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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
“There is no fun
in doing nothing when you have nothing to do.”
— Jerome K. Jerome
www.thewestfieldnews.com
VOL. 86 NO. 128
75 cents
TUESDAY, MAY 30, 2017
Senate budget includes turnpike exit and rural sparsity aid studies By AMY PORTER Correspondent HILLTOWNS – Several amendments of interest to Hilltown residents were approved during last week’s passage of the Massachusetts Senate’s FY18 State Budget. Senators Don Humason (R-Westfield) and Adam G. Hinds (D-Pittsfield) proposed an amendment entitled “Highway West,” which mirrored the amendment sponsored by Representative William “Smitty” Pignatelli (D-Lenox), to study the feasibility of adding a turnpike exit between Exit 2 and Exit 3 on the Massachusetts Turnpike. The language in the Senate amendment SECTION 77A. reads: (a) The Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall conduct a feasibility study relative to the establishment of an interchange on interstate highway route 90 between the existing interchanges located in the city of Westfield and the town of Lee. The study shall examine and evaluate the costs and economic opportunities related to establishing the interchange between the city of Westfield and the town of Lee including, but not limited to: (i) the projected capital costs; (ii) the projected operating costs; (iii) the projected use levels; (iv) the environmental and community impact estimates; (v) the
State Senator Adam G. Hinds (D-Pittsfield) visited Huntington in March as part of his “Speak up Western Mass” tour. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Senator Don Representative William State “Smitty” Pignatelli Humason (R-Westfield) (D-Lenox) (WNG File (WNG File Photo)
Another amendment, “Rural Sparsity Aid” based on a proposal pushed by rural regional school districts throughout the state, also passed the Senate. The MA Rural Communities Coalition, which the Gateway Regional School Committee voted to support in January, put forward the MA Rural School Aid Proposal that calls for tiered aid for rural public schools based on several factors: declining enrollment, low population density, per capita income, and a corresponding increase per pupil in Chapter 70 education aid. The language in the Rural Sparsity Aid amendment, also sponsored by Senator Hinds and Humason reads:
Photo)
availability of federal, state, local and private sector funding sources; and (vi) the resulting economic, social and cultural benefits to the surrounding region and the commonwealth. (b) The department shall file a report of the results of its study with the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the chairs of the senate and house committees on ways and means and the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on transportation not later than July 1, 2018.
In the amendment proposed by Pignatelli, the report was requested by January 1, 2018. “The distance between exits two and three of the turnpike is the longest on the state highway.” said Rep. Pignatelli after passage of the House amendment. “A new exit there could potentially be a huge economic driver for the area while relieving congestion in Westfield. With the implementation of the new all electronic tolling system, a new exit is more feasible now than it has ever been,” he added.
SECTION 115. The department of elementary and secondary education shall conduct a feasibility study relative to establishing a formula for aid to be distributed to rural school districts in the Commonwealth. Said formula shall include, but not be limited to, such criteria as total student enrollment, density of student enrollment per square mile, per capita income and other factors pertaining to rural school district funding. The department shall report the results of the study to the joint committee on education, the See Studies, Page 3
Two pedestrians struck over the weekend, police seek information from public By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–The city’s police department is seeking any additional information the public may have following an incident where two pedestrians were struck by a vehicle on Elm Street Saturday night. Westfield Police Capt. Michael McCabe reported that two pedestrians, a male and female, were struck in a crosswalk Saturday night, around 9 p.m., in front of the Westfield District Court on Elm Street. According to McCabe, the male party had “non-life threatening injuries,” while the woman’s injuries See Pedestrians Struck, Page 3
Ice Cream Social Thursday final event for SEPAC this school year By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – The Westfield Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) is holding an ice cream social on Thursday, June 1 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in Chapman Park (at the intersection of Fowler and St. Paul). The social marks the last event of the school year for SEPAC “This year we had great support from the special education department, and had administrators, school committee members and service providers participate and attend workshops,” said parent leader Michele Douglas, in speaking about the year’s informative monthly events for families. Douglas said the highlight of the year was the 2nd Annual Shining Star awards where students and parents acknowledged teachers, service providers and See SEPAC, Page 3
North Pond supporters have just recently put out new “Save North Pond” signs on North Pond. (Photo from Franklin Land Trust)
North Pond supporters continue to fund raise By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – At the Annual Town Meeting on May 16, voters in Southwick voted in favor of accepting the $1 million for the CPC (Community Preservation Committee) to use towards preserving North Pond. While the $1 million helps North Pond supporters and Franklin Land Trust inch closer to officially preserving the property, there is still a good amount of money
that needs to be raised. The latest appraisal for the 144-acre North Pond property was estimated at about $5 million. According to Mary Lynn Sabourin, the Director of Philanthropy at Franklin Land Trust, around $3.1 million has been raised. With a lot of the money raised being from grants and state funding, Sabourin emphasized just how important the vote was at the Annual Town Meeting. “I think the vote at town meeting really
told us that folks in town are finding this to be a really important project and they’re really getting behind it,” said Sabourin. “I think the momentum is really only going to increase from now until December.” When talking about December, Sabourin is referring to the fact that Franklin Land Trust’s request to extend the deadline to raise the $5 million was accepted by the property owner. Franklin See North Pond Supporters, Page 3
Diversification and Your Future By NORMAN HALLS Contributor Grads and present employees take notice! What is it? The act or practice to diversify one’s career, in manufacturing to expand the variety of products, investing in a variety of securities, selling a variety of merchandise, etc., so that a failure in or an economic slump affecting one will not be disastrous. You mention the term diversification, most will relate it to business. But, individually, everyone should be on guard as to any variations in procedures that are happening where they are employed and can be recognize. Look for signs of change in the company, such as new processes, new equipment, management and cut of hours. Think positive as to where you want to be in the next few years. You have to believe in yourself, be creative, be inventive, be a fighter, be alert, and be on your toes. “If we spend all out
time working, traveling to work, planning to work, thinking about work, or communicating about work, then we will see ourselves as workers and nothing more. As long as work is going well, we can survive that way.” Peter Bergman, Diversify Your Self – Harvard Business Review. “But when we lose our jobs or our jobs are threatened – and whose isn’t these days? – then our very existence is in question. Establishing your identity through work alone can restrict your sense of self, and make you vulnerable to depression, loss of self-worth, and loss of purpose when the work is threatened.” According to Professor Paul Rosenfield at Columbia University. This is the time for YOU to diversify your career. “What are the behaviors you need to do more of to succeed in your strategies?” asked David Astorino in APA Diversifying can enhance See Your Future, Page 3