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WEATHER TONIGHT Mostly clear, few clouds. Low of 25.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns THURSDAY, JANUARY 14, 2016
Westfield’s Mitus appointed to HCC Board of Trustees HOLYOKE — Gov. Charlie Baker has appointed HCC alumnus Steve Mitus, of Westfield, to the Holyoke Community College Board of Trustees. Mitus, a native of Wilbraham, is a certified public accountant and the executive vice president and chief financial officer of Balise Motor Sales. He earned his associate degree in business from HCC in 1980 before transferring to the University of Massachusetts, where he received a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance. In 2009, Mitus and his wife, Moira, a graduate of the HCC class of 1993, were honored by the HCC Alumni Association with a Distinguished Alumni Award for their contributions to the college. “I think it’s a remarkable educational facility, and I’m very much looking forward to this opportunity and getting reacquainted with the school,” Mitus said Monday during a visit to campus. Over the years, Mitus has been active with other area community groups. He serves on the boards of Baystate Health, Health New England, PeoplesBank, and the Community Foundation of See Mitus, Page 3
people are the ones you don’t know very well.” — ALFRED ADLER
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 11
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Prifti Motors ends 70-year tow tradition Families are invited to create handmade valentines for a community swap, organized by Hilltown Families.
Hilltown families needed for Handmade Valentine Swap By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent Hilltown Families is in search of area families who would like to extend a token of friendship to others on Valentine’s Day. For the past eight years, the local organization has organized a community-wide Handmade Valentine Swap that is a free event to all families in the region. “Last year more than 1,500 handmade valentines were swapped, and we’re looking forward to having more families join in the fun again this year,” said Sienna Wildfield, founder and executive director of Hilltown Families. Wildfield said the community tradition has grown from an intimate group of families to an extensive roster of participants living across western Massachusetts, from Williamstown to Monson. “These handmade tokens of friendship and community push back against the commercialization of Valentine’s Day, while connecting and expanding an age old tradition,” she said. Wildfield noted that the act of creating handmade valentines supports creative-free play, while receiving them generates excitement to make community connections and eliminates loneliness. According to Wikipedia, Valentine’s Day was first associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. In 18th-century England, it evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed
By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – Prifti Motors ended its long-time contract as a tow operator with the Southwick Police Department this week. Select Board Chairman Joseph Deedy announced this week that Prifti Motors owner Donald Prifti sent a letter indicating it would no longer offer its services. “Prifti will no longer be doing police towing for the town,” Deedy said. Prifti said this week that he did not wish to elaborate, but did say his family has done towing for Southwick Police for 70 years. “It just wasn’t profitable any longer,” said Prifti. Prifti Motors still provides towing for other towns and offers private towing with its fleet of 20 trucks. The announcement came several months after the Board added Southwick Collision as a second police tow operator. Police Chief David Ricardi supported the second tow company as a backup. During a discussion before the Board approved the addition, Prifti spoke against the request from Southwick Collision. See Towing, Page 3
their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as “valentines“). Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards. “A handmade valentine swap gives local families an opportunity to be creative together while connecting with other families in western Massachusetts,” said Wildfield. “Through the swap, participants mail out handmade valentines to ten assigned addresses, and in return, each participant receives handmade valentines from ten other participants.” The swap is intergenerational and cards can be made by any combination of child and adult, so if kids aren’t completely up to the task, or if an adult would like to make their own design, there’s flexibility, said Wildfield. The deadline to sign up is Jan. 30 by visiting the organization’s website. On Feb. 1, participants will be See Swap, Page 3
Kenney becomes president of Jacob’s Ladder Business Association By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – Michele Kenney, owner of Functional Art in Chester, became the new president of the Jacob’s Ladder Business Association (JLBA) at last night’s annual meeting in Stanton Hall, following the three-year term of Derrick Mason of Moss Hill Farm in Russell. Kenney is also the president of the Southern Hilltowns Adult Education Center (SHAEC). The JLBA is a group of people with a goal of promoting business opportunities in the hilltowns and providing support for the diverse businesses that currently exist, while recognizing and preserving the natural beauty, neighborliness, and resources of the area. “It’s our kind of local businesses that drive the economy,” Mason said, before stepping down. “During my tenure, I’ve tried to make the JLBA as proactive as possible. Growing businesses, networking, holding business development workshops, scholarships to entrepreneurs, and outreach to legislators,” he said. Mason thanked the stalwarts of the business association that were in attendance at the meeting, but said, “There is still See President, Page 3
STEVE MITUS
Guess winter has finally arrived. Here’s where our crews spent sunrise this morning while they made repairs to the two high voltage power lines that burned down when an ice covered pine branch fell across them. (Photos submitted by WG&E)
Wind, ice try power company’s patience WESTFIELD – Westfield Gas & Electric crews continue to deal with situations like this one pictured above on Beckwith Avenue where customers in that area experienced an isolated outage. Earlier, an isolated outage occurred in the Sackett Road area, due to gusting winds. A tree came down, breaking a utility pole and taking down three sections of wire with it. Crews were called to the site to make necessary repairs. crews need to respond as well to make the The downed wires can include Comcast and Verizon, so those utility repairs to their specific equipment.