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Southwick resident gives generous donation to police K-9 fund By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – Initially reported by the Westfield News on July 18 that the Southwick Police was seeking donations for a new K-9 dog, one individual responded in quite the generous way. As a result of seeing the article, Southwick resident Jack Jeneral walked into Chief David Ricardi’s
office and presented him with an $8,000 check, which is the approximate cost for a department to acquire a K-9. Speechless about the act, Ricardi couldn’t say enough about Jeneral; a guy he has been acquainted with in town for years. “He’s a true gentleman,” said Ricardi. “He’s got a big heart.” After reading the story on July 18,
Jeneral said that he tried to set up a time right away to meet with Ricardi. Living in Southwick for around 20 years, Jeneral saw this as an opportunity to assist his community. “It’s nice to be able to do something for the town, especially for the cops who are always putting their lives on the line,” said Jeneral. See K-9 Fund, Page 3
Southwick resident Jack Jeneral wrote out an $8,000 check to the Southwick Police Department for a new K-9 dog. (Photo courtesy of Southwick Police Department)
JESSE CAISSE (Photo provided by Hampden County District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni’s office)
Westfield man sentenced in indecent assault and battery on person 14 and over case
MUSICFEST Mackenzie St Peter (5 yrs) sits on her Fathers (Chase St. Peter) shoulders for a better view. See additional MusicFest photos Page 8. (Photos by Lynn F. Boscher)
Emotion on the Green
Marjorie and Bill Palmer enjoyed the music
Rotary Club presents check to help fireworks By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Save the Southwick Fireworks fund received a very sizable donation on Wednesday night. Members of the Rotary Club presented a $4,000 check to Team Justice Racing, who is the local organization co-heading the fundraising efforts. Kevin Bishop, the President of Team Justice Racing, was at the Southwick Police Department to receive the check, along with kids of Team Justice, who volunteer. Unable to attend the exchange was Moolicious Ice Cream Owner Joe Deedy, who has been coordinating the fireworks fund with Bishop. Representing the Rotary Club for the check presentation was President Chris Boyd, past President Rick Anderson and fellow member Ellen Miles. The Rotary Club saw an opportunity to assist Bishop and Deedy in their quest to raise enough money for the 2017 fireworks. See Fireworks, Page 3
The music really moves Marybeth Hayes.
Historic St. Thomas Church in Huntington sold at auction By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – A successful auction was held for the historic St. Thomas Church on the corner of East Main and Basket Streets Thursday at 1 p.m. on the church grounds. Prior to the auction, bidders were permitted to inspect the interior of the church. Entry was granted, however, only to those holding a $5,000 check for the auction, leaving former parishioners who wanted to take a last look on the outside. St. Thomas church in There were six bidders in all, Huntington was auctioned off July 20. (Photo by Amy Porter) See Church Auction, Page
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD/SPRINGFIELD—A Westfield man received a 13 and a half to 15 year sentence in state prison following a guilty verdict stemming from ” the 2015 Indecent Assault and Battery of a minor,” according to a press release from Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni. According to the press release, Jesse Caisse received the guilty verdict and sentencing. James Leydon, spokesman for Gulluni, expanded on the verdict, saying that there were three total counts of indecent assault and battery on a person 14 or over that Caisse was found guilty of during a jury trial, which occurred at Hampden Superior Court in Springfield. Sentencing, according to Leydon, was then given by a judge. The total sentence received for the three counts, according to Leydon, was 13 and a half to 15 years in state prison. According to the press release, the charges stemmed from an arrest of Craisse at his home in Westfield, on July 18, 2015. According to the release, “members of the Westfield Police Department applied for and was granted a warrant for his arrest after an initial investigation into the allegations Caisse indecently assaulted a minor. The victim involved was [14] years old at the time.” Prior to the arrest, according to an article from The Westfield News about Caisse’s arraignment on charges on July 20, 2015, a then-14-year-old female went to the Westfield Police Department on July 17 “to report she had been sexually assaulted that day, according to court records.” Previously, according to another article from The Westfield News on April 15, 2015, “The Westfield Police Department reports that a city resident, Jessie James Caisse Sr., 44, of 739 Holyoke Road, who has been designated a See Sentenced, Page 3