Good Afternoon, I wanted to respond to an article I read that concerned the lack of transportation in Southwick Ma for the Seniors and disabled. WELL… I am a Resident Service Coordinator who works at two Senior/ Disabled developments here in Southwick as well as Southampton. I cannot tell you how discouraging and heartbreaking it is trying to advocate for this service particularly in the town of Southampton. Several months back one of my residents came to my office asking if I could please look into helping him find transportation to the grocery store. This resident has multiple health conditions and uses a power chair, he would need to get on a highway to reach the closest grocery store. I thought the answer was pretty simple, we could call up the Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA) sign him up and that would be that. NOT so. The FRTA currently has a van service in that runs out of the Southampton Council on Aging. On the FRTA eligibility forms, it states that the transportation is available for Seniors and the disabled. We completed the necessary paperwork and included medical forms from his physician indicating his need for transportation due to his disability and mailed it off to FRTA . The application was quickly rejected. When I contacted the FRTA to discuss the rejection, I was told that while the application indicates the disabled, that was not the case. I was told by FRTA that this decision not to allow the disabled on that particular van was made by the folks over at the Southampton Council on Aging, and that we would need to speak to them if we wanted to try and pursue the transportation request. When I contacted the Southampton Council on Aging, I was informed that the decision not to allow transportation for the disabled on the van was made by FRTA. What proceeded thereafter was the worst case of verbal ping pong between both agencies. The gentleman was never granted the opportunity to utilize the van that pulls up to the property daily. Sadly it is my understanding that the town of Southampton has denied access to public transportation in the town for “As long as I can remember”. It’s a darn shame!
Hi! I’m glad to see the veterans coming back from these unneeded wars are getting proper respect. When I came back from Vietnam I actually got spit on more than once. I wasn’t welcome at college fraternity parties, where all these kids thought they were doing the right thing and had no idea of what we went through. I’d just like to say that I’m glad the American public has finally turned around and is supporting our vets. Thank you.
Yeah, good morning PulseLine. I’m just wondering why the animal control department in Westfield doesn’t stagger their hours, where they can work after 5:00 because the people that seem to be walking all their dogs, especially in the Prospect Hill Sadie Knox area, are starting to come around after 5:00 when they know these dog officers have gone home. And I’ve talked to these people. No licenses on the dogs, no tags, some of them even carrying three or four dogs on leashes. The city could make some money if they made a few changes there. Have a good day.
Yes, this is to the accident waiting to happen. She knows who she is. I was driving up Shaker Road today came to the sharp corner, I was born and raised on that street, many accidents, deaths on that road. And I come around the blind corner and she’s in the middle of the corner making a three-point turn. Now anyone with a license like that should have a license to hunt too because she’s going to kill something or somebody. I think you should turn your license in and get off the road before you kill somebody or hurt yourself or kill yourself. Please think of others. Blind corner?
Hi, I’m just calling in because I’m reading the paper and I seen where President Dobelle of Westfield College was placed on administrative leave with pay. Isn’t that something? So we’re sending him on another vacation. I was just going to say don’t forget to give him the college credit card when he’s leaving. For somebody that’s getting a six-figure salary, I can’t believe they’re giving it with pay. Why don’t they give him no pay until the investigation is over and then, if they don’t find nothing, then pay him? I just don’t understand it. Sending him on vacation with the taxpayers’ dollars again. I hope he’s taking the credit card with him and while you’re at it why don’t you investigate some of the other board members that might have had their fingers in the cookie jar, as well. Bye.
Hi! I see where somebody called in the other day saying how beautiful the park was, Park Square, but they never see anybody sitting there enjoying it. Well, the reason you don’t see anybody sitting there enjoying it is the lack of benches. I only see a couple down there. I called in last July and said the same thing and that the benches that were there didn’t have backs on them. I got a reply saying the recent trend in urban planning is to install backless benches designed to prevent loitering in city parks. What about the taxpayers? The retired people? Don’t they have the right after paying taxes all these years to go down to the park to sit there and lean back and enjoy it? Enclosed here also you put a picture of it appears to be a homeless person lying on a bench. What about if that homeless person was a disabled vet? Think about it. We need benches down there with backs on them, so the people that paid for this thing, this beautiful park, can enjoy it. Maybe our mayor should change his way of thinking. Thank you.
