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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 91
TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2017
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” — ALBERT EINSTEIN
75 cents
Councilor seeks to change open burning
Broadway Chair at Blandford Ski Area. (Photo submitted)
Blandford Ski Area holds emergency meeting By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – On April 9, the Blandford Ski Area held an emergency meeting for all members, past and present. The meeting was well attended, according to marketing director David Fraser. “150 members attended, young and old, people who have been members for years, or who just became members last year,” Fraser said on Monday. He said in the eight years he has been involved with the club, they have never called an emergency meeting before. The purpose was to let members know that they were in need of early bird signups, the discounted membership rate that helps the Blandford Ski area get through the off season. The discounted rate is offered from late February through the end of April. The goal is 800 memberships; as of See Blandford Ski Area, Page 3
Vintage photo of skiers on J bar at Blandford Ski Area. (Photo submitted)
Rotary Club celebrating 35 years of service By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Rotary Club is coming up on 35 years of Service above Self, and they are hosting an anniversary celebration in honor of it. On May 6 at the Southwick VFW Post 872, the Rotary Club will host a spring barbecue starting at 5 p.m. and ending at 9 p.m. There will also be a cash bar, live music, a raffle, and a special birthday cake. Tickets are $20 and will be available at the door. People interested in attending can also buy tickets in advance by going to Southwick Florist on College Hwy, as fellow Rotarian member Bob Fox is a coowner of the business and will be able to assist in purchasing a ticket. An organization that has been active since 1982, the Southwick Rotary Club 35th anniversary celebration gives people in the community the chance to celebrate the club’s success over the years.
“We’ve done an awful lot in 35 years,” said Fox. Fox encourages people of all ages to purchase a ticket and enjoy the event. “It’s a family event, we hope everybody can come,” said Fox. The Rotary Club is known for providing scholarships for high school students, having steak roasts, cleaning up the highway, fishing tournaments, and more. “It’s a great club,” said Rich Anderson, the President of the Southwick Rotary Club. “We’re going to continue to be here.” Anderson noted that of the 35 years the club has been present in Southwick, there are two current members that have been a part of the club ever since; Ray Fox and Gerry Proulx. The Southwick Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Nora’s Restaurant.
The 35th Anniversary Celebration will feature a spring barbecue at Southwick VFW Post 872. (Photo from Ellen Miles)
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—One city councilor is working to write an ordinance that would allow fire pits and other outdoor fireplaces to be in people’s yards without the potential for a fine. At-large councilor Dan Allie is working with the city’s law department, as well as getting information from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) to write an ordinance that would both allow outdoor ambiance fires and would follow MassDEP regulations. According to Allie, outdoor burning without a permit or if the flame is not being used for cooking can lead to significant fines. DAN ALLIE “We’re working to write something that’s very carefully worded, so residents are not open to these excessive fines and we’re not overwriting something,” Allie said. The city council and Mayor Brian Sullivan had previously passed a city ordinance related to the issue in April 2016. In that ordinance, the city specifically exempted outdoor fire pits, outdoor fireplaces and chimeneas from the open burning regulations. However, according to Allie, MassDEP has since challenged the ordinance due to lack of clarity and the outdoor burning in those outdoor items is still prohibited and because they are “concerned.” MassDEP has regulations for open burning, and not following them could lead to a $1,000 fine. From the MassDEP online question-and-answer on open burning:
“[MassDEP] and your local fire department limit open burning for public health and safety reasons. Open burning pollutes the air and can make it difficult for people with respiratory problems to breathe. When the air is stagnant, open burning can pose smoke and odor nuisances – and health risks – to nearby residents, particularly in densely populated areas. Open burning can also pose a safety risk when it is not adequately controlled. The limits on open burning do not apply to outdoor cooking. However, according to Allie, some outdoor fire sites should not apply to this. “Burning in chimeneas and outdoor fireplaces is not open burning,” Allie wrote in an email further clarifying the issue. “[H]owever, these devices are still subject to MassDEP air pollution regulations because they emit smoke. The smoke emitted must not create a nuisance, a condition of air pollution, or a hazard to others.” He also added that the regulations could have unintended consequences, such as restricting scout troops from certain activities. “A recreational fire from the boy scouts could be banned because it emits smoke,” he said. According to Westfield Fire Chief Mary Regan, regardless the end result, safety is their top priority. “We just want to have people be safe,” Regan said. “We don’t want regulations where the fire is too close to structures or too close to neighbors and is a nuisance. She also said that people should keep all flames small, have a water source nearby and consider weather conditions such as wind, which could unintentionally spread fires. Finally, Regan added that it is MassDEP that makes all determinations on the regulations, not the fire department. Currently, if a resident wanted to open burn, a permit must be acquired from their local fire department and may only burn from Jan. 15 to May 1, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Also, all burning must take place 75 feet from all buildings. As of April 17 though, current conditions dictated that open burning was not allowed. To find out more, call the Westfield Fire Department at (413)562-2329 and choose options to seek permission to burn brush.