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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
“The more articulate one is, the more dangerous words become.“ — MAY SARTON
www.thewestfieldnews.com
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TUESDAY, MAY 3, 2016
VOL. 85 NO. 105
Westfield needs to cut $700K from school budget
MassDEP sets sights on surveying local waterways By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD-A report recently released by the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA) says water quality monitoring in streams across the country is “haphazard and limited,” adding it leaves Americans in the dark about the health of local waters – and potentially leaving pollution undetected. The national report notes it conducted an “extensive investigation” into stream monitoring practices and water pollution problems in all 50 states and uncovered “startling” results, including: • Analysis shows states are effectively monitoring water quality in only two percent of rivers and streams nationwide. • Based on state reports to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than half (55%) of the streams and rivers in states tested were not safe for designated uses such as swimming, fishing, and as sources of drinking water. • Pollutants in these waters include a laundry list of bacteria, carcinogens, and nutrients. • Testing sites are often randomly located and limited in number, and most information about water quality in streams is 5- to 10-years-old. • More than half of all states (26) received “D” or “F” grades for the overall effectiveness of the state’s stream monitoring efforts. The full report, including state-by-state grading, can be viewed at www.iwla.org/righttoknow. “There is an alarming lack of timely information about water quality in this country,” said IWLA Executive Board Chair Jodi Arndt Labs. “Every morning, you can read about that day’s air quality in the local paper or on your smart phone, yet information about the health of local streams is 5- to 10-years-old. That’s a problem.”
A view of the Westfield River from Half Mile Falls Park. The Clean Water Act of 1972 requires states to monitor the safety of all waterways, report water quality information publicly every two years, and address pollution problems. The IWLA found that many states have weak water quality standards that can inflate the number of waters rated clean and healthy – and most states don’t monitor water quality often enough to make accurate statewide safety claims. The Izaak Walton League has a solution to this problem – empowering citizens to collect scientifically valid water quality data (and ensuring states use this data more effectively). “Across the country today, League chapters and networks of citizen monitors are already doing great work,” said IWLA Executive Director Scott Kovarovics. “Volunteers could regularly monitor water quality in thousands more streams and provide timely results to their neighbors and state governments. The League is commit-
ted to achieving this goal by getting more citizens involved in stream monitoring nationwide.” The Izaak Walton League was founded in 1922 to conserve America’s natural resources – including soil, air, woods, waters and wildlife – for future generations. Today, League priorities include engaging youth in the outdoors, restoring and conserving habitat for fish and wildlife, and ensuring America’s streams, rivers, and other waters are clean and safe. The report said Massachusetts residents “have much to be concerned about when it comes to water pollution,” citing pollutants found in waterways include bacteria, PCBs (a probable carcinogen), mercury, and pesticides, nutrients that spur algae growth, and sediment that chokes fish and other aquatic life. With an overall “D” rating cited, the See Local Waterways, Page 3
BREAKDOWN OF MASS’ FINDINGS, WITH A RATING OF “D,” INCLUDED: • State reports 28 percent of streams tested. The IWLA fact check said that only four percent of streams are tested. “To adequately assess water quality, the state needs a significant increase in permanent monitoring stations, where data is collected each year at the same place,” notes IWLA. • Massachusetts has more than 12,000 miles of streams and rivers and 20 permanent monitoring stations. “The U.S. EPA recommends a maximum of 25 miles per station. The number of permanent stations needed in Massachusetts is actually 502,” notes IWLA. • State reports 36 percent of streams are clean. The IWLA fact check notes “Not only does the state need to monitor hundreds more sites to adequately and accurately assess water quality, it has uneven water quality standards and uses out-of-date information. So the state’s claim that even 36 percent of its streams and rivers are clean and healthy smells a little fishy.”
Southampton voters reject property tax raise SOUTHAMPTON (WWLP) – Southampton residents voted against raising their property taxes on Monday to pay for a second shift for ambulance services in town. The Fire Department will now need to find another way to fund their services. There were two questions on the ballot that was rejected. The first was a $135,000 property tax increase for the ambulance service and the second was a move to convert the town treasurer from an elected position to an appointed position. Question 1 lost by a vote of 388 to
302 and Question 2 lost by a margin of 425 to 253. About 16 percent of registered voters cast their ballot. Southampton Fire Chief John Workman said the selectman had signed a contract with the state for advanced level ambulance service, but when that contract was signed, there was no funding put in place for it. “They’re all volunteers that come from home 16 hours of the day. Sometimes that’s a challenge. Even though I’ve increased the member-
ship of the department, it is still a challenge. This is a second or third job for all these folks,” said Workman. “I’m the only full-time on the department and then it is 40 members that are on-call. They get paid by the hour and we provide advanced level ambulance coverage and fire service with 40 people for 6,000 residents.” Southampton is an on-call fire department with the exception of the chief. To cover the $135,000 tax it would have cost the owner of a $250,000 home roughly $50. There were no contested races on the ballot.
Spirits are high at Best Buddies Prom By AMY PORTER Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Westfield High School chapter of Best Buddies held their tenth annual prom on Saturday night in the cafeteria. Approximately 75 members, volunteers, alumni and friends came to the luau-themed event. “The kids really look forward to it,” said club advisor Carolyn Busiere, who teaches special education at the high school. Best Buddies is a non-profit organization that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. At WHS, Best Buddies provides the students with the opportunities to establish friendships through meetings, community outings and special events. Busiere said there are 40 members in the club, and seven matched peer buddies. “Most of all, it contributes to creating a culture of acceptance, respect and inclusion at WHS. The students are amazing and See Best Buddies Prom, Page 8
By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – The Finance SubCommittee held a brief meeting before the regular School Committee meeting on Monday, to vote on a target number for the Westfield Public Schools FY17 budget. The $59,625,602 level service budget that was presented at a public hearing last week was nearly $1.75 million over FY16, due to increases in fixed costs. Finance Sub-Committee chair Kevin Sullivan said that the 3% increase is not possible for FY17, “although it would have been nice,” he added. “The level service essentially mirrors everything in place,” said Superintendent See School Cuts, Page 3
Westfield overrun by pink flamingoes for a good cause By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Westfield has been overrun by pink flamingos! No cause for alarm, but it has some residents asking: what the flock? The flamingos or flocks, as Amy Larew calls them, are one of South Middle School’s fundraisers to help fund the eighth-graders’ trip to Washington D.C. at the end of May. This is Larew’s first time “flocking.” Larew said, “It’s a blast!” The project began on April 8 and will run through May 27. Every night four flocks of 15 flamingoes get moved to a new location throughout the city by thirteen student-parent teams, Larew said. The teen volunteers, who sell or move flocks–it costs $10 to flock someone–have money donated towards the cost of their DC trip. “This allows for the kids to spend about an hour having fun with their parents,” said Larew, who is a mother of an eighthgrader. Larew said this is the first time that she, along with her fundraising partner, Aimee Tompkins, have used flamingoes for fundraising. It appears that those getting flocked have also had a blast. A lawn is adorned with a flock of pink See Fundraising, Page 7
Best Buddies take a break from the dance floor to pose for a photo. Back row: Left to right are Dan Bak, Lindsey Cousins, Zachary Fedora, Mario Mettalo, and Don Gosselin. Front: Madelyn Gainer and Jade Smith. “Best Buddies is awesome,” said Gainer. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Nicole Graczewski helps set up flocks. (Photo by Kylie Morrison)