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Chief Ricardi announces new K-9 handler By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – Police Chief David Ricardi announced on Monday night that Officer Michael Westcott has been selected as the new K-9 handler. Previously, Sgt. Tom Krutka was the K-9 handler for 10 years alongside K-9 Jax, who is now living out his retirement with Krutka as his owner. Once it was announced in June that Krutka would be promoted to patrol sergeant, Ricardi had to immediately search for Krutka’s replace- Southwick Police officer Michael Westcott has been ment. Observing Westcott since he selected as the new K-9 was an intern at the Southwick handler for the police Police Department, Ricardi department. (Photo courtesy of could see Westcott’s passion Southwick Police Department) for the K-9 unit. According to Ricardi, Westcott would volunteer his time with the K-9 program by helping out on demonstrations with the dog among other tasks. “He seemed to always gravitate to an interest on the K-9 See K-9 Handler, Page 8
Southwick child gets wish granted through Make-AWish Foundation By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – Last week a 4-year-old girl from Southwick was able to receive her dream wish. With her family alongside, Avery McAvoy was filled with excitement when she saw her very own above ground pool in her backyard, which was organized by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. McAvoy was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer, called Neuroblastoma, and has dealt with the disease for half her life. Fortunately, McAvoy has been cancer free for two years now. In order to make McAvoy’s wish a reality, Make-A-Wish partnered with Teddy Bear Pools from Chicopee to provide the pool. For everyone involved it was great to see the 4-year-old’s face light up when entering her backyard and seeing the pool See Make-A-Wish, Page 8
Ward 3 Councilor Andrew K. Surprise speaks with constituents following the Special City Council meeting on Monday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Smooth sailing for all but one item at Special City Council meeting By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – City Councilors met on Monday in a special session to take care of unfinished business before continuing their break until the next regularly scheduled meeting on Aug. 24. Only one councilor was absent on a scheduled vacation. All items under consideration passed unanimously, with the exception of one motion which appeared late on the agenda. The first item requested immediate consideration for a Resolution authorizing an intergovernmental agreement between the City of Westfield and the Westfield Gas & Electric Municipal Light Department for internet connection services. Ward 2 Councilor Ralph J. Figy said the resolution would allow the city to give Comcast, who held the previous contract, a 30-day notification. The resolution passed unanimously with no discussion. Ward 6 Councilor William Onyski made the request for immediate consideration on the $250,000 appropriation from the Community Preservation Committee for the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail. Onyski said the Law
Department had answered questions from councilors and others at the CPC meeting as to whether design work on the Rail Trail fell within the guidelines for Community Preservation Act funds, stating that the application was legal and correct. At-large Councilor Dave Flaherty thanked the mayor and the Law Department for getting the information together in a timely fashion. City Council President Brent B. Bean, II then said he would allow two or three residents in attendance to speak, even though it was out of the regular order. “We’ve talked about this project for a long time. It’s another milestone, the central section finishes (the Rail Trail) at 3.2 miles. It’s all about federal and state (matching) money of $6.25 million,” said Dan Call of the Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail (FCGRT). He encouraged all of the councilors to vote in favor of the funding. “I question this rush of approving this appropriation,” said Westfield resident Frank Mills, who also said he was not against the bike trail. “The information I’ve read is this is a $250,000 install-
ment…the first in a series of installments… I hate to see the CPA be lulled into being a funding source in perpetuity,” Mills said. He also questioned the use of CPA funds for design. Ward 4 Councilor Mary O’Connell thanked him, saying he raised some valid points. She said she and other councilors also had some concerns regarding using the fund for design work. She said she reached out to the state Community Preservation Commission, who said “it’s perfectly okay to use CPA funds for design work.” Flaherty said when the funding was before the Finance Committee, it was never their intention to stop funding the Rail Trail. “Our goal was to free up some money to make it available for roads,” Flaherty said. He said the CPA is one way to fund it. Other suggestions include using Stabilization, or the “Fish Fund.” “I’m convinced according to the letter from the Law Department, which eliminates any doubt that I had. I feel fine voting for this. It’s a good use of CPA funds,” Flaherty added. See Special City Council, Page 3
PeoplesBank helps CHD’s youth confidently reach for the stars Children and adults with disabilities will “learn the ropes” while experiencing the basics of rock climbing. Each climber can climb as high as they’d like to go. The new program is made possible with generous support from PeoplesBank. “This new program offering is an incredible opportunity being made available to children and adults with physical and/or intellectual disabilities,” said Jessica Levine, Program Manager, Center for Human Development’s Disability Resources. (Photos by Lynn F. Boscher)
Gavin Rock gets to the task at hand
“I made it to the top” says Gavin
Dharbi Cooper shows her newfound confidence.
Kimberley Lee (VP Development CHD), Gavin Rock, Jessica Levine, Dharbi Cooper, Lisa Cooper, Matthew Bannister (1st VP PeoplesBank)