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WEATHER TONIGHT Partly Cloudy, colder, windy. Low of 8.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
“Modesty is the conscience of the body.” — HONORE DE BALZAC
www.thewestfieldnews.com
VOL. 86 NO. 33
75 cents
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2017
Winter storm, winds target region City prepared for Snow Storm Nico By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—Although the snow was a day away from falling, the city of Westfield was eagerly readying for its impact. The Department of Public Works (DPW) and Mayor Brian Sullivan have prepared for what could turn out to be a colossal storm, with a potential of up to a foot of snow being dropped on the city. Preparations include pretreating roadways, organizing the workforce for maximum efficiency, preparing possible clo-
Southwick DPW prepares for major snow storm
A salt storage building filled to the rafters with salt on Ponders Hollow Road. sures and watching forecasts in the days leading up to Winter Storm Nico’s anticipated impact. The DPW has started off the preparations by following the forecasts and getting its equip-
ment and personnel ready for the snow. Upwards of 65 plows have been prepared to help with the snow removal process, with several of them See Westfield, Page 3
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – With a major snow storm reaching the Western Massachusetts region starting in the early hours of Thursday morning, DPW crews have been preparing for the impending weather. Randy Brown, the Southwick DPW Director, says that the preparation leading up to this particular storm is no different than any other. “We go into it with a general approach and then we adapt as needed,” said Brown. The DPW begins to get ready for
the storm by constantly tracking the weather and coming up with an estimation of when they think it will hit. Trucks will then go out and put a pre-treated salt mixture on the roads. Once there is an accumulation of snow, the blades are attached to the plow trucks, and they would start pushing snow off the road. According to Brown, as this specific storm is expected to bring in much more than two or three inches, one of the town’s many contractors will step in and assist Southwick See Southwick, Page 3
Consultants give recommendations to Gateway after review The school committee voted in favor of closing the Granville Village School on Wednesday night. (Photo from Greg
A number of Granville and Southwick residents came out to see the outcome of the school feasibility study vote. (Photo
Fitzpatrick)
from Greg Fitzpatrick)
School committee takes vote on fate of Granville Village School By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – It was an emotional night for the community of Granville on Wednesday as it was decided that the Granville Village School would close. After Superintendent Jennifer Willard made the motion to close the Granville Village School, all seven school committee members then proceeded to vote on the school feasibility use study recommendation that Willard made. Requiring a two-thirds majority vote, the committee voted five to two, in favor of closing the school. The Granville Village School will remain open for the remainder of the school year and then all of the students will relocate to either Woodland School or Powder Mill School for the beginning of the 2017-18 school year. Once the decision was made official that the school would be closing, several Granville residents as well as Southwick residents were upset about losing their school. “I would just like to see Superintendent Willard do an assembly at Granville Village School to tell the students,” said Jenny Francis, a Granville resident. “I hope this isn’t the very end.” Another supporter of the Granville Village School, believed that the decision made by the school committee, will lead to overcrowding all four schools in the future. “They’re going to regret it down the road,” said Jess Ripley. Before the vote occurred, a number of people in the crowd spoke directly to the school committee during public comment, to give one last effort in attempting to persuade them to keep the school open. “Closing the school is a permanent decision,” said Danielle Sullivan. “Keep the school open, it benefits everybody, closing it, benefits nobody,” said Tracy Flarida. Jean Reopel addressed her comments towards Willard. “Realign the district, you’re a creative women,” said
Reopel. “We need to offer our children more avenues.” Pam Petschke, the Granville representative for the school committee, addressed the letter that she wrote to the school committee, before the vote was taken. Petschke first started off the letter by thanking the audience and those who are in support of saving the Granville Village School. “Thank you for taking the time to attend these meeting for the past several months. Thank you for your passion and dedication to your children, school, and community. Thank you for expressing your thoughts and opinions and participating in the civic process.” Petschke then went on to speak towards the school committee, as she talked about how the results from closing the school would be something that she doesn’t think is the best option.\ “None of these are risks that I am willing to take. The issue before us today is not one of an unsuccessful or underperforming school, it is one of an underfunded school district.” Immediately after finishing up her speech, Petschke got a standing ovation from some people in the crowd. After the school committee meeting ended, Willard discussed the decision that just transpired. “It was a very a difficult decision and not one that is made lightly,” said Willard. “I know that this decision causes anxiety because this (Granville Village School) is the heartbeat of their community.” Willard also spoke about how the district will be accepting the Granville students with open arms when they make the transition to either Woodland School or Powder Mill School. “As a school district, we’re making a promise to include them in the transition, to carry on some of the traditions that they hold dear at Granville Village School,” said Willard. The next school committee meeting will take place on Feb. 21. For more information about Wednesday night’s meeting, visit the school district website.
By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – At Wednesday’s Gateway Regional School Committee meeting, representatives from the Massachusetts Association of Retired Superintendents (MARS) gave their recommendations to the district after a six months long review. The consultants were hired as a requirement of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), after the district was unable to get their FY16 budget passed by the towns by the December deadline, prompting DESE to set the budget for the fiscal year. Last year’s (FY17) budget passed in May. Stephen R. Hemman, assistant executive director of MARS, introduced two of his colleagues, retired Southwick/ Tolland/Granville superintendent Jay Barry, and Mac Reid of Boxboro and Shirley, who were three of the seven consultants involved in the district review. Hemman, who retired from the Narragansett district in Massachusetts after 45 years in education, said his team had visited the district five or six times, and appreciated the cooperation from Gateway superintendent David B. Hopson and business manager Stephanie Fisk. He said he hoped the issues identified in the report would help the district move forward. See Gateway, Page 3
Retired superintendents Stephen Hemman, Jay Barry and Mac Reid gave the report on the MARS consulting group review of the Gateway district on Wednesday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Westfield VFW holding 70th annual March of Dimes fundraiser By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–When the American Legion Post 124’s annual spaghetti supper for the March of Dimes happens this year, it will have a little extra kick. That’s because it will be the 70th annual supper for the nonprofit, and will cement the fundraiser as the March of Dimes’ longest-running consecutive fundraiser in the country. The dinner will happen on March 10 and 11, at 38 Broad St. from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and in addition to food and frivolity, the Post will also be having March of Dimes officials as guests for the special dinner. “They’ve been doing this for 70 years and we would like to honor their work, so we will be honoring them at the kickoff of their dinner,” See VFW, Page 3
Members of Legion Post 124 pose with members of the March of Dimes.