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TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 TUESDAY, 27, 24, 2017 THURSDAY, JUNE AUGUST 2017
Supreme Judicial Court delays Cross St. school decision Westfield City Soliciitor Susan C. Phillips
By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – City Solicitor Susan C. Phillips said that her office received notice this week that the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth would be “waiving their own 130 day rule” on the appeal of the Article 97 decision on the Cross St. playground/Ashley Street school building project. “Pretty standard,” Phillips said, adding that it means the court didn’t make a decision yet. “It
would have been this week,” she added. The appeal took place on April 6 at the statehouse in Boston. Phillips and Mayor Brian P. Sullivan attended the hearing for the City of Westfield. Plaintiffs Thomas Smith, his brothers and supporters also attended. The case ultimately rests on the interpretation of Article 97, and whether the 1.37 acres of the playground adjacent to the former Ashley St. school property to be taken for the school building project
Westfield Police report missing teen found
Women prep homemade pies for fairgoers By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent BLANDFORD — As the aroma of bowls of cinnamon and nutmeg wafted through the industrial kitchen at the Blandford Fairgrounds, women were knee-deep in dough as they prepped 100 apple pies for the Labor Day weekend festivities. The “pie-making bee” – conducted on two consecutive Saturdays – was reminiscent of a bygone era but for these women, led by Staci IglesiasBlood, the tradition continues on as the Blandford Fair marks a milestone – 150 years of showcasing local agriculture to the masses. On the morning of Aug. 5, Iglesias-
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–On an update to a previous story, Westfield Police Capt. Michael McCabe reports that a missing Westfield teenager was found safe and returned. McCabe said that 16-year-old Mary Lamere was found by police on the same day that she was reported missing in The MARY Westfield News, Aug. 16. LAMERE “On Aug. 16 she was found and safely returned to the care of her custodians,” McCabe said.
Donna Herman, a committee member for the “Pathways to Colonial Times” fundraiser to benefit the Colonial Village at Stanley Park, inspects a diorama depicting life in the 1800’s in the city. The diorama is currently housed in the Carriage House.
Food Fest 2017 Revised Entertainment Schedule
Colonial Village to benefit from park fundraiser
By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – The third annual Westfield Food Fest sponsored by the Rotary Club of Westfield will begin on Friday, August 25 at 5 p.m. and close for the night at 10 p.m. The street festival will resume on Saturday, August 26 from noon to 10 p.m. The free two-day event will feature food and drink from local restaurants and food trucks, a car show on Saturday and non-stop entertainment from local musicians. While the entertainment schedule has slightly changed (see below), the two days will be jam-packed with music ranging from classical guitar and country/pop, to Irish, folk, blues and rock and roll and more. Friday, August 25, 2017 5:00p-6:00p Harry Rock: Harry Rock is a local musician who focuses on rock/folk cover songs from his generation of the early ‘70s. 6:00p-7:30p Charlie Galvin Band: Selections from folk, folk rock, country and country rock, Southern rock, and old time rock and roll. 7:30p-8:30p Leo Doherty: Local Irishman, Leo Doherty brings us some Irish music and more 8:30p-10:00p Whiskey Traveler: Whiskey Traveler is a country/ pop band from Westfield, MA, formed in 2015 by Bernie Dion, Matt Sullivan, Jessica Dion, Jonathan Dion, and Phil Asarese. Saturday, August 26, 2017 12:00n-1:00p Richie Mitnick and Sound of Music Singers: Richie Mitnick Music works closely with some of the area’s finest entertainers and offers music for every occasion and entertains at venues throughout New England.
See Blandford Fair, Page 3
Tasha Hartley and Cheryl Hopson put the finishing touches on the apple pies that will be featured at the Blandford Fair.
is Article 97 protected land. Phillips said that the court was well-prepared for the hearing, having read all of the briefs. Each side got fifteen minutes to state their case. She said the decision could still happen soon, adding that the court makes decisions every day that are posted on their website by 10 a.m. Meanwhile, she said they’ll be “waiting, waiting, waiting.” “I’m optimistic at some point we’ll have a decision,” said Phillips.
By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD — Stanley Park’s fundraising committee has set its sights on raising $40,000 this fall to benefit the restoration of its colonial village. Sarah the Fiddler and the Westfield High School Show Choir will provide the entertainment during a “Pathways to Colonial Times” event that promises to delight the senses. The benefit, now in its 10th year, is slated Sept. 9 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. in the Stanley Park Beveridge Pavilion and reservations must be made by Aug. 25 by calling (413) 568-9312, ext. 108. Tickets are $45 per person. Admittance at the door is possible if there is availability. “This fundraiser is not a sitdown dinner as in previous years,” said Donna Herman, as she was organizing silent and live auction
prizes in the park’s board room with Gina Delmastro, Stanley Park’s development coordinator, on Tuesday afternoon. “We will have a variety of table set ups and will encourage people to mingle more.” Herman noted that in years past, the annual fundraiser was “very formal” and has changed focus in recent years with themes including the “wild, wild west” and a “Polynesian evening.” Log Rolling Catering from the Log Cabin and Delaney House are catering the festive affair which features butler-style hors d’oeuvres including sweet potato and maple turkey risotto, Swedish meatballs, tempura shrimp with Thai sauce, and apricot chicken salad in pastry cups. Additionally, stations will include a seafood sampler (shrimp and scallop scampi), mini salad See Colonial Village, Page 3
See Food Fest Revised, Page 3
Former business property sold to developer
The site at 70 Turnpike Industrial Road.
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—The former National Envelope Corporation and Cenveo building and lot on Turnpike Industrial Road has recently been sold according to Westfield’s economic development officer Joe Mitchell, which could help bring additional jobs and tax money back to the city. According to Mitchell, the approximately 238,000-square foot building and 30-acre lot located at 70 Turnpike
Industrial Road were sold on Aug. 19 for approximate $3.7 million in cash and liabilities. The site had sat dormant for about three years prior to the sale, Mitchell said, and the acquisition and development could lead to creating additional tax revenue and jobs within the city, while also potentially helping adjacent properties. “I’ve been working with this developer for, perhaps, the past eight months while they did their due diligence with the building,” Mitchell
Engineer to examine covered bridge By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Select Board met with Fire Chief Russ Anderson and Paul Degray, a resident in town, to discuss the covered bridge, which is located near 412-418 College Hwy. First reported by the Westfield News on July 26, the Select Board held a public hearing with Anderson and three neighbors who live right near the bridge. The main dilemma is that no one knows what the exact weight limit is that the bridge can support, as Anderson has fire truck tankers that weigh around 45 tons. “I’m looking for something that says that the weight of our trucks can go over,” said Anderson.
Degray, who lives close to the bridge and has been seeking information on the situation, wants to find out what the bridge is rated for, rather than what can specifically cross the bridge. As it was mentioned at the Select Board meeting on August 21, having an engineer come out to give a close look at the bridge and coming to a conclusion, was the key step moving forward. According to Degray, an engineer will be meeting with he and Anderson this Tuesday to find out if the structure is a viable bridge or not. Once a report is completed by the engineer, Anderson and Degray will meet back with the Select Board to go over what was determined.
said. According to Mitchell, the plan for the building and site “is to do some maintenance with the building, infrastructure upgrades with the building and potentially divide it between one and three tenants.” Mitchell said that these tenants could help provide additional jobs for the community. Previously, Mitchell noted that National Envelope had See Developer, Page 3
The covered bridge located at 412-418 College Highway in Southwick (WNG file photo)