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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2017
VOL. 86 NO. 134
“I might repeat to myself, slowly and soothingly, a list of quotations beautiful from minds profound; if I can remember any of the damn things.” — DOROTHY PARKER
Water restrictions lifted in Westfield By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—As the city and the region were soaked with rain throughout the day, the Westfield Water Commission voted to remove water use restrictions that were in place on the city. The board voted unanimously to lift the restrictions immediately, after city officials explained that the water situation has improved within the city. This follows an announcement from the state last month that Westfield and the rest of the region were officially out of a drought. There were also reports of the Granville Reservoir regularly being above the spill-
way even after flashboards were put in place to increase its capacity. “The boards on the reservoir are still overflowing,” David Billips, director of Westfield Department of Public Works, said. “I don’t see any need to keep the water restriction.” Billips added that through last year’s drought conditions the city utilized the reservoir until October, despite the dry spring and summer the region faced. “The flashboards are still in so the reservoir has an extra foot over the spillway,” Heather Miller, water systems engineer, said. “Since the flashboards were put in in March it has been consistently over it.”
Still, Miller cautioned that in spite of the favorable water conditions usage should be monitored and residents should remain aware of it. “We still need to be careful of water usage, we don’t want to squander our resources,” she said. The commission felt that this was evidence enough to remove the restriction but wanted to be certain that the option could be revisited at any point within reason. “I’m fine with it. Just as soon as you want a restriction on let us know,” Matthew Barnes, commission member, said. The board voted unanimously to remove the restriction immediately.
Survey on school redistricting issued
Southwick Police officer promoted By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The retirement of Sgt. Donald Day after 26 years on the Southwick Police Department requires a position of patrol sergeant within the department to be filled. At the end of Monday’s Select Board meeting at Southwick Town Hall, the Select Board made their decision to promote Officer Tom Krutka to the role of patrol sergeant. Krutka, along with three other finalists, was interviewed before the start of the Select Board meeting. Before making the decision, the Select Board noted how tough it was choose between the four finalists and afterwards Krutka was grateful to have been selected for the position. “I was very appreciative, all four of us were pretty equally qualified,” said Krutka. “I’m excited to take the next step.” Shortly after The Westfield News reported that Krutka’s K-9 dog Jax was retiring after 10 years of service with the department, Sgt. Day announced he would be retiring which opened up an opportunity for Krutka. Having a strong passion for being a K-9 handler since 2007, Krutka’s focus wasn’t directed towards being a sergeant in the near future. “Six months ago I never would have thought that I would have went (to apply) for sergeant,” said Krutka. “The timing just happened to be perfect.” Krutka came to the Southwick Police Department as a reserve officer in June 2001. Then in January 2004, the officer was appointed full time, and worked the midnight shift. Krutka then moved to day shift a couple years later, before becoming the K-9 handler. Chief David Ricardi has high praise for Krutka as a member of the department. “At every stage that he has been with us, he has excelled,” said Ricardi. “He’s motivated and I think he’ll do a fine job, I expect big things out of him.” “What has impressed me about Officer Krutka is his commitment to the community off the job,” added Lt. Kevin Bishop. Kicking off his tenure as a patrol sergeant, Krutka will be doing split shifts as a patrol sergeant, handling his duties at night sometimes, and then in the early morning shift at other times.
Westfield native Bruce W. Cortis puts the finishing touches on a Historical Commission project. Cortis displays a copy of a photograph taken from a glass plate negative. In the background is the home his uncle lived in for many years.
Old photos see the light after decades in city vault By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD-For decades, more than 2,000 photographs and negatives have been sitting idle in a box in the City Hall vault, but with perseverance, Bruce W. Cortis has brought the collection into the 21st century. Cortis, a Westfield native who resides in Feeding Hills, shared the extent of the six-month project on Tuesday morning in his home before he packs it up and delivers it to Kate Deviny, archives and museum coordinator at the Westfield Athenaeum. A special public event surrounding the collection is planned June 14 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Edwin Smith Historical Museum at the Athenaeum. The museum, named in honor of Edwin Smith, co-founder of the H.B. Smith Company, features artifacts dating back to Westfield’s colonial settlement in the 1600’s. “This will be the only time all the photo albums and individual photos will be on display as they take up a lot of room,” said Deviny. “People are See Old Photos, Page 5
BAPAC finds issues with additional Roots site plan By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—The Barnes Aquifer Protection Advisory Committee (BAPAC) found it difficult to OK the plans for a land parcel’s use on Root Road for the Roots Athletic Complex as they were presented to them yesterday. The plans, which were presented to BAPAC by Bryan Balicki of Sage Engineering, were for a piece of land adjacent to the existing Roots complex to become a parking lot, as well as have a building placed there with a currently unspecified use. BAPAC members commented on the suggested plans, voicing concerns about the unspecified building use and questioned whether a parking lot alone could be permitted in the
Officer Tom Krutka was named a patrol sergeant for the police department at the Select Board meeting on Monday night. (WNG File Photo)
This Thursday... 6am-8am: 6am-8am: BOB McKEAN
John Velis
Executive Director Stanley Park
Mark Boardman & Jennifer Gruzska State Representative Westfield Rotary Club
Download WSKB from your Tune In Radio App or watch on Comcast Cable CH. 15
See BAPAC, Page 5
By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – At its next meeting on June 19, the Westfield School Committee is expected to vote on which redistricting option to pursue for the FY19 school year, when the lease on Russell Elementary School expires and all students return to Westfield. The options are to move the fifth grade to the middle schools and create two 5-8 middle schools, or one 5-6 intermediate school and one 7-8 middle school. To that end, a survey has been sent to all stakeholders, including families with school-aged children and community members. The survey is also available on the district website at www.schoolsofwestfield.org. A robo-call to the school community about the survey will go out on Wednesday, June 7. “We believe that stakeholder input is a critical part of this process,” said Westfield Public Schools superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, who added that the survey was developed in a collaborative effort between the district administrative team and the new parent advisory board (made up of one parent from each school in the district as well as representatives from Special the Education Parent Advisory Council and the English Learner community). The survey lays out the two options for redistricting, and asks people to choose which option they support, and what considerations should be the most important, such as costs, busing, student age considerations, and frequency of school transitions for students. In addition to the survey, district administrators have presented the options to all staff members at both middle schools and all of the elementary schools and collected both formal and informal feedback. District administrators have met with focus groups of students in grades 4 and 5 to gather their feedback as well. At the School Committee meeting on Monday, Westfield Public Schools superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said the district will collate all the data they receive from the surveys for the June 19 decision meeting. The June 19 date was set in March when the School Committee voted to extend the lease at Russell Elementary for one more year. “I think following through on making a decision on June 19th is very important. This decision impacts how the WPS (Westfield Public Schools) are configured and how instruction is given to our students. The School Committee understands the enormity of this decision and we will vote on the structure that we think will benefit students, teachers, parents, and the community the best,” School Committee vice-chair Cynthia Sullivan said. See Survey, Page 6
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The Granville Reservoir on May 17. Water is up to the shores, which is in stark contrast to last year.
Humason to host Annual Flag Day Standout WESTFIELD – Senator Don Humason announced today that he will be hosting his 8th annual Flag Day Standout on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 from 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM. The standout will be held in the park between the Great River Bridges in Westfield along the south shore of the Westfield River. “Flag Day is a special day set aside to commemorate the adoption of our nation’s flag and honor its storied past and all that it represents,” Humason said. “This is not a political event. It’s not a campaign event. It’s not a partisan event. It is a grassroots, patriotic event!” Humason encourages participants to bring their American flags and line the route along the bridge parks to remind rush hour commuters of their pride in America. The standout will take place rain or shine, and all are invited to participate.
Anyone wishing to bring tattered American flags that are beyond service can bring them to the standout where the Senator or his staff will collect them and give them to a local veterans group for an appropriate flag retirement ceremony. “I’ve been honored to personally host this event for the last seven years on Flag Day. This year’s standout coincides with a possible Constitutional Convention, which would require my attendance. If I am unable to attend, my staff and the many people who join us each year will be on hand to continue the tradition in Westfield while I will surely be celebrating the occasion on Beacon Hill.” The Senator organized his first Flag Day standout in 2010 and was gratified that over 60 people showed up with their flags for the event. He is very hopeful he will be able to double that number this year.
State Senator Don Humason (R-Westfield) (WNG File Photo)