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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
— ALFRED NORTH WHITEHEAD
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 84
“We think in generalities, but we live in detail.”
75 cents
TUESDAY, APRIL 11, 2017
Donate for Life ceremony highlights a strong connection
Photo of the Roots Athletic Center on Root Road.
Parents raise concerns about crumb rubber use on soccer fields By DAN DESROCHERS Corresponndent WESTFIELD—As questions about the health impacts from the use of crumb rubber under synthetic turf fields percolate through the city, some parents of soccer players who play on those fields are now requesting that their games be moved. Several parents of players in the under-8 Westfield Football Club approached the football club’s board Sunday, requesting that their games be moved from the indoor artificial turf facilities. The request was made until more information is obtained about crumb rubber and athletes that play on and around the material, accord-
ing to Christine Webber, a parent with a child in the league who was chosen to speak on behalf of several of the other parents on the issue. “I made the request on behalf of the [under-8] players and families out of an abundance of caution,” Webber said. According to Webber, events that have reportedly transpired over the past several months have created concerns for some parents, which includes the recent media coverage of crumb rubber, as well as legislation currently being discussed in Connecticut and elsewhere, that may prevent the use of crumb rubber on playgrounds and fields going forward.
Webber said that there is currently another federal study being done on the effects of crumb rubber, and until that study is finished, she said that her and other parents whose children play on the fields request that the games be moved to an outdoor location, and preferably to natural grass. “I think that the parents are hopeful that it will come out that there aren’t any sort of effects coming out of the fields because they are great fields, but we want to make sure,” Webber said. The study is expected to be done by the summer, according to Webber. See Parents, Page 3
Water contamination and crumb rubber discussed at city council subcommittee meeting By DAN DESROCHERS allowed is too high, and added Corresponndent that the more impervious WESTFIELD—The issue of ground there is, the more run crumb rubber and water conoff from stormwater, which she tamination within the city said results in more pollution council’s natural resources and contamination. The comcommittee thus far has been mittee also discussed the focused on gathering facts. amount of impervious ground The natural resources comthat is at Barnes Regional mittee met last night, and for Airport, which also lies over the second time in as many the Barnes aquifer. meetings the topic of crumb The committee, with that in rubber and water contaminamind, decided to request an tion seemed to dominate the MARY ANN BABINSKI update from the Airport discussions. However, the Commission of current concommittee made three trols and oversight procedures motions on the night, each requesting more ensuring aquifer protection as a motion, and information before decisions could be made determined to leave the topic in committee, regarding the two topics and with a focus on to be discussed at a later date. possibly suggesting zoning ordinance changAnother topic that was discussed was the es. matter of crumb rubber, particularly its use at The first topic for the committee was from Roots Athletic Center and in the water a discussion around suggestions that are resource protection district. The crumb rubgoing to be made by the Barnes Aquifer ber is being used underneath the artificial turf Protective Advisory Committee (BAPAC) at the athletic center where soccer games are regarding Barnes aquifer protection, the pro- being played, both indoors and outdoors, and tection of which encapsulated two of the some residents have voiced concerns about three topics on the agenda. the potential health effects the crumb rubber These suggestions were discussed, in ten- may have on the players and on the water tative form, at BAPAC’s most recent meet- supply. ing, and included information that was given The committee raised questions about out in a drafted letter to the Westfield City whether or not the chemicals that make up Council by BAPAC. The draft was discussed the crumb rubber would be against the zonby natural resources committee member and ing ordinance for the water resource protecward one councilor Mary Ann Babinski. tion district. According to Westfield Residents The topic that was most discussed during Advocating for Themselves (WRAFT) memthese discussions was the potential for chang- ber Kristen Mello, she received a safety data ing zoning ordinances around the water resources protection district and the amount See Crumb Rubber, Page 3 of impervious land—land that doesn’t allow fluid through—that is allowed. According to Babinski, the current language allows for up to 70 percent of impervious land in the water resources district but she would prefer it be lower. This is according to Zoning Ordinance Article III, Sect. 3-170.8, Dimensional and Coverage Requirements. “I want to suggest 50 percent impervious ground,” she said. “Seventy percent is definitely too high.” Fellow committee member and ward four councilor Mary O’Connell said though, that there has to be understanding of why certain standards exist in Westfield in the first place. “I’m not defending the ordinance in any way, but Westfield is more of an industrial town,” she said. Babinski said that BAPAC still feels that the amount of impervious ground that is Barns Aquifer map from the BAPAC website.
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – In June of 2008, Southwick resident Daniel Arnold passed away at the age of 36 from a bike accident up in New Hampshire. Before Arnold passed away, his plan was to donate his organs to those throughout New England that may be in dire need of them. Arnold’s mother, Diane, said she was the last one to know of her son’s intentions, but little did the Arnold family know, that a fellow Southwick resident would directly benefit from their late son’s request. In 2008, Beth Bradley of Southwick, experienced a heart attack and had complications when her main cardiac artery was seized. Bradley was put on a waiting list for an organ. Almost two years later, Bradley was still praying for that glimpse of hope. “It took 22 months of waiting and I started to think I wasn’t going to get a heart,” said Bradley.
Bradley and Arnold help Southwick Police Department Sergeant Kirk Sanders put up the Donate for Life flag in front of town hall. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick) One day, that wait was finally put to an end; Arnold’s heart matched up perfectly with Bradley, but that was just the beginning. “I had to know whose heart was in my chest,” said Bradley. During Monday night’s Donate for Life Ceremony at
the Southwick Town Hall, Arnold and Bradley were recognized by the community. When speaking to the crowd in attendance, each of the two women held up a picture of Daniel Arnold. For Bradley, it could have See Donate, Page 3
Suspect apprehended in West Springfield homicide WEST SPRINGFIELD — Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni announced the apprehension of a suspect in a fatal shooting that occurred on Monday afternoon in West Springfield. On Monday, April 10, 2017, at approximately 12:53 p.m., the West Springfield Police Department responded to a report of a woman shot at an apartment located at 25 Highland Avenue. First responders arrived on scene and located the victim who appeared to have a gunshot wound to her head.
The Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Hampden District Attorney’s Office along with the West Springfield Police Department’s Detective Bureau immediately began their investigation. During the course of the investigation, intelligence was provided which led authorities to seek a suspect in connection with the fatal shooting of Ms. Delilah Santiago, 18, of Holyoke. Through the course of the investigation, authorities
ROBERTO SANTIAGO became aware of the suspect's whereabouts. Based on intelligence gathered throughout the day, law enforcement officials apprehended the suspect at Bradley International Airport, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police, after they confirmed See Suspect, Page 3
Southwick Firefighter receives recognition for 32 years of service By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – During Monday night’s Select Board meeting, a town employee was recognized for years of service. John McKay was applauded for his 32 years at the fire department, as he recently announced his retirement. McKay retired on March 31, and is glad that he was able to have a career at the department that saw four Chief’s and a high amount of firefighters. “It’s been fantastic, a great bunch of peo-
ple,” said McKay. Southwick Fire Chief Russ Anderson was honored to be a part of McKay’s recognition at the Select Board meeting. “How do you explain commitment of 32 years?” said Anderson. McKay has a strong family history with firefighters, as he is a third-generation firefighter, and mentioned that his son is the fourth generation as he is a former firefighter. McKay received a certificate of appreciation from the Select Board on Monday night.
John McKay receives recognition from the Select Board after retiring with 32 years at the Southwick Fire Department. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)