SOUTHWICK – It was a year for change in Southwick in 2019. From retirements to promotions and new hires, to road projects, saving North Pond and raising funds for fireworks, veterans and more, residents rallied together this year. Below are a few highlights from the last year of the decade:
Public Works and road projects
It was a busy year for Southwick’s Department of Public Works. Director Randy Brown said there was a long list of paving projects, which will continue in spring, as well as a water main replacement on College Highway, a culvert on Granville Road and a new pump station on Jarry Road, to name just a few of the completed projects. The biggest project in town – the state Department of Transportation project on Congamond Road – took much of the year and ended with the road finally being paved.
Fires
The Southwick Fire Department battled several large-scale blazes in 2019, including a trash truck fire on College Highway in March. Firefighters had to manually cut their way into the truck to extinguish the fire while the Southwick DPW removed the debris from the truck. Fire Chief Russ Anderson noted that it took Southwick Fire and mutual aid almost three hours to fully extinguish the fire.
Southwick firefighter Brian Schneider surveys the scene of a tobacco barn fire on Sheep Pasture Road July 6, 2019. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay)
One of the Arnold family tobacco barns caught fire in July when it was struck by lightning. The barn was a total loss and burned to the ground. “It was fully engulfed when we arrived,” Fire Chief Russ Anderson said, adding that in addition to battling the blaze firefighters worked to keep the home across the street from burning. The siding on the front of the house began to melt but did not catch fire.
Old Library sold, VFW for sale
In January, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 872 members announced it was closing its bar due to costs. “The cost of doing business now for a non-profit (organization) is sky high,” said Troy Henke of the VFW. “We just couldn’t justify the cost versus the revenue.” Henke said that they planned to maintain the rest of the building, however, the entire property is currently for sale.
The Old Library on College Highway was sold to Tynic Landscaping following a bid process earlier this year. However, because of complications with the deed, the sale did not close until the fall. The owner plans to use the library for office space, keeping the integrity of the historic building intact.
Advanced Life Support services activated
Southwick Fire Department became an Advanced Life Support department in July after several years of planning. The SFD operates at the ALS level during daytime hours, said Fire Chief Russ Anderson, and the town began saving money, time and most importantly, providing faster medical support to those who need it almost immediately.
“We have saved about $10,000 already,” said Anderson after just one month of providing ALS. The savings comes mainly from not having to pay fees to neighboring communities – such as Westfield and Agawam – that provide ALS services to the town. “It costs us about $275 every time Westfield has to come here,” Anderson said. Southwick has been working toward ALS operations for about five years. The town’s population has grown, and Anderson said they were getting more and more calls for ALS level service.
Southwick Police Lt. Robert Landis, at left, presents retiring Sgt. Kirk Sanders with a token Sept. 6 in recognition of his last day on the job. Sanders retired after 40 years on the job. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay)
Longtime Police Sgt. Kirk Sanders retires
Southwick Police Sgt. Kirk Sanders retired in September after 40 years on the job. Sanders said the department has changed for the better over the past few decades. Sanders worked in the schools and became the safety officer, creating a successful D.A.R.E. program there. He also ran the Citizens Police Academy, handled the police technology needs and more.
Southwick K-9 officer Michael Westcott was unanimously promoted to sergeant ahead of Sanders’ retirement. Westcott is a Southwick native who said there can be both positives and negatives to working and living in the town where he grew up. “I get to work with the people I live with,” he said. “My best work is done after hours – I don’t hang up my badge and gun at the end of the day and wash my hands of it.”
North Pond
The effort to save North Pond became a reality in 2019 when the land was purchased as a conservation area earlier this year. A Special Town Meeting in March sealed the deal, with voters supporting two warrant articles that would help fund the purchase. One article, which asked the voting residents to allow the town to bond $1.2 million over a number of years in order to help preserve the 146-acre property, was not recommended by the Finance Committee or the Selectboard. “Our problem with it is it’s going to affect taxes,” said Select Board Vice-Chairman Russ Fox. “This is just not good financial planning for our community.”
Residents, however, disagreed and approved the article by a vote of 404-100.
In early fall a celebration was hosted on North Pond that included residents and local and state officials as well as representatives of the Franklin Land Trust and Department of Fish and Wildlife.
Town hires first full-time health director
The Southwick Board of Health hired the town’s first full-time health director, Tammy Spencer, who will replace Thomas Fitzgerald, who is retiring in January. Spencer, currently a sanitation agent in Chicopee, is no stranger to Southwick’s public health needs. Spencer was an intern for the board as a college student and said in her interview on Dec. 3 that she looked forward to returning to the town and believes she has come full circle in many ways.
“I’d be really excited to come back after starting here 14 years ago,” Spencer said in her interview.
Resident announces run for Congress, then state representative
Southwick resident John Cain, who announced over the summer he would run against Congressman Richard E. Neal, switched gears in December and said he would challenge Westfield state Rep. John C. Velis for the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District Senate Seat. State Sen. Donald F. Humason Jr. resigned his seat to become Westfield’s mayor.
Cain stated “after listening to what the people want and need; this is what I must do. Western Mass. is losing the voice of longtime incumbent Don Humason and I am the candidate who will most closely reflect the values of the people and continue the legacy that Senator Humason has established.”
Southwick EMT Michael Perault adjusts an ornament on the Fire Association tree in the Winter Forest event at Southwick Town Hall. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay)
Celebrate Southwick 250 kicks-off a year of celebrations
The town turns 250 in 2020 and a committee of volunteers began the celebration in December with a town-wide holiday lighting contest, Winter Tree Forest, craft fair and the town’s first-ever First Night. Committee Chairman James Putnam said the coming year will be a celebration, with Southwick 250 events scheduled every month leading up to the Grand Parade in October.
Southwick Schools’ teachers, students honored
The year started with three teachers in the Southwick-Granville-Tolland Regional School District receiving awards and ended with student awards.
Teachers Francesca Fydenkevez, Kathy Schlichtig and Ann Simonet received the Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award. All three recipients were honored at a banquet hosted by the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation at the Log Cabin in May.
In December, Superintendent Jennifer Willard presented Nicholas Spagnolo with a certificate for excelling academically and receiving national honors each year. Willard also recognized twins Alina and Anastasia Antropova who were both being recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program.
