WENPUB2.COM

Politico Video:Obama meets UConn champions!

Obama meets with the University of Connecticut womens basketball team.

here’s the link!

Video Roundup on Politico 4-8-09

http://www.politico.com/singletitlevideo.html?bcpid=1155201977&bctid=18922715001

VIDEO: Five questions on EFCA

http://www.politico.com/singletitlevideo.html?bcpid=1155201977&bctid=18027810001

To the Editor: April 10, 2008

As a very concerned resident of Westfield, I submitted an email concerning the land located to 136 City View Rd. to the Mayor, as well as nine of our City Council Members. (I was unable to find three of our councilors’ email addresses). As of today, I have received only five responses, all from Council Members. Of these five, only two were ever at the City View Sight that came into question on rezoning. How does one vote on something they have never seen? At first, I was planning on submitting this email to the Pulse Line, but after careful consideration, a response from a council member, and the backing from my neighbors, we felt a letter to you would carry more weight. The following is the email, with a few revisions, I sent to our City Councilors and the Mayor. This letter is to let Westfield residents know of a well-known ‘Filthy Ghost Town’ right here in Westfield. On March 18th, and 20th, two public meeting were held regarding the rezoning of an area located on 136 City View Road. This area is also known as the ‘Defunct City View Commons Condo project’. In 1986, after getting the permission from city officials, and the Conservation Commission, this poorly planned project was sold to another buyer. (I would like to clarify that these are not your typical condo-type homes. They are actually non-connected raised ranch houses. Of the 25 approved, 13 were finished or close to completion.) During the construction of these condos, and the destruction of the wetlands, they soon landed so many infractions that they were told to cease and desist. The land was then subdivided and sold to multiple buyers. Not much changed, and over the next two decades these 13 houses, now condemned by the city, were pilfered for anything that was EVEN nailed down. One house did have a tenant at one time. This tenant was known as “The White Ninja” to the area children. I was told by a few of these children that this man would scare them out of the area with a shotgun. Many tractor trailer trucks were seen, and reported by the neighbors, driving up to these abandoned condos. The man is gone now, and so is anything of any value, that was in these homes. These condos are now minus all a/c and heating duct work, as well as any electric wiring, cut and chopped from the boxes. The windows, walls, cabinets and doors are all busted up, kicked in, and some were burned. (Just last summer one house fell victim to an arsonist. It was burned to the ground.) The disgusting graffiti language written on the walls of many of the houses would make a sailor blush. One house literally has large animal droppings that take up an area of a normal bathtub. And that’s just the inside of the buildings! To get to these condos, you must drive on a paved road with water coming out of the sewer manholes, flooding the neighbor’s yard. The river has been greatly disturbed using a culvert, rather than the bridge they were told to put in by the Conservation Commission, to cross into the building area. Due to the building of this road and developing of the area, the homes on City View Road, that abut this development, now flood yearly. One home owner has lost close to 50 ft of his own backyard. The road is lined with litter and garbage, and the pavement filled with glass. Once you enter the main driveway to these condos it hits you like a movie set of the ‘last days on earth’. There are no words to describe this disaster Westfield approved, and knew about… It’s been 20 years since this mess started. The destruction and mess it has left is totally unacceptable. Now, one of the owners, claiming he has control of the property, is trying to rezone the area which would allow him to build another, much larger, project than the one started 20 years ago. After getting a negative vote by our Planning Board, he then wrote a letter to the City Council, asking to “withdraw his petition without prejudice.” At that second public meeting, he was granted what he asked for by the City Council. This mean he is free to talk away and try again later. Don’t you agree that it’s time our City Officials took an active stand on pursuing these owners to clean up the mess they made? According to one councilor, the property is some $350,000 in debt for back taxes! Perhaps a fine, or threat of the town taking over this abandoned land might move him in the right direction. The debt owed to the city must be some kind of leverage they could use. I was told that “the city is prepared to deal with this situation at some point”. Last summer, an arsonist torched one of the 13 houses. That alone should let the city know we reached “the point.” What more needs to happen before something is done? At one time this 25 acre parcel was a beautiful wetland area, where deer and wood ducks were once seen living. It is now a vile and disgusting area not fit for rodents. We are asking the Westfield residents for their help in this matter. Take a drive and see for yourselves just how bad this place is, then perhaps you’ll get on board to write your city officials. Let them know that 20 years is long enough to wait. Thank you for your time, and hopefully your letters.

Katherine Wippert Bruce Riggott Julie Chesnicka Debbie Gardner Clayton & Karen Tompkins Donald & Rosemary Gowdy Dennis & Hedy Turgeon Giuseppe & Melanie Cannata Marie Boccafile Dick Loftus

To the Editor April 10, 2008

To the Editor:

The intent of this letter is to thank Mr. and Mrs. Lusteg for their wonderful letter to the Editor regarding the Westfield BID and its Executive Director, Lisa McMahon. It is also written in support of Mrs. McMahon. I strongly agree with the Lustegs. I have been angered by the defeatist and ignorant attitudes expressed in the Pulse line regarding downtown revitalization efforts, and the work that the Executive Director is doing. Hiding behind the anonymity of the Pulse Line is so easy and a coward’s forte for some critics out there. As a volunteer for and a believer in the BID as a strategy to revitalize our downtown, I cannot say enough about the efforts, vision and enthusiasm, Mrs. McMahon projects. She does her homework, she is a professional, she is bright and she works extremely hard. She would make a wonderful City Councilor! The BID approach has been successful in many cities across the country. Does the anonymous Pulse Line writer(s) even understand how a BID works? Why not get involved, become educated and be part of the revitalization effort? For the first time in many years there is now an organized strategy and baby steps are happening to make change. They may be small steps, but they are solid steps. It is an approach requiring patience. It is my hope that the Mayor Boulanger and the City Council are recognizing the BID effort and continue to support it. I strongly feel that our downtown will come back. It takes perseverance, open mindedness and communication for change to happen. Be a part of that and bring back a new and better downtown.

Sincerely, Sarah Hagan

To the Editor April 10, 2008

Re: Elimination of sales tax exemption on aircraft sales and parts As the House debates raising taxes, I am writing on behalf of the members of the Aviation Caucus and the House of Representatives who represent airports, aviation-related businesses, or people who work in aviation or the aviation-related industry in our districts. Thank you for this opportunity to share with you our concerns over the inclusion of a provision to eliminate the sales tax exemption on aircraft sales and parts in the House tax package currently under consideration. As you may know, this exemption is relatively recent and has just begun to bear fruit. I represent Westfield Barnes Municipal Airport which has started to thrive since the sales tax was exempted in 2001. It is my understanding that the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission reports annually to the Joint Ways and Means Committees about how much money the state “loses” due to the exemption versus how much it gains in ancillary revenue. That revenue includes the property taxes paid by the aviation-related businesses, the income taxes paid by the well-paid, highly skilled workers and technicians, the sales tax on the food sold by the caterers, the taxes paid by the rental car companies that service the clients of flying-related businesses, the fuel taxes paid by pilots, and more. Repealing this exemption would capture very little revenue initially, but would kill general aviation-related businesses in the Commonwealth. Any money realized would come only in the first year, as word would quickly spread among the small and tight-knit group of people in the aviation world. After that, business would dry up instantly as pilots, airplane owners, and companies moved out of the Bay State and crossed the borders into neighboring states that are not so punitive to the aviation community. All contiguous states to ours have a sales tax exemption on aircraft sales and parts on their books. Massachusetts also has the highest excise tax on aircraft fuel per gallon. If the Legislature repeals the sales tax exemption Massachusetts will immediately become more costly and less competitive than all of our neighboring states. Who could blame the companies with planes based at my airport in Westfield for immediately relocating to Connecticut or Rhode Island or Vermont? With every plane goes between 4 and 10 highly-skilled, good paying jobs and the revenue from those income taxes and sales taxes. A small state like Massachusetts is simple to bypass when you’re flying. It takes little time and fuel to fly over or around the Commonwealth and set up your aviation-related business in a bordering state. There are 39 public-use airports in Massachusetts. Everybody knows about Logan, but there are airports in Worcester, Plymouth, Hyannis, Nantucket, Pittsfield, Westfield, Chicopee, Norwood, Pepperell, North Adams, New Bedford, and more. Many of the airports in our state are public but there are some that are privately owned and used by the public. Surrounding every one of those airports are many businesses, large and small, that rely on those airports and provide a multitude of goods and services, as well as benefits both tangible and intangible. The Legislature and the Governor should be justifiably proud of the incentives we passed for the film industry that encouraged Hollywood movie makers to come to Massachusetts to shoot and produce films here, rather than in competing states. Those incentives have paid large financial dividends. Airports play an important role in the transportation infrastructure of Massachusetts. They make our state more attractive to the business community. They are economic engines for our Commonwealth. Removing the fledgling incentive of the sales tax exemption on sales and parts will have an unintended consequence of killing the industry and drying up those financial dividends.

Thank you, most sincerely, Donald F. Humason, Jr.
Westfield’s State Representative Co Chair, Aviation Caucus

To The Editor April 9, 2008

4-9-08

To the Editor:

The “Rebate” check citizens will get is to help our economy… however, will these “rebate” checks really help the economy or help those in debt? Americans will use the money to pay more on their debt ridden credit cards, or pay medical bills that grew because of their high deductibles or use it to clear up their heating bills or pay the high real estate tax bill they get. Even farther, it may be used to help pay the ever increasing cost of college education put on the American family even though some states are pushing “free college” legislation for illegal immigrants. 65% of those “rebate” checks will go directly to pay bills. What’s left to spend the checks on? If you spend it all at Wal-mart or any big box discount store, the money will go to China. If you change your driving habits and start driving more, meaning more gasoline purchases, that money will go to the Arab oil baron. At the supermarket, if you buy more fruit and vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Chile and Guatemala. If you use the “rebate” for a down payment on a new car, almost 45% of name plate cars bought are Japanese companies. The money goes to Japan. And finally, after all the bad times and the bad economy for the last 5 years, you decide to take a trip to Europe, the “rebate” check will help off-set some of our weak dollar to the Euro. If you go to Canada, the “rebate” check will help you even out your trip, no loss no gain. If you decide to visit the 51st state, Mexico, you may enjoy a vacation and come with $200.00 left in your pocket. Plan your actions well with the “rebate” check. The decision you make will have a direct effect on the economy, but who’s economy?

Joseph P. Kalesnik Westfield, MA

To The Editor April 1, 2008

4-1-08

To the Editor:

This letter is a heart felt Thank You addressed to the Town of Southwick and Surrounding Communities: When the idea of “Susan’s Heart and Hope” benefit was conceived, never in our wildest dreams did we anticipate the overwhelming love, support and financial contributions we received from so many individuals, organizations and business. Due to your generosity, emotional support and prayers, Susan’s Heart and Hope benefit on March 15th was a tremendous success and the Susan’s fund was made a very impressive start. On behalf of the Susan Sanders Family, the Benefit Team would like to extend their heartfelt appreciation to all individuals, organizations and business that made donations of time, money, services and raffle gifts for Susan’s benefit. A special Thank You to the businesses and organizations listed that participated: ABC Gourmet Pizza/Grill Adrienne’s Bakery Cafe All Points Entertainment DJ Service Alternative Health Amelia Park American Inn B & E Tool. B.O.S.S. Balance Hair Salon Blossoming Acres Bobbie J’Z Restaurant Bon Ton Brew Too/Whip City Brew Butcher Block C & E Tobacco, Inc. Center Cleaners Chaz & Amy’s Restaurant Chris’ Collection Christ Lutheran Church/Daily Grind College Highway Insurance Collier Fence Crestview Country Club Crouse, Joan Designer’s Edge Donna’s Environment 1st Cleaning Dr. Azia Drenin’s Tax Service Durfey Heating Systems East Mountain Country Club Fitness First Flynn, Glennice and John Forget-Me-Not Gift Store Freedom Candle Gigi’s II Griffin, Denise Gristmill Motors Hair Better Salon Heart and Hand Houghton, Donna Interstate Building Supply K-9’s and Felines Kaybu King Brothers Lifestyles Salon and Spa Memory Lane Mohegan Sun Casino Molt’s Liquors Mrs. Murphy’s Donuts Nora’s Restaurant Old Mill Pond Pasticceria Pepperberry’s Flower Shop Ponte, John Prime Line Marketing Puffer’s Hair Salon and Spa Ray’s Farm Roma Restaurant and Banquet Room Route 10 Tire Saunders Boat Livery, Inc. Saunders Package Store School Street Bistro Scibelli’s Mobil Security Fence Serendipity Salon Southwick Country Club Southwick Fireman’s Association Southwick Florist Southwick Lion’s Club Southwick Package Store Southwick Police Association Southwoods Magazine and Printing Stanley Tool Suburban Chevrolet Sullivan Station Restaurant Tastefully Tan The Notch The Ranch Golf Club The Tavern Restaurant Timothy’s Auto Sales Tsatos, Paul, CPA Tuckers Restaurant Vermette Autobody Village Pizza Westfield Elks Lodge Westfield Fire Department Westfield Yoga.

To the Editor:

Over the last several years I’ve been listening to both sides of this air quality issue. At times it was hard to decide who to believe when each side contradicts each other. Some data was supported, some not. After the American Lung Association reported that the air quality of this area was poor to begin with, I began to worry. I was concerned about my 6 month old daughter living and playing outside across the river from the emissions or going to school 500 yards away from the proposed plant. She will be breathing the air in every day of her growing life, when her lungs are most susceptible to pollutants, increasing her chances of developing long term pulmonary ailments. The Biomass group has reported pollutants and diesel exhaust will be dispersed in the air but at acceptable levels. Even a little of a bad thing is too much for our children. Why even add an insignificant amount of pollutants to already poor air quality? If the quality of the water we drink was rated poor, would we allow someone to make the water our children drink dirtier? I’ve read on the Russell Biomass website the list of pollutants that will be emitted and from their calculations the amounts will be well below given standards. Every report I’ve read only takes into account the amount of pollutants emitted from the proposed plant. Shouldn’t these amounts be totaled with the amounts already in the air? Then we could quantify acceptable levels. As a new parent I’ve come to find that nothing really matters but your child and in this case, her health. That is why I’m writing. I could care less about saving money on my electric bill or property taxes if it meant my daughter would be spared from breathing an even more reduced quality of air.. There are concerns for our child’s health everyday. There are tomatoes with Salmonella, plastic baby bottles with bisphenol A, toys with lead in the paint. What do we do when we hear these concerns? We stop letting or children eat tomatoes, drink from the bottles or play with the toys even if these concerns are unfounded and not scientifically proven.It’s due to the simple fact that we care about the health of our families. And here we are deciding on an air quality issue that potentially could be hazardous. This issue should be treated no differently. It’s wrong to take the chance on a child’s health. According to the American Lung Association, breathing particle pollution year-round can shorten a life by one to three years. That is 1 to 3 years I wouldn’t want to risk taking away from my child. Before you say that you support Russell Biomass, ask yourself, would you want your child running around the playground at Russell Elementary School breathing in air that is poor to begin with and would be made even worse by the addition of this plant? I recognize the need for electricity as a population increases but this area does not seem to fit the plan for this type of facility. The topography, the already poor air quality, air inversions, location of homes, public buildings and schools does not work. I implore everyone, especially our elected officials and MA DEP, to reconsider this plan for the sake of my daughter’s health and the health of all the children of Russell. Sincerely, Brett R. Salls Russell, MA To the Editor: Dear Mr. Stossel: Thank you so much for your recent “20/20″ broadcast dealing with so-called “sex offender” registries. As you well know, the last society to “register” human beings on this level was Nazi Germany. One angle on this topic you have yet to discuss is the 21st century “revenge divorce.” Our friend, Sam Conti, we believe, was wrongfully convicted and incarcerated during such a divorce. Sam was convicted without a shred of physical evidence, or an eyewitness to any wrongdoing. He was not even given the chance to tell his side of the story. The jury never saw a police report, or the divorce agreement that actually mentioned his “criminal” case by name and docket number. This agreement clearly said that his wife would be awarded his children, his home, and his pension, not to mention all his savings if he were convicted (Sam was a state employee). When his attorney objected (my husband, daughter, and I testified at his trial), the judge said that he was , indeed, making a “reversible error,” but wouldn’t allow the evidence or one witness that would have testified that Sam’s “ex” told her she planned to “get” him. (By the way, this is a “sex” case with no “sex” – Sam was imprisoned for “hugging” his kids). The judge then went 10 times over the sentencing guidelines, giving him a 6-10 year sentence with lifetime restrictions when he is released. And the parole board in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are unlikely to parole a “sex offender”, so he is looking at all 10 years. Sam was sentenced so harshly, in a case with no evidence, because he refused a “deal” to plead guilty to something he did not do. Had he accepted the deal he would have been out in 18 months. His “ex” then actually tried to sell his home to some of the police officers who arrested Sam for less than fair market value. The Massachusetts Appeals Courts, in typical witch-hunt fashion, declared all these errors “harmless.” Will you help? Can you contact us, particularly Sam’s fiancé and his family? An innocent man is sitting in jail while his fiancé is doing all she can to get him home. Our hearts break for her. No one should be separated from the love of her life because of a horrible divorce, and no one should be sent to prison for falling in love during a bad divorce. Thank you for being willing to shine a light of reason when our society seems to be caught up in fear and witch hunts.

Regards, Marcia Olson Coalition to Free Sam Conti COMMONWEALTH vs. SAMUEL CONTI 2006-P-1879

To the Editor:

How much higher do oil and gas have to go before Congress gives us permission to drill oil? We have been talking about this for the last thirty years, with no solution. A Gallop poll in May shows that 57% of Americans want us to drill our own oil. That number will surely increase as oil goes up to $170 to $200 a barrel. Congress has refused President Bush¹s request to drill in ANWR. President Clinton was pressured to drill in 1994. He said it would take ten years to produce oil. Guess what – we would have been pumping oil for the last four years. Replacing oil as an energy source is an exercise in futility. Congress has demanded Big Oil find an alternative energy source. This ridiculous request is an example of our lawmakers¹ lack of intelligence. Big Oil has billions of dollars invested in equipment and expertise, and they are going to come up with an alternative energy source to make their huge investment obsolete? The Arabs are laughing all the way to the bank because we are too stupid to drill for our own oil. Oil is money and money is power. Ask Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran and Venezuela. If the disciples of Al Gore prevail, they may have a clean, pristine and green country. The problem is that it will be bankrupt with 10-12% unemployment and 15-20% inflation. Think about it when you pay $5.00 or $6.00 a gallon for your gas.

Stanley W. Olechna Westfield, MA

To the Editor:

Sometime in our prehistory people noticed that the predators that circled their camps, looking for an unguarded child, were also feared by wolves. Bears, leopards, lions and tigers considered both wolf pups and humans a tasty treat. Because of this people and wolves joined into a unique partnership that has lasted for over 10,000 years. Our tame wolves called dogs have guarded our camps, farms and homes. Barking dogs have kept their families and livestock safe from both animal and human predators. A barking dog used to be cause for arming oneself before going into the night to check on the farm animals. We do not live in a crime filled city, but crime can come to us in the night. I knew a man who lived in the Forest Park section of Springfield. He owned a small beagle that barked whenever anyone came near his house. His house was the only one on the street that had not been broken into and robbed. If you hear your neighbors dog barking it is doing its job keep the neighborhood safe.

Bill Hardie Russell, MA