Wendnesday, August 27, 2014

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WEATHER TONIGHT Mainly clear. Low of 54.

The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns

www.thewestfieldnews.com

the dream destroy reality?”

— G.E. Moore

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2014

VOL. 83 NO.201

“Reality can destroy the dream; why shouldn’t

75 cents

City officials have been notified that the city may receive a $2 million Gateway Communities grant to fund the extension of the Columbia Greenway to the area of Main Street. (© Frederick Gore)

City to receive grant for next phase of Columbia Greenway By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – City officials have been notified that the city may receive a $2 million Gateway Communities grant to fund the extension of the Columbia Greenway to the area of Main Street. Mayor Daniel M. Knapik said yesterday that the city has been notified through the Executive Officer of Environmental Affairs that the funds will be made available for construction next summer. “This would keep momentum on the trail work going forward so we don’t have big time gaps between phases,” Knapik said. City Engineer Mark Cressotti said the work needs to be completed in the city’s current 2015 fiscal year which end on June 30, 2015, but added that the state Department of Transportation has not finalized the funding process.

“I don’t have the money yet,” Cressotti said, “I am moving and have met with the city’s consultant, VHB, to get the bid documents ready because we do have to move fast when the funds become available.” “Apparently the DOT is putting the $2 million toward the (Columbia) Greenway project because the city has received Gateway Communities grants and has been successful in completing the work within the required timeframe,” Cressotti said. The Columbia Greenway project funding, $6.8 million for the central phase of construction, was originally included on the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) transportation improvement project (TIP) funding list, but was moved to the state TIP. Federal funds are divided with about half of the funds being passed through the state to the MPOs across the state and the MARK CRESSOTTI

DANIEL M. KNAPIK

See Columbia Greenway, Page 3

Floatable bridge perfect for Stanley Park

The two soccer fields at Whalley Park. (© 2014 Frederick Gore)

More progress made at Whalley Park By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – The Parks and Recreation Commission discussed the latest updates to Whalley Park last night. Commissioner Daniel Call went over items being taken care of now, including lighting throughout the park. Call said he met with representatives from Musco Lighting last week and reported that the lights were installed and are working. “The fields look good, the parking lot, the road going in – it was 9 p.m. and you would have thought it was daylight,” said Call. All lighting is LED that should last for a longer time than incandescent lights. Call said they would have changed 10 incandescent lights for every one LED they would have to replace. The lights can be turned on manually or remotely by a designated “gatekeeper,” and they come with a 25-year warrantee on parts and labor. Call suggested the group discuss lighting responsibilities in th`e future. “Let’s take the time to think about who manages the lights,” See Whalley Park, Page 3

By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Conservation Commission set condition last night for installation of a floating bridge at Stanley Park to replace a bridge damaged during the freak October snowstorm of 2011. Consultant Rob Levesque, of R. Levesque Associates, presented details of the proposed bridge project to the commission last night. Levesque said the proposed bridge has been designed to minimize environmental impacts on the Little River wetland system and that the damaged bridge, which has been removed, was part of the wildlife trail.

“Stanley Park is trying to replace the bridge to reestablish the trail,” Levesque said. “There are a number of resource areas in the scope of work, so we came up with an innovative idea: a floatable bridge.” Levesque said the bridge, which can be removed, is installed in interlocking sections. “The idea is to have small removable sections which can be taken out of the water in an emergency, such as a flood, and seasonally,” Levesque said. “Because it floats on the water, it displaces a minor amount of water and creates a minimal disturbance.” The bridge sections are supported on pilings that screw together and can also

be removed to eliminate obstructions to the flow of water. The pilings also have stops to prevent the floatable bridge from grounding in periods of low water. Conservation Coordinator Karen Leigh said “given the removable nature of the bridge, it will have no permanent environmental impact” on the surrounding resource areas. The bridge is located at the end of the riverside boardwalk and provides access to trails located between branches of Little River. Normally several of the branches are dry and can be crossed on foot, but fill rapidly when water is released at Cobble Mountain Reservoir See Stanley Park, Page 3

Brazen burglar bagged WESTFIELD – A city man was arrested yesterday morning on charges of unarmed burglary and larceny under $250. Daniel Loomis, 24, formerly of 37 Blacksmith Road, Wilbraham, now of 42 Arnold Street, was placed under arrest at 3:13 a.m. Tuesday after police received a call from a Franklin Street woman who said she was awakened in bed by someone reaching over her body and into her purse. The victim said that the person promptly grabbed a black backpack and left the residence when she awoke, and that the robber had bushy brown hair, was wearing a black t-shirt and possibly blue jeans, along with the backpack. Soon after, Officer Jared Rowe encountered a man who fit the description described by the victim on Franklin Street, while Officer Jason Perron proceeded to bring the victim to Rowe’s location to identify the man, who turned out to be Daniel Loomis. Officers searched Loomis’ backpack and discovered an item belonging to the victim, and promptly placed him under arrest on charges of unarmed burglary and larceny under $250. He was then taken to the Westfield Police Station and booked.

Russell man arraigned for drugs By Peter Francis Staff Writer WESTFIELD - The patron of an East Main Street restaurant who was arrested Monday evening on drug charges was arraigned yesterday in Westfield District Court. Kyle Schott, 20, of 40 Laurel Drive, Russell, was arrested shortly before 10 p.m. on Monday at the East Main Street Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant after police received a call from the manager of the restaurant about a suspicious white male in the parking lot who had entered the building five or six times but ordered food only once. In a court document, Officer Michael Csekovsky said he arrived to find Schott in a silver Pontiac and walked up alongside the vehicle to speak with him. Csekovsky stated that he noticed a metal pipe in the car’s front seat along with a black watch cap which contained several folded up pieces of See Russell Man, Page 7

Kyle Schott

DANIEL LOOMIS


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