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) that occurred for at least half of last year.
Kensi Riley, Miss Greater Worcester 2017
Olivia Clark, Miss Western Mass. 2017.
(Photo submitted)
(Photo submitted)
“This year, the report shows that we didn’t have any violations of any of the standards that would require public notification or could be a danger or potential danger to the system in general,” Heather Miller, water systems engineer for the city, said. “The testing results have confirmed that the water quality in the city of Westfield is safe and of high quality and meets regulatory requirements,” she added. The testing occurred from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 in 2016. According to the report, 59 percent of the city’s drinking water during that time had come from the
Granville Reservoir, which for a period of time was offline toward the end of the year. In addition, two of the city’s eight wells were offline following findings of PFC levels higher than a lifetime advisory limit of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last year. “We’ve taken any sources that have tested above that lifetime level offline and we are closely monitoring the levels of our sources to make sure they are well below that level,” Miller said. “As we test those levels that we are seeing we See Water, Page 3
The Granville Reservoir on May 17. Water is up to the shores, which is in stark contrast to last year.
Limited road closures for Westfield fireworks
Two westfield residents to compete for Miss Massachusetts title WORCESTER — The 78th annual Miss Massachusetts Scholarship Pageant is Friday, June 30, 2017 at 7:00 PM and Saturday, July 1, 2017 at 7:00 P.M. at the beautifully restored Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Worcester. This is the ninth year that the pageant has taken place in Worcester, having previously been held in Fall River and New Bedford. The two-day pageant features Miss Massachusetts 2016 Alissa Musto of Rehoboth, and 21 beautiful, intelligent and talented young women. They will compete for scholarship money and the opportunity to represent Massachusetts at the 97th Annual Miss America Pageant in September 2017. After eight years in Las Vegas, the pageant moved “home” to Atlantic City, NJ in 2013. As it has been for the past six years, the Miss America telecast will be broadcast on the ABC Television Network. The two local Miss Massachusetts contestants are Kensi Riley who is currently Miss Greater Worcester 2017 and Olivia Clark the Miss Western Massachusetts 2017. Ms. Riley is a 21-year old junior at Westfield State University majoring in Business and a resident of Westfield She graduated in 2013 from Westfield High School and also attended Holyoke Community College. She is the daughter of Donna and Timothy Riley of Westfield. She See Title, Page 7
Southwick Firefighter Eric Brogan demonstrates how their current breathing apparatus operates. (Photo courtesy of Greg Fitzpatrick)
Southwick Fire Dept. receives grant By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – Congressman Richard Neal paid a visit to the Town of Southwick on Friday morning and presented a Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant for $91,429 to the Southwick Fire Department. With the grant allowing the Southwick Fire Department to purchase self-contained breathing apparatus, Neal spoke about the reason why the grant was created in the first place. The Congressman referred to a fire that happened on Dec. 3, 1999 at the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co building which killed six firefighters. The first responders were trapped in the building, running out of oxygen and eventually suffocating. Neal was a Representative of several communities around Worcester when the
fire occurred, and four of the six firefighters that died, were his constituents. “That’s what led to the idea that you would develop a competitive round of grant applications,” said Neal. This particular grant has been available to communities throughout the commonwealth so the Southwick Fire Department applied for it because their current breathing apparatus is around 20 years old. Neal was pleased to give the Southwick Fire Department the proper amount of money so they could have enough breathing apparatus for every single truck in the station. “It reminded me of a valuable service that the Select Board and the fire service and the others provide every single day,” said Neal. “When you come out here and have a chance to reward them and thank See Grant, Page 3
‘WOW… It’s Cabaret’ series finale next week By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – Westfield on Weekends “WOW! … It’s Cabaret!” music performance series will close with Canoe: the Musical, spotlighting regional performers Mary Brown Bonacci, Bob Plasse and Michael Rheault on Friday, July 7
at 8 pm. in the Great Room of the Westfield Senior Center at 45 Noble Street. The scripted musical revue traces the course of a marriage through dialogue and songs from Broadway, Hollywood and the American Mary Brown-Bonacci
Bob Plasse
Michael Rheault
See Cabaret, Page 7
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–For those in the city who may find road closures during city events impeding, there may be cause for feelings of relief. Fireworks go off Sunday, July 2–don’t forget that they were rescheduled due to rain–at 6:30 p.m., at South Middle School on West Silver Street, and there is expected to be many people out and about. This could cause some delays traveling and drivers must be aware of pedestrians, but at least the road closures are minimal, according to the Westfield Police Department. Westfield Police Sgt. Robert Saunders reported that during the fireworks there will be just one road closure related to the event. “We’re closing a section in front of South Middle School for about 30 minutes after the fireworks,” Saunders said. During the event, there will also be a number of additional officers in the area Saunders said, who will help with pedestrian traffic and safety. He wants people to be aware though, that safety should still be practiced, even if officers are there. “Use crosswalks and just be safe,” he said. “Looking to be safe, that’s it.” Regarding parking, Saunders said that there will be a number of streets where there will be temporary no parking on one side of each street. These thoroughfares include Howard Street, Holland Avenue, Avery Street, Woronoco Avenue, Riverside Drive and Squawfield Road. Instead of parking there, Saunders urged visitors to park in one of the many locations provided by the city for the event. Parking is available in all city lots, including South Middle School, Baystate Noble Hospital and Abner Gibbs School on West Silver Street, city hall and the YMCA on Court Street, the senior center on Noble Street, as well as limited space at Amelia Park. For handicapped parking, there are options at South Middle School, Westfield Boys and Girls Club on West Silver Street and Amelia Park Children’s Museum on South Broad Street. And if parents are looking to drop off their teenagers, then the city and the police department have provided a safe drop-off location intended for young adults, located at the Firtion Adams Funeral Home on Broad Street. The location will be monitored by police from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., and then from 9:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saunders said that previously parents were able to drop off at the horseshoe entrance area of South Middle School, but due to the closure occurring that is not an option. Finally, police urge visitors to not bring dogs, bicycles, alcohol and no smoking at the event.