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Select Board discusses the main issues of a dangerous intersection
to man to compensate him for what he isn’t. A sense of humor was provided to console him for what he is.” — Horace Walpole
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THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2016
VOL. 85 NO. 135
“Imagination was given
Huntington designated a Purple Heart Town
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – A topic of old business was brought to light during Tuesday night’s Town of Southwick Select Board meeting at the town hall. The Select Board reviewed over the ongoing issue for the need of stop signs on the corner of South Longyard Road and Granaudo Circle. There was a citizen’s request made on April 27th that was sent to Joseph Deedy, clerk of the select board. The request is to have two new stop signs at the intersection of the two streets.
Huntington Selectman John McVeigh (left) and Purple Heart recipient Justin Green with the new sign designating Huntington as a Purple Heart Town. (Photo by Amy
See Intersection, Page 5
Porter)
By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – The town of Huntington has joined 80 other cities and towns in Massachusetts, including Northampton, Easthampton, Holyoke, Springfield and Southwick, in becoming a Purple Heart Town. Although the designation was made official in a proclamation by the Board of Selectmen on September 9 of last year, it was announced publicly at Monday’s annual town meeting, followed by the posting of the first sign on Tuesday on Route 20. Four more signs will be posted on the
major roads leading into town. Huntington resident and Purple Heart recipient Justin Green first went to the Board of Selectmen with the request. Green served in the 3rd Battalion 1st Marines out of California, and was wounded in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004. Originally from Whately, Green returned to Western Massachusetts from California, settling in Huntington with his family three years ago. Huntington Selectmen Jeff McKittrick, John McVeigh, and Ed See Purple Heart Town, Page 5
Bike Safety Rodeo this Saturday
Cindy Gaylord, kneeling, discussing headstone cleaning procedures at the Old Burying Ground.
Old Burying Ground opening its gates By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—The city’s Old Burying Ground will be opening its wrought-iron gates for visitors this Saturday. The gates, which are normally shackled shut due to vandalism, will be opened to allow visitors to explore the grounds and learn a bit of history about the city during Open Gate Day, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is being held by the Westfield Historical Commission, and will include some Munger Hill School fifth graders acting as past citizens who were buried in the Old Burying Grounds. “Our goal is to educate people about what’s in there so we don’t have to lock it,” Cindy Gaylord, chairperson of Westfield Historical Commission and fifth grade teacher at Munger Hill, said. “The fifth graders are portraying 25 different people there, and as people walk through the students will tell the stories of who they’re portraying,” she
added. The students are part of Gaylord’s fifth grade class, and this event is part of the school’s Colonial Westfield Day, Wednesday, June 15. Those being portrayed include Revolutionary War General William Shepard, colonial America poet Reverend Edward Taylor, and local former centenarian Hannah Noble. The Old Burying Ground is the oldest cemetery in Westfield, with headstones dating as far back as 1683. And at one point, the site had over 1,600 tombstones, but due to weather and theft the site is now down to about 1,100, according to Gaylord. Gaylord said that other members of the Historical Commission will also be on hand to give tours and additional information. “It’s such a beautiful sight that people right here in our town just aren’t aware of and we want people to come and enjoy it as much as we do,” Gaylord said.
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—Community police will be providing children this Saturday with valuable lessons on bike safety. The Westfield Police Department’s community police will be holding the second annual Bike Safety Rodeo at the Elks Lodge, 56 Franklin St., Saturday, June 11, from 9 a.m. to noon. Police will be there with refreshments, lessons, raffles and obstacle courses to help teach children and parents bike safety. Westfield Fire Department personnel will also be on hand. Officer Juanita Mejias will be spearheading the event. “The main focus is to show the kids that they have to be aware of their surroundings and not just the friends that they’re with, and that they always have to be on the lookout on the roadway,” Mejias said. Mejias said that the obstacle courses will be within the Elks Lodge parking lot, and will simulate real-life situations, but in a safe manner. The Moose Lodge, which is next door, will provide its parking lot for families who arrive by car. Both locations are providing the spaces freeof-charge. The courses will include practice staying within the lines provided for bicyclists, avoiding various obstacles and how to be aware of sur-
roundings. Additionally, police will be on hand to make sure that bike helmets are fitted properly, along with a safety checklist for parents to go over with their children. “We offer to talk to parents because it’s not just about educating the kids, but educating the parents, too,” Mejias said. “I’m a mom at heart and I love kids, and this was something that came easy to me,” Mejias said about creating the event. “I love to cycle as well, and know how frustrating it is to know the rules.” For refreshments, Westfield Police will be providing children and parents with popcorn, water and hot dogs. Items being raffled off include bike equipment. The event is part of Westfield Police’s efforts at becoming more involved in the neighborhoods and the city through its community police, and, according to their website, “to identify issues before they become problematic.” Other efforts have included the new downtown community police center. The community police are a six-person group, with each officer stationed in various neighborhoods with higher than normal incident numbers. The group consists of Sergeant Eric Hall, and officers Mejias, Steve Nacewicz, Alan Magdycz, Kevin Bard and Mark Carboneau.
2015 Bike Rodeo. (Photo by Juanita Mejias)
Woman enjoys ‘Freeness of Nature’ at Her Farm
Inside Gabriella Steria's quaint shop in Russell is a variety of soups, sauces, jams, jellies, pickles and gift items - as well as milk, eggs, and goat meat.
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By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent MONTGOMERY-In a quaint shop at Stony Creek Farm, Gabriella Steria’s talents abound as one peruses the pretty wooden shelves lined with jams, jellies, soups, sauces and tasty treats. “Wednesday is baking day,” said Steria during a Tuesday morning visit to her six-acre farm on Chamberlain Road. Almost half of her farm rests on the side of a mountain which is ideal pasture land for her goat herd. “They love the rocky mountainside with grass, trees, and brush to nibble
on,” she said. Steria is one of dozens of vendors who share their wares at the weekly Westfield Farmers’ Market on the front lawn of the Episcopal Church of the Atonement on Court Street. Market hours are noon to 6 p.m. on Thursdays. While Steria relishes her time in her country kitchen, she is most at home working the land and tending to her 36 goats and several laying hens. Steria notes she fenced in an orchard area allowing her hens to run free. Steria also expects to purchase two pigs this summer which will be butchered for meat in the fall.
“The pigs eat all of the garbage,” she said, adding, “I hate to see any waste.” Steria’s love of the land and preserving it stems from her childhood upbringing as a Mennonite on a dairy farm in upstate New York. “Growing up I had my own goat herd,” she said. “I grew up with the freeness of nature.” Steria first settled in Westfield when she served as a teacher for the Westfield Christian School. After several years, she opened a bakery with a friend on Route 20 in Russell, See Farm, Page 5
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