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TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 TUESDAY, JUNE 27,22, 2017 TUESDAY, AUGUST 2017
Southwick welcomes home fallen sailor By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK –Numerous residents gathered throughout the town of Southwick early on Saturday morning to honor and welcome home a fellow Southwick resident who died unexpectedly. Tanner Brach, who was 24-years-old and a member of the U.S. Navy, passed away recently while serving on the U.S. Naval Base in San Diego. About a month ago, Brach returned to the United States, after being in Japan, aboard the USS George Washington aircraft carrier. Residents were not only honor-
ing Brach, but waiting for him to return home to Southwick. At around 5:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, Brach’s body was flown in a casket from California that arrived at Bradley International Airport. Once the plane landed at Bradley, it was described as a scene that will never be forgotten. Tom Krutka, who is a Sergeant at the Southwick Police Department, had known Brach for years and helped mentor the young man at one point in his life. Krutka explained how the Connecticut State Police, fire and rescue crews from the airport, and as well as
airport employees were all present to honor Brach. “It was amazing, everything stopped,” said Krutka. “It was really overwhelming.” When the Southwick Police and Fire escorted Brach through Southwick, people were seen waving flags and showing their support. Members of the community were seen throughout the town and along College Hwy up to Southwick Forastiere, where services for Brach will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday. Sgt. Krutka mentioned the significance of what Brach did in his short life.
“Not only was he a hometown boy, he dedicated the last five years of his life serving his country,” said Krutka. Dave Sutton, who is the founder of the One Call Away Foundation, and also a member of the Massachusetts Chapter of the Patriot Guide Riders, didn’t know Brach personally but knew that he had to attend the welcome home ceremony in order to show the proper respect. “I’ve heard a lot of great things about this young man,” said Sutton. “Anytime we lose a veteran, it’s a sad state of events, I wanted to show honor.”
Several residents in Southwick came out early Saturday morning to honor Tanner Brach. (Photo courtesy of Tom Krutka)
Blandford selectmen hire secretary; meet with assessors and highway department
Entrance to the Old Burying Ground.
A couple of ghosts haunt the Old Burying Ground. (Photo submitted)
Ghost Tours returning to Old Burying Ground By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—The Westfield Historical Commission is once again getting ready for their successful Ghost Tours at the Old Burying Grounds in September. This year’s Ghost Tours, which will be the sixth annual, will be occurring Sept. 29 and 30, with a rain date of Oct. 1 and, due to overwhelming demand, double the amount of tours will be offered. The event will feature actors portraying previous inhabitants of the city, along with stories about them, special effects and also renovated stones within the Old Burying Grounds. However, volunteers are still needed for the event. “This is our big moneymaker, our big weekend,” Cindy Gaylord, chairperson for the Westfield Historical Commission, said during the commission’s meeting yesterday. Tickets are still $10 each, with the recommended minimum age of guests being 8 years old but tickets will not be on sale for another 11 days, on Sept. 1 at the Westfield Athenaeum. “We’ve already had calls for people wanting tickets,” she said. Over the past six years, tours have been provided through the Old Burying Grounds, a roughly 350-year-old cemetery on Mechanic Street. The cemetery holds the remains of several notable figures in Westfield and regional history, including General William Sheppard and colonial American poet Reverend Edward Taylor. Gaylord said that last year the Ghost Tours raised about $5,000 for the Old Burying Ground, all of which goes back to the Old Burying Grounds. This money could become crucial to the commission in the future, since Gaylord said that community preservation grants, which are being used to help rehabilitate and repair stones and other markers, as well as wrought-iron fencing in areas, is expected to end following the upcoming final phase of the Historical Commission’s rehabilitation project at the cemetery.
According to Gaylord, the amount of tours given this year will double, happening every half hour as opposed to every hour, which could mean more money toward the maintenance of the Old Burying Ground and the repairs needed still. “Constant work that needs to be done,” she said. If you would like to volunteer, which Gaylord said may include work as a “ghost,” guide or set-up of the event among other positions, email her at c.gaylord@schoolsofwestfield.org for more information.
Mike Knapik readies himself to make his presentation to the visitors of the annual Ghost Tours. (WNG file photo)
Grange members vote on future By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – Members of Southwick Grange 46 came together on Saturday afternoon to take a vote on the future of the grange. It was then voted unanimously that the grange will remain open. Butch LaBombard, an active member of the non-profit organization, was pleased with the result of the vote. “We are very happy about keeping the grange going,” said LaBombard.
Seven new members also decided to join on Saturday and that is an encouraging step for the grange’s progression. “We are looking forward to working with the new members and are grateful that they took interest in becoming members,” said LaBombard. The new members will be sworn in at the next grange meeting on Sept. 19. Also, as the last bingo night was on July 20, LaBombard noted that
bingo will be brought back soon. Reported by the Westfield News on August 18, Southwick Grange 46 has hosted a number of different organizations like the 4H and the Southwick Girl Scouts. If anyone is interested in joining the organization, you are encouraged to attend a monthly meeting, which is the third Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. You can also contact LaBombard at 413-531-2837. It costs $30 a year in order to secure a membership.
By AMY PORTER Correspondent BLANDFORD – New selectman Cara Letendre took up the gavel at Monday’s meeting in the absence of chair Adam Dolby. Among the first orders of business was the introduction of Karen Shaw, the new secretary for the board. Shaw, of Westfield, said she retired from the City of Westfield’s Law Department after 16 years. Following her retirement, she took on another position with Liberty Mutual. She said she had been looking for an interesting part-time position. In other business, assessor Stephen Jemiolo, who said he just completed a week of assessor’s school, questioned whether assessors would be compensated for attending the mandatory training. Jemiolo said the Board of Assessors had voted for the compensation, but when he submitted the invoice, it had been questioned. He said three years of the school is required for members of the Board of Assessors. Finance Committee member Eric McVey said at the Town Meeting they had voted pay raises for assessors that went into the salary line, and an additional $3,000 that went into training. Mary Kronholm said as a prior assessor the town had paid for the cost of the school and multiple workshops, as well as meals and mileage, but no hourly rate. She said a category used in the past for payment is special projects, which does not come out of the salary line item. Jemiolo said it would be difficult to get new assessors to fill vacancies if they have to take weeks off from work with no compensation. “We cannot pay you a salary for going to the school. Best solution, submit it as a special project out of the training line item,” suggested town administrator Angeline Ellison. McVey said in his opinion, elected officials receive a salary and the responsibilities of the office go with the salary. He also said the issue may need to be addressed at a Special Town Meeting. Letendre said she would first like to see what the policy of other towns is on the matter. Jemiolo also said that the Board of Assessors had been using a contractor to reconcile names and building size lots in real estate tax records. He said the Assessor’s Department was “so far behind and so out of sync, they have to match them up with property cards,” due to tax bills being returned. He said the work was halted until compensation for the contractor was approved by the Board of Selectmen. He also said the assessors would like to start sending out tax bills by email, which has been approved by the state. Letendre said they may need to create a town policy for sending bills by email. Ellison said she would draft the policy. Westfield resident Gary Hagar came before the Board of Selectmen to ask for permission to put up a clothes recycling bin at the Highway Department for his company Pay It Forward Recycling. He said he had recently bought the local, small forprofit business of 40 recycling kiosks. He said he pays $200 to $400 for a spot per year. Ellison said she was concerned
Blandford selectman William Levakis and new selectmen’s secretary Karen Shaw of Westfield (Photo by Amy Porter) about the precedent of allowing a for-profit business to put a bin on town property. Hagar said he lives 20 minutes away, and would police the bins, making sure there were no problems. He said he has similar arrangements in Russell and at the Huntington Fire Department. “I’m concerned about the parking lot there. It’s not the best spot, I don’t believe,” said selectman William Levakis. He suggested looking at the water pump past the fairgrounds. Letendre said she would follow up with Russell, and asked about a contract. Hagar said he does contracts with small businesses on his own. The matter was continued for further consideration. Highway superintendent Brad Curry asked about the progress of paperwork submitted for loans for new highway equipment, approved at the Annual Town Meeting. He said the department was planning to auction off the truck and loader to be replaced. “Once those items go, you don’t have a big truck with wings, so you don’t have a backup plan,” Curry said. “I’m trying to prod everyone along. Even if we order a truck now, you’re not going to see it until February,” he added. Curry also said the dump truck needed a new body. He said they have repaired the current one so many times, there was “nothing to weld to.” He said the cost of a new dump body is $8,000. McVey suggested he replace it with his repair budget. Curry said he would put in the request to Ellison. Letendre said at the next meeting when they have all of the details from the equipment needed for the Highway and Fire Departments, the board could talk about how to move forward, and also about items that might need to be addressed at a Special Town Meeting. Former selectman Andy Montanaro, who was present at the meeting, asked Curry about the progress of a drainage plan, which has been requested the past couple of years. Curry said it was in the works, and that he had been meeting with Ellison on the plan. Curry also gave an update on the small bridge grants for Blandford and Gore Roads. Blandford will be receiving $500,000 from MassDOT to replace the bridges that have deteriorated and are structurally deficient. Curry said he has contacted engineers, and is looking into companies selling pre-fabricated parts. He said they are also getting started with MassDOT with pre-permits. He said work should begin in the spring. “We’re trying to find out the best bang for the buck, so we can get started,” Curry said.