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— Sir Alec Guinness
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014
VOL. 83 NO. 77
“Failure has a thousand explanations. Success doesn’t need one.”
75 cents
Velis takes special election By Dan Moriarty and Peter Francis Staff Writers WESTFIELD – Democrat John C. Velis won the election to represent Westfield in the state House of Representatives by a margin of more than 300 votes as residents turned out in far greater number than the preliminary election held in March. Velis took 2.697 of the ballots cast, according to the unofficial results released by the City Clerk’s office, while his GOP opponent took 2,354 votes. City residents voting to fill the house seat vacancy, created when former Rep. Don Humason was elected to the Senate in a special election, turned out for this special election, with 5,056 ballots cast (21.06 percent) out of the city’s 24,013 registered voters casting ballots. Velis won the majority of votes in nine of the city’s 12 voting precincts, taking 1-B, 2-A, 2-B, 3-A, 3-B, 4-A, 4-B, 5-A, and 5-B, while Allie out polled Velis in precincts 1-A, 6-A and 6-B. Following the announce-
Westfield candidate for State Rep. Dan Allie, left, congratulates his opponent John Velis on last night’s victory for the State Rep. seat during a victory party for Velis at the Tavern Restaurant. Velis won the Westfield election by 343 votes. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
ment of the final tally Velis, from his School Street law office, took a moment to elaborate on the evening that was the culmination of months of campaigning and hard work. “I am so very humbled. I’ve knocked on thousands of doors, taken my message directly to the people of Westfield, how I’d only put Westfield first,” the 32-year old said. “Westfield put me first, and now I’m going to put Westfield first. I’ve said that, now it’s my job to fulfill what I said on the campaign trail.”” “I’m so very grateful to the people of Westfield, and I’m just very excited, because I know that there will come a time in the not-so-distant future when the people of Westfield will say they are proud that John Velis is their new State Rep,” he added. Velis thanked his Republican opponent Dan Allie for a “very competitive race” and said that he’s looking forward to working with the last man to occupy his new seat. “I look forward to working with (State Senator) Don Humason (R-Westfield) to do
Westfield State Rep. elect John Velis, center, is congratulated by Ralph Figy, right, moments after his win over Republican candidate Dan Allie. Velis celebrated his victory party at the Tavern Restaurant in Westfield. (Photo by Frederick Gore) whatever is in the best interest of this great city that we call home,” he said. Meanwhile, at East Mountain Country Club, the Allie campaign stood steadfastly behind their man even in defeat, and the candidate was able to reflect upon his campaign efforts. “We’ve accomplished an awful lot. It’s been a real grassroots movement,” Allie said. “These people here tonight are not the political
CITY OF WESTFIELD • SPECIAL STATE ELECTION APRIL 1, 2014 JOHN
UNOFFICIAL RESULTS # of Voters #Voted % Voted 24,013 5,056 21.06%
Dan
Allie VELIS REPRESENTATIVE IN GENERAL COURT
Blanks DAN ALLIE JOHN C. VELIS Write-Ins Total
1A 1B 2A 2B 3A 3B 4A 4B 5A 5B 6A 6B TOTAL 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 268 182 86 164 58 209 103 312 250 274 246 202 2,354 216 228 120 233 125 316 135 430 274 311 168 141 2,697 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 5 484 410 206 398 183 526 238 744 524 586 414 343 5,056
establishment, and I’m proud of everyone’s effort. We accomplished what we did with everyday people, not a political machine.” “I just want to thank God for my family, friends, and these great volunteers. We’ve been working with kids during this campaign, from eighthgraders to high schoolers, encouraging them to get involved,” Allie said. “Young people today don’t trust either political party, the media, or the government, and they need to be involved.” Allie would neither confirm nor deny that he would be throwing his hat in the ring again in the fall when the seat goes up for grabs again. “We’ve collected enough signatures to get on the ballot, and I know the deadline is coming up,” he said. “Now we’re just going to get some rest and spend time with family. It was a close race.” Following the confirmation of their man’s victory, the Velis team and their legion of supporters congregated at The Tavern Restaurant, where city’s Democrats rejoiced, for See Election Results, Page 7
Principal search narrowed to three candidates
Commission approves water project change
By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – A search committee to replace retiring Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional High School Principal Pamela Hunter has narrowed its candidates to three finalists. Superintendent John Barry told the School Committee last night the search committee received 44 applications for the position. “We narrowed them down to eight semi-finalists and selected three finalists,” said Barry. The School Coommittee will interview finalists William Metzger, current assistant principal at STGRHS, Nicole Smith, assistant principal at Minnechaug Regional High School, and Joseph Turmel, principal of Lee Middle and High School. The public interviews are set for Tuesday, April 8 at 5 p.m. at the high school. Barry said each candidate will be interviewed for approximately 30 minutes. A letter was sent to all three potential principals asking them to be prepared to share their plans for the transition of the school from a 9-12 school to a 7-12 school and how they would integrate with parents, students, and the community. Barry began calling references this week and said he is “learning positive things about all the candidates.” Committee member George LeBlanc served on the search committee and said it was not difficult to narrow the field of candidates.
By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Water Commission voted last night to approve a change to the contract for replacing the water main carrying water from Granville Reservoir down to the treatment plant located in Southwick. The board also approved an 83-day extension to the project, which in addition to installing a new pipeline, includes installation of a hydroelectric turbine in the treatment plant to produce power to operate the facility. R.H. White of Auburn, which built the treatment plant in 1993, was awarded the original $1,748,926 contract for the pipeline replacement and turbine installation effort. The change order approved last night was the fourth, adding a total of $438,000 to the project as it was modified because of conditions found during construction. The contractor used pipe-bursting technology in the upper half of Granville Gorge, while traditional trenching methods which are more cost-effective approach, was used for the lower half of the project. The purpose of the project is to replace a 14-inch pipe, originally installed in 1890, with a 16-inch high-density plastic pipe. The original pipe limits the flow of water and is leaking, while the proposed pipeline is projected to increase
See Principal Search, Page 8
See Water Project, Page 8
Energy upgrades slated for Powdermill residents By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – City and state agencies are making an investment at Powdermill Village on Union Street, a multifamily affordable housing development, to reduce the energy footprint, and cost, for low-income residents. MassHousing is partnering with Boston Community Capital (BCC) to provide a $3 million loan to finance the upgrades, which include converting the 126 Union Street apartment complex from oil to gas heat. The energy-efficiency improvements, much of the work being performed by the Westfield Gas & Electric Department, are expected to be completed by fall 2014. “Energy conservation and green technology have rapidly become an important part of financing and preserving affordable housing,’’ said MassHousing Executive Director Thomas R. Gleason. “It is expected that the many energy upgrades at Powdermill Village will result in substantial energy savings for residents and the property owner.’’ Powdermill Village is owned by Peabody-Westfield LP, an affiliate of Peabody Properties, Inc. BCC is funding the construction period for the project and MassHousing is providing a permanent three-year bridge loan. “The WG&E was contacted by, and is working with, Peabody Properties with their planned switch to natural gas at Powdermill Village,” spokeswoman Beth Burns said. “Our department installed gas piping to that location last fall in preparation for their conversion. See Powdermill Residents, Page 8