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TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 TUESDAY, JUNE 27,14, 2017 MONDAY, AUGUST 2017
Gateway school budget fails By AMY PORTER Correspondent CHESTER – At a special town meeting on Saturday, the Gateway Regional School District Budget Version 2 was defeated by a majority voice count. Since the budget failed to pass four towns, it now goes back to the School Committee, who will be tasked with voting on another budget within 30 days to send to the towns. If four towns fail to pass a new budget by Dec. 1, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will set the budget for FY18, which began on
July 1. Chester’s over-minimum contribution to Gateway, the portion of the budget which was defeated on Saturday, was $407,286. Their overall assessment for Gateway of approximately $1.5 million had increased by $14,400 in Version 1, and decreased by $6,500 in Version 2. The savings were offset by an increase in the minimum contribution set by the state of $2,241, which was voted and passed at the special town meeting. The over-minimum contribution is the only portion of the Gateway budget that the towns can legally reject.
New noise mitigation map for Barnes Regional Airport being discussed By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering the use of a new Noise Exposure Map (NEM) as part of the noise mitigation program that is ongoing around Barnes Regional Airport, according to Jane Verbeck of Wyle Acoustical Engineering. The FAA requested the use of two computer modeling programs to potentially model the See Noise, Page 3
During the discussion at the meeting, a parent asked what the tax impact would be on the town if they were to pass the over-minimum contribution. The parent was told, after a brief discussion by the Board of Selectmen, that the increase would be 20 to 25 cents per thousand dollars. “We’re arguing about a quarter on our kids’ future?” responded that parent. For Chester, it was not so much about how much the town was being assessed this year. “It’s not the financial impact See Gateway Budget Fails, Page 8
Update: Fall candidates set Westfield was a stop on a national “Listening Tour” of parents and businesses last week. (Photo by Kate Phelon)
Westfield stop on national ‘Listening Tour’ By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – On Thursday, the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce sponsored a meeting of parents and businesses about preparing students for the workforce. The meeting was part of a “Listening Tour” series being conducted by the Committee for Economic Development (www.ced.org), a non-profit, nonpartisan, business-led, public policy organization based in Washington, D.C. CED was awarded a new education grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York foundation for a project to conduct the series across the country, and engage business leaders with parents to share firsthand information about workplace demands for high school graduates. The organization was looking for a community in Massachusetts, and Westfield was
The control tower and a plane hangar at Barnes. (Photo by Dan Desrochers)
See Listening Tour, Page 3
Stanley Park hosting events to thank former employees By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent WESTFIELD – This coming Wednesday will mark the 68th Anniversary of the opening of Stanley Park. In order to commemorate the years of hard work, Stanley Park will be hosting a Founders Day luncheon for the entire staff. The Stanley Park staff members will gather together for lunch on Wednesday and take a short pause to reflect and thank the past employees of Stanley Home Products who helped start Stanley Park. Frank Beveridge started Stanley
Chester School Committee member Shirley Winer speaks with Selectmen Rene Senecal and Barbara Huntoon following the meeting. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Home Products in 1931, and then later established Stanley Park in 1949, consisting of 25 acres at the time. Stanley Park now totals over 300 acres of trails, woods, picnic areas, recreational facilities, and gardens. Stanley Park remains a private park that is open to the public and operates on donations from the public. “What we try to do is pay respect for everyone who worked for Stanley Home and Products back then,” said Bob McKean, the Stanley Park Managing Director. Just a few days later, another event is taking place at Stanley Park to show
appreciation for the Stanley Home Product employees who created it all. On August 19, Stanley Park will host the 7th Annual Stanley Home Products Reunion. Past employees and current Stanley Park workers will have lunch together. According to McKean, around 75 former employees are expected to attend. “That’s something that we pay honor to all of them,” said McKean. “I want to pay respect to the people that helped get us to where we are.” If anyone wants further information about the upcoming events at Stanley Park, call the office at 413-568-9312.
WESTFIELD – In an update to our story on Saturday of the candidate list for the Westfield fall elections, there was information from the City Clerk’s office that was overlooked about candidates that have chosen to remove their names from the ballot although they had the requisite signature verifications. Daniel D. Call of Granville Road removed his name for consideration of Ward 4 Councilor leaving Bernard W. Fitzgerald-Rosenblum of St. James Avenue, Dawn Thomas of Loomis Ridge and Michael Burns of Kylie Lane as the candidates who will square off in the City’s only preliminary election on September 26 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. In Ward 3, Alexandra N. Herbert-Sutter of Western Avenue removed her name for consideration leaving incumbent Andrew Surprise of Bates Street and Robert Atkocaitis of Birch Terrace as the only two vying for representation in this Ward. HERE IS THE COMPLETE LIST OF CANDIDATES: Mayor: Brian Sullivan of Sherwood Avenue, incumbent City Council Ward 1: Mary Ann Babinski of Rogers Avenue, incumbent City Council Ward 2: Ralph J. Figy of Brookline Avenue, incumbent City Council Ward 3: Incumbent Andrew Surprise of Bates Street and Robert Atkocaitis of Birch Terrace City Council Ward 4: Bernard W. Fitzgerald-Rosenblum of St. James Avenue, Dawn Thomas of Loomis Ridge and Michael Burns of Kylie Lane City Council Ward 5: Incumbent Robert A. Paul, Sr., of Camelot Lane, and Leslie D. LeFebvre of Rambling Drive City Council Ward 6: William J. Onyski of Hillcrest Circle, incumbent City Council At Large: Incumbents – Dan Allie of Union Street, Brent B. Bean II of Ridgecrest Drive, John J. Beltrandi III of Jeanne Marie Drive, Steve C. Dondley of Kane Brothers Circle, Dave A. Flaherty of Marla Circle, Cindy C. Harris of South Maple Street and Matthew Van Heynigen of Belden Drive. Challengers – Frank L. Bush of Thomas Street, Jeffrey J. Chagnon of Ridgecrest Drive, Matt Emmershy of Fowler Street, Muneeb “Moon” Mahmood of Union Street, Nicholas J. Morganelli, Jr. of Prospect Street and Gary D. Wolfe of Taylor Avenue Municipal Light Board: Ward 1 has Kevin M. Kelleher, Sr., of Prospect Street Extension; Ward 2 is Ray Rivera of Mechanic Street; Ward 3 is Jane C. Wensley of Lathrop Avenue; Ward 4 is Francis L. Liptak of City View Boulevard; Ward 5 is Thomas P. Flaherty, Sr., of Wild Flower Circle and Ward 6 Robert C. Sacco of Devon Terrace Westfield Athenaeum Trustee: Incumbent Jayne M. Mulligan of Granville Road and Jason Phillips of Meadowbrook Lane ——— The Westfield News, in collaboration with the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, will once again host candidate forums this October. Candidate forums will be held for the contested seats of City Council At Large, Ward 3, Ward 4 and Ward 5. Dates and times will be announced soon.
Wife running in support of husband; a brain injury survivor By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – On August 20, 10 members of the BIA-MA (Brain Injury Association of Massachusetts) will be running in the 45th Annual New Balance Falmouth Road Race in Woods Hole on Cape Cod. The BIA-MA is the first and oldest organization in the state that offers the support and resources to brain injury survivors as well as their families. The BIA-MA also includes prevention programs, educational training and legislative advocacy. One of those running in the race is Southwick native Dawn LeBorgne. An avid runner, LeBorgne is participating in the event for her husband Matthew LeBorgne, who suffered a traumatic brain injury from a motorcycle accident on
August 18, 2014. LeBorgne was riding his motorcycle in Chicopee when he lost control of the bike and as a result spent 15 days in a coma. Less than two months after the accident, in October 2014, while LeBorgne was residing at Spaulding Rehab in Charlestown, Mass., his family received a packet from the BIA-MA. Dawn began going to the BIA-MA support groups and finding out more information about what the organization offers. Dawn LeBorgne is also a part of the Walk and Roll Event that BIA-MA has which enables she and her husband to continue to build a strong relationship with the BIA-MA. “’It’s a great organization, they really provide not just a lot of education, but a lot of support,” said LeBorgne. “A lot of people don’t know about
brain injuries, it can be such an invisible injury, he (Matthew) suffers every day and there are so many people like him.” After finding out in May that she had been one of the 10 members selected to run in the Falmouth Road Race for BIA-MA, LeBorgne was told that she had a major commitment to make; having to raise $900 prior to the race on August 20. If $900 isn’t raised by then, LeBorgne won’t be able to participate in the race. But, LeBorgne decided that she wasn’t going to keep the target number at $900, rather continuing to increase that dollar amount. She set her goal at $1,000 and that number was quickly reached so her goal climbed to $2,000, which has been accomplished, and now the current goal is to raise See Survivor, Page 8
Dawn is seen with her husband Matt and their children. Dawn is set to run in the 45th Annual Falmouth Road Race for the BIAMA. (Photo courtesy of Dawn LeBorgne)