Westfield350.com Westfield350.com WEATHER WEATHER WEATHER TONIGHT
TONIGHT TONIGHT Partly Cloudy. LowCloudy. of 55. Partly T-storms. Low 55.63. Lowof of
The The Westfield Westfield News ServingWestfield, Westfield,Southwick, Southwick,and andsurrounding surroundingHilltowns Hilltowns Serving
www.thewestfieldnews.com www.thewestfieldnews.com
VOL. 86 NO. 151 VOL. VOL.86 86NO. NO.151 176
Search for The Westfield News
“D
Search for The Westfield News Search for Theiplomacy Westfield News is
the saying “Tart ime isof The only imecriTic is ThewiThouT only ‘N“Tice doggie ’ until criTic you can findwiThouT a rock.” ambiTion .” —ambiTion WILL ROGERS JOHN STEINBECK JOHN STEINBECK
75 cents 75 75cents cents
TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 TUESDAY, JUNE THURSDAY, JULY27, 27,2017 2017
Celebrate Southwick a tremendous success By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – Hundreds of residents of Southwick and nearby communities attended the events that occurred in Southwick last Saturday. The festivities kicked off with the One Call Away Bike Ride at 8 a.m from Whalley Park. This 70-mile motorcycle ride took off at 10:30 a.m. and was followed by a BBQ when the bikers returned after 2pm. Dave Sutton, founder and president of One Call Away, said that around 160 bikes were part of the ride. Sutton said that riders came from as far as the Central Mass towns of Leominster and Fitchburg, even as far as New York. “That’s pretty good to come out here for this,” said Sutton. The second One Call Away event of the day was the First Responders Appreciation Parade, as police and fire departments from surrounding communities took part, including Westfield, Granville, Tolland, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, and a number of others. “That made every bit of what we did, perfect,” said Sutton. “These first responders are in harm’s way, day after day after day.” The Wick 338 hosted their first ever MudFest on Saturday but it didn’t happen See Southwick, Page 3
Flash flooding created work for newlyrehabbed pump station By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—According to the Westfield Flood Control Commission, the city had over 235,000 gallons of water pumped out during a flash flooding event earlier this month. The event, which occurred on July 12, was preceded by a flash flood warning declared by the National See Pump Station, Page 3
The three pumps at the Williams Riding Way Pump Station. (WNG file photo)
Westfield Police Officer Juanita Mejias (WNG file photo)
Westfield Police honor Torres memory Westfield Police adorned a police vehicle with blue-and-black banners and an “In Memorium” flag to pay respects to fallen Westfield Police Officer Jose Torres. Torres died on July 26, 2012, and yesterday was the anniversary of that fateful day. Torres died after being struck by a truck while working an off-duty traffic detail at a construction site on Pontoosic Road.
State initiative opens doors for young people By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD-After having lived in a refugee camp most of his life, Gervais Ndinamahoro is one of 52 young people across the Greater Westfield area this summer who are taking part in paid short-term work placements that can offer steps to further their education and career pathways. “Gervais moved to Westfield with his family following resettlement from a refugee camp,” said Dannielle Tompkins, transition coach, East Mountain Road Transition Program, and Westfield YouthWorks coordinator. “His parents were refugees of the Rwandan genocide and spent about 17 years in a camp in Tanzania.” On Tuesday morning at the Camp Moses Reservation, run by Boy Scouts of America, Ndinamahoro, 19, joined 13 other young men at the camp who are participating in the summer YouthWorks program, funded by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. The state program is administered by Commonwealth Corporation. YouthWorks targets eligible youth aged 14 to 21 residing in
31 targeted cities and towns, including Westfield, Holyoke, Chicopee and Springfield, which are represented by the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, Inc. The program’s mission is to support youth and young adults in the development of marketable skills needed in a competitive economy. Employment placements are made in a wide range of positions in public, private and nonprofit sectors. “When I go to state trainings and debrief meetings, I find that Westfield has some opportunities that other cities are not encountering,” said Tompkins, adding that 53 percent of her participants are male and 47 percent are female. “We do not shy away from accepting youth with varying disabilities that other cities may not embrace. They are given equal footing with their peers.” Across the area, businesses and organizations have embraced the YouthWorks program over the years including Kamp For Kids, Shaker Farms Country Club, Vivid Hair Salon, Central Baptist Church, Pilgrim Candle’s retail store, College for Kids at Westfield State University, ReStore
Jack Leone, who volunteers to oversee the grounds and maintenance each summer at the Camp Moses Reservation, explains how to rebuild a camp site sink to Gervais Ndinamahoro. Ndinamahoro is a YouthWorks participant again this summer. Westfield, Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield, Boy Scouts of America’s Camp Moses Reservation, Westfield High School’s maintenance and landscaping department, and the Westfield Public Schools Extended Year Programs at Fort Meadow Early Childhood, South Middle School and East Mountain Road. “I’m a no-nonsense leader and if they do a good job I reward them,” said Jack Leone, See Initiative, Page 3
$35 CREDIT FOR NEW CUSTOMERS!
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—The city’s police department received a unique donation recently—a video tribute. The video was a donation from Silent Partner Marketing, a Manchester, Connecticut-based marketing company who is aiming to donate up to $500,000 worth of video production to police departments around the country for similar pursuits. The goal of the videos is to give back to police departments and “humanize the police departments,” according to Kyle Reyes, president and CEO of Silent Partner Marketing. In the video, officers from the Westfield Police Department discuss the goals of the department, as well as its part within the community. One highlight includes a resident who said that officers brought him food when weather made it so he could not travel to the store. “We had civilians tell their stories. The main focus was how the police department, civilians and residents need to work together,” Lt. Eric Hall said. According to Hall, the video came to be after he heard about the outreach Silent Partner Marketing was doing. “I saw it on social media and I took advantage,” he said. “These men and women behind the uniforms could care less about politics,” Reyes said. “They don’t look at people and see political affiliation, they see people. They look at people and they just see a human life that needs to be served and protected.” According to Reyes, the company is working with about 75 departments across the country, with many in Connecticut. In addition, fire departments and at least one emergency medical services department are receiving videos, as well. Reyes said that the project started last December. “Last December we announced that we would be donating $250,000 to police departments to help them tell their stories,” he said. There was positive feedback overall, but also some negative criticism of the videos, according to Reyes. The negative criticism then inspired him to double the amount given and extend it “to first responders and veterans.” In addition to the videos that are coming out this year, Reyes said that they are also working on a series called “Behind the Uniform,” which will tell the stories of those in law enforcement and first responders.
Recreational marijuana survey going out to Huntington residents By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – The town’s Planning Board will be sending out a marijuana bylaw survey for residents along with second quarter FY18 tax bills. The purpose of the survey, which is already posted on the town’s website at www. huntingtonma.us is to help guide the Planning Board in drafting a bylaw regulating recreational marijuana facilities in Huntington. Planning Board chair Linda Hamlin said the survey will give the committee feedback on how people feel about having the businesses in town, but is not binding. They will consider the results when drafting the bylaw, which will then be voted on at the Annual Town Meeting next spring. “We want to make sure that the town of Huntington is making the
decisions, and not the state,” Hamlin said. The survey poses five questions, all drawn from the Massachusetts General Law passed by voters in November to legalize recreational marijuana in the state, which are not specifically addressed in the Huntington Zoning Bylaws The questions ask whether voters approve of marijuana cultivators, testing facilities, retailers, product manufacturers and any other type of licensed marijuanarelated businesses within the Town of Huntington. On the back of the survey are definitions of each of the categories listed. At this year’s town meeting on June 5, voters overwhelmingly passed a moratorium on recreational marijuana businesses within the town of Huntington, in See Survey, Page 3
Huntington Planning Board members Evelyn Korfias, Linda Hamlin, chair and Jeffrey Wyand. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Time is running out—Offer ends July 31! SIGN UP BY JULY 31
Westfield Police Department given a unique donation
If your neighbors are already enjoying service and savings from Westfield’s fastest internet, why aren’t you? Up to 1,000 Mbps from Whip City Fiber is only $69.95/mo. Zip on over to our website and complete your application for a $35 credit. Installations are already available in many areas—complete your application today!
www.whipcityfiber.com 413-572-0100
VISIT US AT AMELIA PARK ICE ARENA Stop by Tuesday evenings from 5:00-7:00 pm and Saturday mornings from 10:30 am-12:30 pm. We’ll be answering your questions in the lobby of the Amelia Park Ice Arena. WHIP CITY FIBER DROP-IN CENTERS Open 8:00 am-5:00 pm | Monday-Friday WG+E Operations Center, 40 Turnpike Industrial Rd. WG+E Office, 100 Elm Street