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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
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“Many excellent words are ruined by too definite a knowledge of their meaning.” — Aline Kilmer
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015
VOL. 84 NO. 034
Knapik seeks free cash for airport funding By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Mayor Daniel M. Knapik is requesting the City Council to approve an appropriation of $105,816 from free cash to the Barnes Regional Airport, funding for the purchase of services, equipment and obstruction removal. The appropriation is one of several on the council’s agenda tonight. The appropriation request, which will be sent to the Council’s Finance Committee for further review, includes $28,544 for purchase of services; $8,500 for supplies; $27,772 for vehicles; and $41,000 for the Federal Aviation Administration required obstruction removal along the approaches to BRIAN BARNES the airport runways. Airport Manager Brian Barnes said that the FAA requires airports to maintain a clear approach through a 3-D modeling program and that several trees have grown and are now breaking the plane of the model. See Airport Funding, Page 3
Postal worker from Westfield charged with stealing mail WESTFIELD (AP) — A U.S. Postal Service worker is facing charges for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars in cash and gift cards from residents along her route in Westfield and Southwick. Kerry Friend was released on personal recognizance after pleading not guilty at her arraignment Wednesday in Westfield District Court on a charge of larceny over $250 by a single scheme. Authorities allege that between Aug. 2013 and See Charged, Page 5
‘COMMONWEALTH CONVERSATION’
State Senators John Keenan, (left) Benjamin Downing (center-left), James Welch (centerright) and Don Humason, Jr., heard testimony at Holyoke Community College last night from constituents at the first of eight “Commonwealth Conversations” to be held throughout Massachusetts this year. (Photo by Peter Francis)
State Senators hold first forum By PETER FRANCIS Staff Writer HOLYOKE – Both leaders of the Massachusetts State Senate joined Senators from Berkshire and Hampden Counties on the first of eight “Commonwealth Conversations” yesterday, making stops at town hall forums in Great Barrington and Holyoke. Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, D-Amherst, and Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, were hosted by Senators Don Humason, Jr., R-Westfield and Benjamin Downing, D-Pittsfield and heard the concerns of their western Mass. constituents. Other Senators in attendance included James Welch, D-West Springfield, Eric Lesser, D-Longmeadow, Will Brownsberger, D-Belmont, John Keenan, D-Quincy, and Micheal Rodrigues, D-Westport, who hatched the idea for the Commonwealth Conversations series. Topics of homelessness, unfunded mandates in public education, increased workforce development training opportunities, mental health and prison reform were all brought up by select members of the over 200 people who packed into Holyoke Community College’s Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development for nearly two hours. After the hearing, Humason said that he felt it went well overall, but that there were things to improve upon for the next session. “We really didn’t know how many people would come and speak. We were overwhelmed
by the number of people who showed up to talk. We thought it was great,” he said. “I had a great time with Senators Downing, Lesser and Welch to put it together and I think our colleagues from other parts of the state got a really good sense of us here.” Humason said he will be participating in at least two more of these hearings around the state and that each tour will be similar to the one given earlier that day, which also made stops a precision machining shop in Chicopee and at the Western Mass Alcohol Correction Center in Springfield. “I’d give us a B-plus,” said Humason. “It was the first ‘Commonwealth Conversations’ tour – nine senators and several hundred people who we got to hear from and we collected a lot of testimony in writing.” In his closing remarks, Tarr thanked the event’s attendees and vowed to work in collaboration with the Democrat super-majority during this legislative session. “The fact that you were here and touched on so many issues that have commonality throughout the state, but have unique aspects in each part of the state, demonstrates that we are on the right path in the ‘Commonwealth Conversations’,” said Tarr, adding that the Senate Republican caucus is “absolutely committed” to finding common ground whenever they can with Rosenberg’s Democrats and to “disagree respectfully, with dignity and without See Senators, Page 3
St. Mary’s to raise a glass in honor of outgoing pastor
FR. BRIAN MCGRATH
WESTFIELD – Sunday, February 15, will be the end of an era at St. Mary’s Parish. It is on this date that Fr. Brian McGrath will say his last official Mass at the parish, which he has led and nurtured for more than 12 years. McGrath will start his new assignment at St. John’s Parish in Agawam at the end of February. During his tenure, McGrath played an integral role in strengthening and growing the St. Mary’s community. He oversaw and participated in a major renovation of the church. From concept to completion, McGrath worked to make St. Mary’s a beautiful place to worship. He also spearheaded the preservation of an historic church bell — a wonderful gift given by some of the church’s earliest parishioners — and mentored several deacons and newly-ordained priests, while provided support to the expansion of St. Mary’s Hispanic ministry. One of McGrath’s favorite sayings is, “Giving kids a Catholic education is the best gift you can bestow on them.” With this mindset, it is no wonder how much the school has thrived during his tenure. The elementary school and high school each achieved accreditation and pre-kindergarten and preschool levels were added to the curriculum. In 2014, McGrath successfully oversaw the merging of St. Mary’s Elementary and St. Mary’s High School into a single preschool-through-grade-12 St. Mary’s Parish School, allowing for the streamlining of resources, expansion of curriculum and fortification of the school community. McGrath’s devotion and spirituality will be forever remembered by the St. Mary’s Parish community. In honor of all he has done, he will be celebrated at the St. Mary’s Parish School’s 10th Annual Wine Tasting, to be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Fat Tekoa Country Club. All are welcome to join the celebration!
State looks to double income tax credits By PETER FRANCIS Staff Writer BOSTON – State Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, has joined with several of his senate colleagues in advocating for doubling the Commonwealth’s Earned Income Tax Credit, currently 15 percent of the computed federal credit, a move Gov. Charlie Baker has advocated since his gubernatorial campaign last fall. According to the Massachusetts state website, the credit is available to certain lowincome individuals who have earned income and meet certain federal requirements for the federal earned SEN. BENJAMIN B. DOWNING income credit. Downing, whose Berkshire, Franklin and Hampshire District is far and away the largest in the senate and includes the hilltowns of Blandford, Chester and Huntington, said that the program will do well to continue rewarding working Bay Staters. “The EITC is something the federal government has been doing for several decades. At one point, Presiden Reagan called it the best job program in the history of government,” said Downing. “It provides an additional boost for families that are working but, in many cases, are below or slightly above, the poverty level. “It provides an additional incentive for work, to make sure that the support we provide for families that fall on hard times isn’t greater than the support for those who are working hard and playing by the rules,” he said. Downing touted the legislation at the State House Tuesday with state Rep. Marjorie Decker, D-Cambridge, and state Sen. James Eldridge, See Tax Credit, Page 3
Gov. Baker wants to overhaul state Medicaid program BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Charlie Baker says overhauling the state’s Medicaid program will be an early priority as he looks ahead to crafting his budget proposal for the new fiscal year. Baker said spending on MassHealth has surged ahead of other health and human service programs and is growing at an unsustainable rate. Baker told the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce on Thursday that one problem is people who are double-enrolled in MassHealth and private insurance plans. He said the state has to work to find those individuals and take them off MassHealth. Baker also said he plans to meet with other governors from neighboring states soon to discuss energy policy. Baker said energy prices in the New England area are costlier than in other parts of the country.
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www.wbur.org/2015/02/05/ video-charlie-baker-chamber-speech