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The Westfield News
“Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet.”
Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
— PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
www.thewestfieldnews.com
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FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2016
VOL. 85 NO. 78
Doctor speaks out on addiction and the teenage brain By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD- Northfield resident Ruth Potee, M.D., spoke at a forum on opioid abuse at Westfield High School Wednesday evening, to a crowd of about 200 people. Potee is a physician with Valley Medical Group in Greenfield, with special interests in women’s health, pediatrics, addiction treatment, psy-
Dr. Ruth Potee spoke on addiction and the teenage brain at the third in a series of forums on opioid abuse at Westfield High School on Wednesday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
chiatric illness, and pain management. Since 2013, she has co-chaired the Healthcare Solutions of the Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and North Quabbin, and since 2012 has served as the school physician for the Pioneer Valley Regional School District, encompassing a regional high school and four elementary schools. As school physician, she has provided training and curriculum for school nurses throughout western and central Massachusetts on adolescent substance abuse and addiction. Additionally, she is the medical director for the Franklin County House of Corrections, a position she assumed in 2014, that oversees care for 300 inmates in the county. In 2015, Potee was honored by her physician peers of the Franklin District Medical Society as the district society’s 2015 Community Clinician of the Year, an honor recognizing her professionalism and contributions as a physician. Potee spoke about addiction and the teenage brain, beginning with an overview of brain chemistry. She said dopamine is the neurotransmitter that gives humans a sense of joy. It is associated with fine motor See Addiction, Page 3
131st Fighter Squadron deploys to Europe WESTFIELD – Expect the skies over Westfield to be a little quieter for the next few months — the “Barnestormers” are deploying. Staff and equipment from the 131st Fighter Squadron Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield are heading off to Europe and will be joined by the 194th Fighter Squadron, Fresno Air National Guard Base, California. Airmen said goodbye to family and friends yesterday afternoon. The deployment marks the latest iteration of a Theater Security Package (TSP) in the European theater supporting Operation Atlantic Resolve. This deployment is not only a training mission but to also demonstrate See Squadron, Page 3
KEVIN J. REGAN
Jury acquits man in crash that killed Regan BARNSTABLE (WWLP) – A Cape Cod jury has acquitted a man of all charges in a December 2014 crash that killed an off-duty Westfield firefighter. Paul Dennehy of South Yarmouth was found not guilty Thursday of motor vehicle homicide while operating under the influence of alcohol and other charges in the crash that killed Kevin Regan. Police alleged that Dennehy struck and killed Regan and injured his girlfriend, Lynda Cavanaugh, as they crossed Route 28 after dinner on Dec. 27, 2014. Tara Miltimore, spokesperson for the Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office, said that the
Barnstable District Court jury deliberated for about 90 minutes before coming back with their verdict Thursday. “It’s still sad that a firefighter dies out of duty, because they put their lives before ours every time they go out on a call, and they are there, regardless of how we feel about them,” Brent Erickson of Westfield said. The case against Dennehy almost didn’t move forward at all, after a key piece of evidence disappeared. The video of Dennehy’s booking at the Yarmouth police station had been lost or destroyed, and the defense had filed a motion to dismiss. Court documents stated that the video had been recorded over, and had not been backed up. The
judge rejected the motion, saying that Dennehy could still receive a fair trial. Two police officers testified that they concluded Dennehy was intoxicated at the time, but witnesses at the scene said Dennehy didn’t appear to be under the influence. The results of a breath test administered that night were not admissible as evidence. Dennehy refused a blood test after his arrest. Kevin Regan was the most senior firefighter in Westfield at the time of the death, having served on the department for 43 years. He was the brother of Westfield Fire Chief Mary Regan.
Hinds dangerousness hearing continued
An F15 from the 104th Air National Guard Base in Westfield, foreground, and an F16 fighter jet from the Vermont Air National Guard, background, take part in a refueling exercise over New York state. (WNG file photo)
By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – At the dangerousness hearing in Westfield District Court on Thursday morning for Adrian B. Hinds, 25, of Westfield, Attorney Jiacheng Yu from the Committee for Public Counsel Services made a motion to continue the hearing until Monday, and a second motion to make the victims available at the hearing. The case was continued, and Judge Philip Contant took the motion to produce the victims under advisement, after the district attorney’s office said the Commonwealth would oppose the motion. Hinds is charged with attacking his neighbors and
their dog with a hammer on the morning of March 23 at Southwood Acres, located at 342 Southwick Road, where he and the victims live. Westfield Police Capt. Michael McCabe said the victims suffered severe lacerations to their skulls during the attack. Hinds was arrested by Springfield Police on March 24, the day after the assault. He was arraigned in Westfield court the next day, and held without the right to bail until the dangerousness hearing. He is charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon with serious bodily injury, two counts of armed assault to murder and one charge of animal cruelty, according to court logs.
Mass. Senate releases charter school overhaul bill ter school backers, including Gov. Charlie Baker. The bill would boost spending on charter schools in lower performing districts while requiring more public disclosure of the schools’ finances, policies, contracts and board meetings. Beginning in two years, the bill would also tie increases in charter schools
seats to increases in state education aid. Charter schools are public schools that operate independently from local school boards. Supporters said they offer high-quality educational alternatives for students but critics argue they drain financial resources from traditional public schools and fail to adequately serve certain groups of students.
The Senate is expected to debate the bill next week. Democratic Senate President Stan Rosenberg said the bill builds on lessons the state has learned from 20 years of charter schools.
Westfield Technical Academy Presents
By STEVE LeBLANC Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts Senate leaders have unveiled a bill that they said would allow more charter schools that serve at-risk students while largely maintaining the existing statewide cap on the schools. The proposal was swiftly criticized by char-
See Charter Schools, Page 3
Westfield Technical Academy Auditorium Friday May 6 7:30 PM The National Touring Production of Eaglemania Live in Concert. The Complete Eagle’s Experience with Songs: Take It Easy, Desperado, Lyin Eyes, Hotel California and more. Visit the band at www.eaglemaniaband.wordpress.com. Tickets: Purplepass.com, Rocky’s Ace Hardware, The Press Room, WTA Main Office Sponsored By: