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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
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SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 2014
Fox seeks re-election By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – Russell S. Fox has been serving the town of Southwick since high school and continues that service today as the chairman of the Board of Selectmen. Fox is hoping to remain involved in town government and announced he is seeking re-election in May. “It has been a great honor to have served as a member of the Board of Selectman and I am asking the voters of Southwick to allow me to continue working for them and RUSS FOX our community,” he said. “I believe the Board has achieved positive results while working with other boards, commissioners and town staff, that will benefit our town now and in the future.” Fox said giving back to the community was always just what his family did. “We were brought up to be involved in the community, that it’s our obligation,” said Fox. “And I enjoy it – I’m proud that I am part of the community.” Fox said there are more tough economic times ahead and a small town like Southwick has to be innovative. “We need to look at our economic development,” he said. “We are small, but we See Fox, Page 3
Internet loans risky business for borrowers By Carl E. Hartdegen Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Residents struggling to meet their financial needs will naturally explore all avenues for funding but those enticed by offers of easy Internet loans may find that path a treacherous – and expensive – dead end. The Internet offers a vast array of worthwhile destinations but the savvy net surfers have learned that not all sites are what they seem to be and the Internet also offers a lucrative opportunity for scam artists whose sites are not at all what they purport to be. For those clutching at straws for fiscal relief, a website which offers approval of a loan may appear to be a godsend. Det. Todd Edwards of the financial
no spring skips its turn. — Hal Borland
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 83 NO. 68
“No winter lasts forever;
Panel mulls traffic signal changes
Humason said that it showcases what makes the area so special. “It just speaks to the diversity of our district, not just my district alone, but everyone of us represent districts that are urban and rural, that are very tightly compacted with people and
By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Traffic Commission will recommend changing traffic light sequences in the CORE district to facilitate a better flow of traffic, a simple goal with several complications. One of the major complications is that federal funding of recently completed major road and bridge projects has strings attached that may limit the modifications the city can make to the traffic pattern, including to traffic signals, established during those projects. Police Chief John Camerota, chairman of the Traffic Commission, requested the Engineering and Public Works departments to set all traffic signals on a flashing sequence between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. The commission members also discussed setting the traffic signals at several intersections on flashing red sequence. One of the intersections discussed was at Elm and School streets; another was the U turn from Union Street to North Elm Street in front of the Westwood building. The Elm and School streets intersection was a flashing signal for months while the Park Square Green area was reconstructed during the Main/Broad street project. Motorists traveling south on Elm Street had a flashing yellow signal while westbound motorists attempting to cross Elm Street to enter School Street had a flashing red light. “It worked well during that construction,” Camerota said. The commission, which removed “No Turn on Red” traffic signs around the Great River Bridge traffic pattern, said the traffic light on the U-turn in front of Westwood should be converted to a red arrow because those motorists have a dedicated lane to turn into on North Elm Street. The issue with the flashing signal sequence is that it may inhibit the pedestrian crossing signals. The Engineering Department will further investigate the programming options for the traffic signals that were installed with new technology during the infrastructure improvement projects. In other business, the commission is considering prohibiting all on-street parking on Monroe Street and on sections of Chapel Street from the area of the Monroe intersection to Mechanic Street. Officer Kevin Bard of the Community Policing Bureau reported that parked cars on Monroe Street, especially those near the intersections of Thomas and Chapel streets inhibit access by emergency vehicles. Bard said that he spoke with the landlords of apartments on those streets. The owner of several Monroe Street properties said that he also owned 97 Elm Street and
See Pomeroy’s, Page 3
See Traffic Signal, Page 5
State Sen. Donald Humason Jr. standing rear, holds his son Quinn, while chatting with, Helene Florio, left, Michael Knapik, center, Peter Miller, foreground left, and State Rep. John Scibak, right, during a Legislative Breakfast sponsored by Humason. The gathering of local and state officials was staged at the Pomeroy Sugar House in Westfield Frida. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Humason hosts fellow pols for pancakes at Pomeroy’s By Peter Francis Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Breakfast is an important meal in the life of an elected official, as evidenced by the massive order of pancakes, bacon, and sausages that Pomeroy’s Sugar House churned out Friday morning for a who’s who of western Massachusetts legislators. The bipartisan brunch was hosted by State Senator Don Humason, Jr. (R-Westfield), who was joined by former colleagues in the House of Representatives from western Mass., including Gailanne Cariddi (D-North Adams), Brian Ashe (D-Longmeadow), Peter Kocot (D-Northampton), John Scibak (D-South Hadley), and Paul Mark (D-Peru), as well as former State Senator Michael R. Knapik, the current Executive Director of Advancement for Westfield State University. “I’ve been coming here since it opened,” said Humason after finishing a stack of pancakes. “Initially, me and Senator Knapik would come here for lunch and then we said ‘why don’t we invite our colleagues? We’re going on our 10-year anniversary soon.” The current State Senator for the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District has seen his political career grow along with the sugar house itself. “There’s a picture (in the sugar house) of Harlow (Pomeroy), me, Doug Gillespe, who was the Commissioner at the time, and Rick Sullivan back at least ten years ago,” said Humason, who began his career in the legislature in 2003 when he was elected to the House of Representatives, five years after Pomeroy’s opened in 1998. When asked of what the presence of this unique business in his district means to him,
Randy Pomeroy, left, owner of the Pomeroy Sugar House in Westfield, shows State Sen. Donald Humason Jr., some of the maple sugar collection containers still in operation during a Legislative Breakfast Friday. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
See Risky Business, Page 5
Local eatery squeezed for parking By Peter Francis Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The arrival of spring is something Lori Varelas, owner of The Good Table Restaurant on School Street, has been looking forward to for a long time, but not for the reason one might expect. “This winter killed us,” Varelas said Thursday. “On-street parking – there was none because of the snow bank.” The location of Varelas’ business has proven problematic as of late, as The Good Table, which is sandwiched between Santander and United banks, is still suffering from a lack of sufficient parking for its patrons, which she said is causing major headaches for her and her loyal customers. “You’ve got a parking structure
coming in. I’ve seen the design layout,” she said. “We need more parking – less grass, less concrete. We support (other local businesses), but for some reason, certain neighbors are just not thinking of the bigger picture.” Varelas said that neither of the banks that neighbor her establishment will allow her customers to park in their lots. “It doesn’t just impact The Good Table,” she said of the parking woes being felt by the city’s side street business contingent. “Unless you’re on the main drag, there’s nothing (for parking) down here.” Varelas stated that she begged Berkshire Bank on Western Avenue for three or four spots with which to park some of the cars for her customers and
employees. “They never got back to me,” she said, adding that she spoke with someone in the corporate office at United Bank who didn’t want her parking behind the restaurant. “I had to say ‘hold on a minute. I pay for that. I rent that. That’s in the contract with my landlord,’” Varelas said. “She replied that the only one who’s allowed to park there is the attorney (next door). I said ‘I’m going to stay there till my landlord says I have to move.’” Varelas’ parking woes have been so severe that she said she threatened to pull her accounts from one of the two banks and go to Westfield Bank. See Parking, Page 3
Santander Bank which is located across the street from the Good Table Restaurant on School Street is clearly marked for bank business only. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
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