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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
“The crisis of yesterday is the joke of tomorrow.” — H.G. WELLS
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 222
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
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Huntington residents alert MassDOT to dangerous tree By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – Huntington resident James Broga recently noticed that a limb on a large Chestnut oak in the Route 20 pulloff across from the Huntington Health Center had lowered by six inches and was cracked at the joint. The limb, which he used to be able to walk under, was hanging over a bolted picnic bench, which he thought was a dangerous situation. Broga notified several people, including the head of the Huntington Highway Dept. Charles Dazelle, who said that the pulloff was under the auspices of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). Upon further inspection of the tree, it was found to have a split down the main trunk, probably caused by a lightning strike, according to Broga’s friend and Huntington resident Michael Porter, a retired treeman. Porter emailed the MassDOT site and notified them of the dangerous tree, and also called the listed number on the website at www.massdot.state.ma.us. Within three days, MassDOT replied with the following email: Thank you for emailing the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). Our mission is to provide the highest quality customer service to residents and visitors, with the focus on safety and efficiency. The Department has investigated the tree you have identified, and has it scheduled for removal. Please contact MassDOT if you have any additional questions, comments or if we can be of further assistance. Thank you again for your email, and have a wonderful day. David Sherman Maintenance Engineer MassDot District One The tree came down on Tuesday. The whole process from Broga noticing the cracked limb, to the tree coming down, took a little more than a week. Accident averted.
Huntington resident Jim Broga notice this limb lowering over a bolted picnic bench, and notified the MassDOT. (Photo by Amy Porter)
The ribbon-cutting at the Russellville Road solar installation. From left to right: Sen. Don Humason, CED CEO Mark Noyes, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Mayor Brian Sullivan, Westfield G and E GM Dan Howard and Rep. Velis aide Brenna Closius.
Lt. Gov. visits Westfield to dedicate solar installation By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–The city’s energy supply will be getting a little greener, after Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and several local politicians dedicated a new solar power installation in Westfield. The installation was developed by ConEdison Development (CED) and was built on a former 10-acre “brownfield” on Russellville Road. The land is owned by the Cowles family, which local politicians made sure to thank during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. In addition to Polito, Mayor Brian Sullivan, Senator Don Humason, and city councilors Mary Ann Babinski and Dan Knapik were also in attendance. “The biggest thing is we cleaned up a brownfield,” Sullivan said. “We have taken a blighted property that was going to have a significant negative impact and turned it into a successful project.” A brownfield, according to the EPA’s website, “is a property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant.” According to CED’s president and CEO Mark Noyes, prior to conversion the brownfield held largely discarded construction material. He said that the
company took piles of construction debris as much as 40 feet high and ground it down, cleaned up oil and other contaminants at the site and reforested some of the area surrounding the solar panels. The solar installation has a total of 8,844 panels and, according to a CED press release, “will generate enough energy to provide electricity for approximately 300 homes.” The energy though, will first go into Westfield Gas and Electric’s power grid, since CED and Westfield Gas and Electric have a purchase agreement established. Westfield Gas and Electric’s general manager Dan Howard said that this is due to state laws overseeing municipalities. “We know going forward now what the price will be for power,” Howard said. Polito said that the Commonwealth has continued to improve its solar energy programs and output, showing a dedication to the energy source. “I think Massachusetts has demonstrated its commitment to solar,” she said. “For the past nine years, each year had more solar projects than the previ- Lt. Gov. Polito and Mayor Sullivan talk ous year.” during the dedication ceremony of the Russellville Road solar power installaSee Solar, Page 3 tion.
School committee discusses transportation study
Rich Labrie of Public Management Associates, discusses his plan with the transportation study for the SouthwickTolland-Granville School District. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Southwick School Committee opened up their meeting on Tuesday night with a discussion about one of their latest studies. Rich Labrie, of Public Management Associates of Westfield, talked about the transportation study that he is preparing to conduct to the SouthwickTolland-Granville Regional School District. Labrie, who has created transportation studies for around 200 school districts throughout the country, was hired in June by previous Superintendent Dr. John Barry. The school committee has always been interested in having a study done.
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“The committee had wanted to take a look at it for a while,” said Stephen Presnal, the School District Business Manager. Wages, salary, fleet benefits, fuel, maintenance, and contract services are just some of the many aspects to the study that Labrie has looked into. As this is the first initial meeting Labrie has had with the school committee, he was focused on discussing ways for the district to become more efficient with transportation. Loading efficiency will be included in Labrie’s study as it involves the number of kids on a bus. It can be based on the amount of time you have to transport between all of the schools in the district which is the transportation tier time. “Depending on what tier time is, you may be
able to pick up more kids if you have more time,” said Labrie. “It all gets factored in as we look at the efficiency of the routing.” Working with Labrie, Presnal and Labrie will meet on October 1 and will find out how many kids are on each bus every day and how many buses there are. Labrie will then put together all of the factors involved with the study and will create a report that is expected to be ready for the school committee in mid or late October. Having a full report to look over every piece of information about the study, Labrie believes it will benefit the school district moving forward See Study, Page 3
Whip City Ukesters seeking members By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD-From the front window looking into Whip City Music on Monday night, a studious group of individuals were learning the basics of playing the ukulele. The participants – ranging in age from pre-teens to retired city residents – were eager to be a part of the new Whip City Ukesters, a brainchild of Doug Cotton, owner of Whip City Music. “The ukulele is becoming extremely popular and as I continue to get involved with the arts downtown, I thought this group would be perfect for the ukulele enthusiast,” said Cotton prior to the start of the first session. While Cotton is hosting the Whip City Ukesters in his shop on Elm Street, he has enlisted Wes Parker, who is teaching at Westfield State
Jason Bilodeau and Andrew Renfro compared See Ukesters, Page 3 notes during the first meeting of the Whip City Ukesters.