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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com
— Olive Schreiner
THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014
VOL. 83 NO.171
Everything has two sides — the outside that is ridiculous, and the inside that is solemn.” 75 cents
Blandford man missing
Commercial Distributing Co., Inc. located at 46 South Broad St. could soon be expanding their Westfield operation. (Google Earth photo)
Day Lumber leaving city By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A South Broad Street company is relocating to Chicopee next month, selling its property to a neighboring firm that has expressed interest to city officials in expanding. Day Lumber, which has been at that the 34 South Street location for decades, is owned by South Broad Street Realty, LLC of 61 Prynne Ridge Road, Longmeadow. The limited liabiwlity corporation sold the South Broad street property to Commercial Distributing Inc., of 46 South Broad St. for $845,000. Day Lumber President Neal Churchill said the company is relocat-
ing to an Orange Street location in Chicopee controlled by the same owner as the South Broad Street property. “The owner of this building is also the owner of the Chicopee property,” Churchill said. “This building has a mortgage, while he owns the Chicopee building free and clear.” Churchill said that the owner had a tenant at the Orange Street location for the past twenty years, but that tenant purchased property and is relocating. “In the long run it’s best for (Day Lumber’s) business to relocate to the Chicopee site,” Churchill said. “All of See Day Lumber, Page 3
By Carl E. Hartdegen Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A Blandford woman who has been looking for her domestic partner for more than a month has been buoyed by a reported sighting of the man at a city supermarket but is still no closer to her hoped for reunion with the man. Karen Buchinsky of Blandford said that her partner, Milton Eldredge, 59, had been very depressed when he left their home June 21 after an argument and she has not seen him since. “He just left instead of talking about it,” she said. “I thought he’d come back but he didn’t.” Buchinsky said that she expected to see him again soon since “he’s got no place to go” but he did not return and she started looking for him. She said that Eldredge’s three daughters are also concerned and have been helping her search for their father. Buchinsky said that she reported him to be missing at the State Police barracks in Russell and said that after he left she and his daughters checked with everyone they could think of looking for him but didn’t get a nibble. “He doesn’t go anywhere because he’s very depressed,” she said and said that although he is a licensed driver he has not had a vehicle since he gave his car to one of his daughters. She said that his daughters, two of whom live in the Commonwealth while the third lives in North Carolina, and his granddaughter, are searching for their father via social networking sites and by telephone. She said that one of the daughters, who lives in Ware but works in Northampton, is looking for her father in that city since he once lived there. He is computer savvy, she said, but said he has no device to access the Internet saying “I think all he took was his wallet and the clothes he was wearing.” “I spend my time going around putting up posters”, Buchinsky said. “I thought he was dead.”
House approves abortion bill By PETER FRANCIS Staff Writer BOSTON — The Massachusetts House approved a bill yesterday designed to tighten security around abortion clinics. The bill would let police disperse one or more individuals who are substantially impeding access to a clinic. After a dispersal order is issued in writing, those individuals would have to stay at least 25 feet from the clinic’s entrances for up to eight hours. The 25-foot boundary would have to be clearly marked and the regulations posted in public. The bill also prohibits anyone from intentionally injuring or intimidating an individual trying to enter or leave a facility using force or the threat of force.
The legislation is a response to the recent unanimous Supreme Court ruling on McCullen v. Coakley, which struck down a 2007 Massachusetts law that established protest-free 35-foot “buffer zones” around the entrances of abortion clinics. The House approved the bill on a 116-35 vote. The Senate approved it last week on a voice vote, meaning no individual votes were recorded. Abortion opponents have said they would head back to court if the bill is approved. Rep. James Lyons (R-North Andover) argued against the bill yesterday, saying lawmakers should take more time to craft legislation that would withstand future See Abortion Bill, Page 3
MILTON ELDREDGE She said that her hopes were revived when she received a response from a man who said that he had seen her missing man in a local supermarket and recognized him from a poster. Buchinsky said that when she went back to the See Blandford Man, Page 5
Westfield man facing rape charges By Carl E. Hartdegen Staff Writer SPRINGFIELD — A city man pleaded not guilty to having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl who had been on a team he coached when he was arraigned Wednesday in Hampden Superior Court on four counts of rape and abuse of a child aggravated by age. Michael Rash, 24, of 9 Miller St., who had been a volleyball coach at Agawam High School when his relationship with the victim began, was allowed to remain at liberty on $1,000 cash bail, the same bail had been imposed by Judge Jaclyn M. Connly when he was initially arraigned in Westfield District Court June 6. He will also be subject to electronic monitoring. Rash was arrested by Agawam police after the girl’s mother began to suspect her daughter was engaged in a sexual relationship after she had learned that her daughter had been sneaking out of the house late at night to meet her volleyball coach. The woman told police that she had learned between March and May that her daughter was developing a relationship with her coach but initially assumed that their relationship was related to the team. See Rape Charges, Page 5
Rep. JOHN VELIS
Commission addresses spray park issues
Children of all ages enjoy the spray park at the Municipal Playground Wednesday. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Conservation Commission set several conditions to address environmental concerns raised during its review of the Sadie Knox Playground spray park. The project was brought to the commission because the playground is within the 100-foot buffer of a wetland resource area. That buffer is two-dimensional and is not just linear but also vertical because the wetland is at the base of a steep bluff and the playground at the top. The project will require the removal of 30 trees, most are small caliber, but also several large trees with damage which pose a hazard to children and adults using
the playground facilities. The other concern identified by the commission members is the practice of throwing grass clippings and leaves over the bank of the bluff. That practice has resulted in damage to trees stabilizing the bank as the debris builds up and covers the base of the trees. The commission voted to impose requirements, including erection of signs prohibiting the dumping of debris over the crest of the bluff, and that during construction of the spray park a silt fence and straw bales will be put into place to prevent erosion over the bluff crest. The city is constructing the spray park through a state grant from the Division of Conservation. The project has an esti-
mated construction budget of $281,000. The Community Preservation Commission and City Council approved an appropriation of $300,000 for the project. The state will return $200,000 to the city’s Community Preservation Act accounts through that grant. The proposed Sadie Knox spray park will be about the same size as the park at Municipal Field near Franklin Street, but will have facilities similar to the recently constructed Chapman Playground spray park. Other amenities such as benches, improved bathrooms and handicapped accessible sidewalks are included in the scope of the project.
Southwick Days offers weekend of family fun and food By Justine Murphy Correspondent SOUTHWICK – It’s that time of year again, when local BBQ and chili enthusiasts bring their best to the Grill’n Daze event. But this year, there will be so much more. Now in its eighth year, the local event is changing to accommodate all different kinds of activities, forming the first ever Southwick Days. It will feature three days of fun — tomorrow-Sunday – according to Ellen Miles of the Southwick Rotary Club, which will put on the event at the Southwick Recreation Center. There will be a family-friendly carnival held each of the three days—on Friday from 5-10 p.m,. Saturday from 3-10 p.m., and on Sunday from 12-6 p.m. Friday will also feature the Charlie Galvin Band at 6:30 p.m., followed by a fireworks display organized by the Southwick Parks and
Recreation Commission. On Saturday, Family Day, at 3 p.m. the Southwick Cultural Council will host The Nields, a world renowned Northampton-based sister duo that produces educational children’s music. This second day of the event will also feature a Battle of the Bands at 6 p.m. Miles said the club is still seeking local area bands to participate in the battle. Those interested are encouraged to contact Rotary member Bob Fox at (413) 579-4585 or rfox52@ comcast.net. Miles said this activity simply gives local area musicians the chance to showcase their talent, and maybe even win a prize in the process. The final day of the event is packed full of activities beyond the carnival. The Westfield Wheelmen Vintage Baseball group will play a game for spectators, but according to the rules that were in place in 1861. This will be followed by the music of
the Rick Badowski Blues Band, and later the classic rock stylings of Jack & His Guitar. The annual Grill’n Daze BBQ and Chili Cook-off will also take place on Sunday. Contestants will be able to enter poultry (judging at 3 p.m.), pork (judging at 4 p.m.), and beef (judging at 5 p.m.) BBQ categories. First, second and third place prizes of $300, $200 and $100, respectively, will be doled out, in addition to a special prize for the best decorated booth. The chili cook-off will also see first, second and third place prizes awarded—$150, $100 and $50, respectively. Judging for this competition will be held at 2 pm. In addition, Miles said, a BBQ grill and smoker will be raffled off. For more information about the Southwick Days event, visit www.clubrunner.ca/Portal/ Home.aspx?accountid=6931
James Grannells of team TAC mans a smoking hot grill during Southwick Rotary’s Grill’n Daze 2013. (File photo by Hope E. Tremblay)