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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
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House to debate ending term limits on speaker By STEVE LeBLANC Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts House lawmakers are being asked to consider lifting the rule that limits House speakers to four two-year terms. A copy of proposed rules to be debated by lawmakers today would eliminate an existing rule stating “no member shall hold, for more than eight consecutive years, the office of Speaker of the House.” The proposed rules were sent to lawmakers yesterday. Under the existing rule, Robert DeLeo, elected speaker in 2009, would have to step down in 2017. DeLeo had pushed for the term limit when he became speaker. The change would allow the Winthrop Democrat to remain speaker as long as he continues to be elected by the chamber. A spokesman for DeLeo declined to comment on the proposed change. Rep. Garrett Bradley, a Hingham Democrat and member of DeLeo’s leadership team, supports the change. Bradley said the term limit puts DeLeo at a disadvantage during negotiations with newly elected Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and new Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, an Amherst Democrat. Bradley said DeLeo would be seen as lame duck. While DeLeo would benefit from the change, Bradley said the elimination of term limits is about the balance of power on Beacon Hill. “This is really about the House and how the House is going to be perceived in serious negotiation with the Senate and the governor,” he said. “It weakens us as a branch.” Bradley said DeLeo came to the decision recently. When DeLeo told his leadership team he was thinking of deleting the term limits section, the reaction was positive, Bradley said. He said DeLeo hasn’t asked them to lobby other House members. The House plans to discuss the change during a closed-door caucus
City schools unfazed by ‘fizzard’ By PETER FRANCIS Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The city fell well short of the 18 to 24 inches of snow that was supposed to blanket western Massachusetts this week, but that didn’t stop the Westfield School District’s maintenance crews from preparing as much as possible. “We were just ready to go for whatever happened,” said Richard Jablonski, supervisor of the district’s custodians DR. SUZANNE and maintenance crews. “We made sure we had our plows ready, had enough sand, SCALLION that everything was full of gas.” Jablonski said workers were up at 5 a.m. each morning during the storm, going to each of the district’s schools to remove the snowfall and maintain the buildings. “There are guys in the buildings under the direction of their principal supervisors who go in and do what they need to do,” said Jablonski, who said he has eight total workers on his staff at the district’s maintenance barn behind South Middle School, where the district repairs and preps equipment. “We were ready for the full boat and we didn’t get that, but we were ahead for most of the day (Tuesday), so we were never really behind,” added Jablonski. “Our absenteeism was below five percent for custodians and maintenance staff.” Jablonski said that the district’s snow plow operators are
“Lily Pond with Egre”t acrylic on canvas by Laraine M. Percoski was displayed at the Southwick Fine Art Exhibition last year.
Calling all artists! By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Cultural Council (SCC) is now accepting submissions for its 16th annual juried Art Exhibition. The event takes place April 11-12 at Southwick Town Hall. Each year, the SCC asks area artists to submit their works of fine art, fine crafts, sculpture, pottery and photography in order to allow artists to showcase their talent and give the public the opportunity to purchase local art. Art show organizer Ellen Miles noted that many people return year after year to purchase the latest works by their favorite artist. “We do get collectors,” said Miles. “We definitely have artists people follow and purchase new pieces every year,” added exhibit director Susan Kochanski. Each year, the exhibit includes live music and last year, the Southwick Historical
Society offered an historical exhibit on Southwick’s ice harvesting tradition, complete with a replica of an ice house by resident Dan Sleeper. In the past, artisans have demonstrated their craft live throughout the weekend and refreshments were provided in the Senior Center. The exhibit is open to fine arts, fine art crafts (sculpture, pottery), and photography on all subject matter and media. Originals, limited editions and open editions are allowed. Interested artisans may pick up an application and guideline at the Southwick Town Hall or, download from the town website, www.southwickma.org/cultural. Applications are also available at the Southwick Public Library. All applications must be received no later than Feb. 23. Any questions regarding the application or guideline may be directed to Susan Kochanski at 413-569-0946 or email cultural@southwickma.net.
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Big E ranks fifth largest WEST SPRINGFIELD – For the second subsequent year, The Big E was ranked fifth largest fair in North America. The 2014 Fair marked the third consecutive record-breaking season with overall attendance reaching 1,498,605. Eastern States joins the Texas State Fair, Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Minnesota State Fair and San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo in the top five. In addition to an overall record-breaking year, the
middle Saturday of the Fair, Sept. 20, shattered the alltime highest single-day attendance count since 1980 with more than 170,000 people. Other record-breaking days included opening day as well as the second Wednesday and Friday of the Fair. “I am thrilled that Eastern States Exposition has maintained its place as the fifth largest fair in North America,” Eugene J. Cassidy, president and chief executive officer, said. “I like to say that we are really the second largest fair
outside of Texas!” “I also want to thank our region, all of New England and beyond, for supporting our programs here at ESE,” he said. “We couldn’t do it without an enthusiastic community of Big E supporters!” The Big E returns Sept. 18 – Oct. 4, 2015, to West Springfield, and is gearing up for its centennial celebration in 2016. For more information, and links to all of our social media accounts, visit TheBigE.com.
The problem posed by sidewalks which do not get cleared after a snowstorm because adjacent houses are vacant will be compounded if currents predictions of 2-4 inches of new snow overnight are borne out. The snow covered sidewalk above fronts an empty lot where a burned out house was torn down on Chestnut Street. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
More snow could be headed here today BOSTON (AP) — Forecasters are watching two weather systems that may bring significant snow in the coming days, just as New Englanders are digging out from a historic blizzard. A storm arriving in the region later today and lasting off and on through tomorrow night will most likely bring 2 to 4 inches of snow to Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, said Frank Nocera, a senior meteorologist at the National Weather Service. Eastern Massachusetts, including Boston and Cape Cod, has an “outside chance” of seeing up to six inches — adding significantly to the 2 to 3 feet of snow already dumped in parts of Massachusetts earlier this week, Nocera said. Forecasters are also monitoring a storm heading into the region over the weekend. Depending on how it tracks, that storm could bring several more inches of snow — or snow turning into rain — from late Sunday into Monday in Connecticut, Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, Nocera said. He stressed it is still too early to say for sure what Sunday will bring. “There’s still some uncertainty,” Nocera said. “Neither
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ROBERT DELEO
irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.” — ROBERT FROST
THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2015
VOL. 84 NO. 026
“Love is an
2014 Westfield Day Big-E Parade. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
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Saturday, January 31
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Plunge Begins at 1:00 P.M. Pre-Registration Required for All Plungers Help Us Raise Money For Amelia Park Children’s Museum!
Dive in to
www.WestfieldPlunge.com for all the brisky details!
Hampton Ponds State Park Westfield, Mass.