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TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 TUESDAY, JUNE 27,12, 2017 WEDNESDAY, JULY 2017
Little River Road Construction update
Turnpike construction updates By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—The construction work around the Massachusetts Turnpike in Westfield may soon be coming to a stop— at least temporarily. This is according to information city officials received via e-mail from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). According to the e-mails, the toll plaza demolition and reconstruction effort at Southampton Road and exit 3 could be “cleaned and demobilized” by July 21, while bridges that are being worked on in relation to a Turnpike overpass project are expected to start opening on various dates between July 20 and 24. According to the information provided by David Billips, director of Westfield Public Works, remaining plaza 3 work will be “grading of the median and placement of concrete” that began on Monday, July 10, and will go until Friday, July 14, as well as the installation of a “new mast arm.” Lighting will also be installed from July 10 to July 12. In addition, “[d]uring night shifts” from July 10 to July 13, “the top course of the roadway will be paved.” The work though, is weather-dependent. Then, striping of the roadway is expected to take place July 14, Monday July 17 and Tuesday July 18. Finally, “the work site will be cleaned and demobilized” from July 18 until July 21. According to Jeremy Cigal, assistant civil engineer for Westfield, additional information was received regarding MassDOT Turnpike bridge repairs through the city. The three bridges listed were on West Road, Montgomery Road and Southampton Road. Cigal said that the e-mail reported that a bridge membrane, which he said is a rubberized compound that helps to protect the concrete deck of the bridge, was placed on July 10. Then the paving will be done on the bridge July 17, with it expected to be opened to traffic July 20. According to Cigal, MassDOT indicated that this would be the completion of major See Turnpike, Page 7
A portion of the Southampton Road bridge, where construction continues.
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Residents vote at Special Town Meeting in Blandford Tuesday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Some employees receive raises at Special Town Meeting By AMY PORTER Correspondent BLANDFORD – A Special Town Meeting in Blandford on Tuesday yielded raises for the Highway Department supervisor and laborers. Following a unanimous agreement on end of year transfers, several articles requesting budget adjustments for FY18 were introduced. Article 7 requested a transfer of $4,840 from Free Cash for Ambulance Services for FY18. An explanation was given that an error in the Town Meeting warrant on May 1 shortchanged the amount for Ambulance Services, and the town voted at the end of that meeting to take $5,000 from the Capital account to cover the shortfall. Resident Tony van Werkhooven questioned transferring the money from Free Cash which has not been certified. Moderator David B. Hopson responded that the transfer would be from FY17 certified Free Cash, available for the town to use until July 15. The motion carried unanimously. Article 8 called for the transfer of $8,400 for
Highway salaries, as required by the collective bargaining agreement. During discussion, a resident asked whether they had not voted on the Highway salaries at the Town Meeting. Selectman Bill Levakis said the town was still in union negotiations at the time, and when the contract had finished, some employees had moved into different categories. Former selectman Andy Montanaro said the contract had been initially negotiated in April, and asked which employees had changed categories. Town administrator Angeline Ellison said since it was the third year of the contract, it was open for re-negotiation, and two employees had shifted to higher categories due to more years of experience. “Two individuals went up $2 an hour,” added Eric McVey of the Finance Committee. When asked how employees hired a year and a half ago could have gained more than seven years of experience, Levakis said they See Special Town Meeting, Page 7
Distraught dog owner seeks to widen search for family pet By AMY PORTER Correspondent BLANDFORD – Karen Mehl of Blandford contacted The Westfield News on Tuesday, in hopes of widening the search for her missing Great Dane, Zepplin. “It will be two weeks Wednesday and I don’t know what else to do but poster the world looking for my baby,” Mehl said of Zepplin, who she raised from a puppy. Zepplin is a 4-year-old neutered male Blue Merle Great Dane, weighing 140 pounds, with an ID chip. On Wednesday, June 28, Mehl was outside working in the barn with Zepplin and Zelda, her 4-1/2 year old Blue Great Dane.
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Zelda went indoors, and Zepplin wandered off, which Mehl didn’t think anything of until it got dark and he hadn’t returned. She’s been searching for him ever since. Mehl said her property is 75 acres, bordered by 1200 acres of woods behind her house. She said Zepplin was recently injured when he fell off a ledge behind her house and broke his rear left ankle, requiring three pins in it. That time, their other dog, Zelda, alerted his owners to help him. This time, the family took Zelda out for days, begging her to find him. Mehl said she followed his scent and took them everywhere, with no See Zepplin, Page 7
Photo of Zepplin from the posters. Mehl said he is more grey than black.
WESTFIELD – The City of Westfield just issued the following construction update for the Route 187/Little River Rd project: While work continues along Little River Road and Shaker Road, the entrance to Ridgecrest Drive will be improved as part of the Little River Road Reconstruction Project. Some of the improvements include: • The limits of improvements extend from Little River Road up to the driveway to house #12 • Addition of a cement concrete sidewalk on the south/east side of Ridgecrest Drive • Replacement of the storm drainage (already complete) • Reconstruction of the roadway with minor changes to the horizontal and vertical geometry of the road • Installation of granite curbing • Installation of a stone masonry retaining wall to support the new sidewalk • Installation of new signage and metal guardrail • Installation of new trees, shrubs, and perennials to replace existing near the intersection with Little River Road The project is being administered by MassDOT and constructed by Ludlow Construction. The construction of the retaining wall is expected to begin at the end of July /early August with the remainder of the work to occur in the fall. The road reconstruction and sidewalk improvements will be coordinated with work on Little River Road and is tentatively scheduled for September 2017. Landscaping improvements would occur after the road work and is anticipated later in the fall. The drawings related to the Ridgecrest Drive Improvements can be viewed here: h t t p : / / w w w. c i t y o f w e s t f i e l d . o rg / DocumentCenter/View/2381 Please contact the Westfield Engineering Office for further information at 413-572-6219.
Fundraising events scheduled for Athenaeum By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—The Westfield Athenaeum has three fundraising efforts happening through the next three months to try and continue to fund their renovation efforts. The Athenaeum is currently having a Christmas in July event, next is a comedy show in August and finally a wine tasting in September. Each event is meant to raise money for the renovations to make the Athenaeum more universally accessible, including improved handicap access, which is the first step in a multi-phase renovation project for the building. According to Dan Paquette, director of the Athenaeum, they are around See Athenaeum, Page 7
(Submitted photo)
Community attends public safety day By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent GRANVILLE – Last Saturday, the community of Granville had the opportunity to gain more insight about their first responders as the annual Public Safety day took place at the Gran-Val Scoop. Residents were able to speak with police, fire and EMT officials to learn about the ins and outs of their jobs as well as examine some of the police cruisers and pieces of fire apparatus that were present. For the first responders themselves, it is an important experience for the town. “It’s a good public safety thing so they (community) can learn about how we do
our job,” said Granville Police Lt. Rick Rindels. The event took place from Noon until 5 p.m. and Rindels pointed out that almost 200 people attended. Allowing children to play with the sirens on the fire truck and handing out candy, stickers, and other things, made for families enjoying the day. The Gran-Val Scoop also had a petting zoo so kids could feed the farm animals. “It’s a nice event for the families,” said Rindels. “It makes for a fun little day for the kids.” In order to see the photos from the Public Safety Day, visit either the Granville Fire Department Facebook Page or the
The Granville Public Safety Day took place at the Gran-Val Scoop last Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Granville Public Safety)
Granville Police Department page.