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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
“To want to be the cleverest of all is the biggest folly.” — SHOLEM ALEICHEM
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 113 Eric Lemire pleaded guilty in Westfield District Court on May 5 to assault and battery and a separate charge of unarmed robbery. (Photo by
Westfield kicks off Bay State Bike Week at The Press Room tomorrow
Christine Charnosky)
City man gets jail time plus probation for unarmed robbery, assault By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A Westfield District Court judge had no sympathy for a defendant who admitted to viciously assaulting a man who was being a “smart aleck.” At a May 5 hearing, Eric Lemire pleaded guilty to a charge of simple assault and battery as well as pleaded guilty to a separate charge of unarmed robbery, The assault occurred on November 29 at approximately 3:20 p.m. Police were dispatched to Danek Drive for a report of a disturbance where they found a victim who had been assaulted by Lemire, according to court records. Assistant District Attorney Edward Kivari told Judge William O’Grady that Lemire had struck the male ten to twelve times with a fist to the victim’s face. Police found a large pool of blood under the victim. Police “observed a lot of swelling” to the victim’s face and “observed a deep cut on (his) forehead,” according to court records. “He was being a smart aleck,” Lemire told O’Grady, “I’m not going to lay my hands on someone for no reason.” Less than two weeks later (before he had been charged for the assault), shortly past midnight on December 11, Lemire was arrested for robbing the Cumberland Farms, located at 69
75 cents
FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2016
Main Street. Lemire allegedly walked into the Cumberland Farms store, grabbed the cashier by the collar and pulled his head down to the counter, Westfield Police Capt. Michael McCabe told The Westfield News in December. Lemire took cash from the drawer and took off on foot. Police located the defendant a short time later, and after officers found $317 in cash on him, he admitted to the robbery. “I’m very ashamed I did it,” Lemire told O’Grady, “I was under the influence, which is no excuse.” Lemire’s attorney, Mark L. Hare, said that his client has been “warehoused” and not getting the treatment he needs for his alcohol problem requesting that Lemire be placed in an alcohol treatment center not affiliated with the jail. “Something more productive,” Hare said. “If we were only talking about the convenience store, but (it’s) together with the assault and battery,” O’Grady said, “Warehousing keeps you away from people for some time.” O’Grady placed Lemire on probation until November 2018, but first he must first serve 18 months in the house of correction with credit for time served from December 11. Staff Writer Christine Charnosky can be reached at christinec@thewestfieldnewsgroup.com Follow her on Twitter @charnoskyWNG
By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD –Every May, Massachusetts residents and bike commuters come together to celebrate human-powered, two-wheeled transportation during Bay State Bike Week (BSBW). From Cape Cod to the Berkshires and everywhere around and in between, Commonwealth participants organize bike-centric events to encourage new riders and raise awareness about bicycle transportation. This year’s Bay State Bike Week will be observed from Saturday, May 14 to Saturday, May 22. Massachusetts is the only state in the nation with a statewide bike week. Joe Giffune, president of the Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail, said the bicycling season is already well underway. Giffune said the rail trail had close to 100,000 users for the summer of 2015. He said that when it is completed in a few years, they anticipate it will become a destination trail with one quarter of a million riders annually. Currently the Friends are raising money for a physical trail counter, which he said will be vital for future funding and maintenance of the rail trail. To promote Bay State Bike Week locally, here is a list of Westfield and Southwick events throughout the week: Saturday, May 14, 8-10 a.m. Bike-In Coffee Break at The Press Room The kick-off event for Westfield’s Bike Week will be held on Saturday, May 14, 8 to 10 a.m. at The Press Room on 62 School Street. Pedal in to The Press Room for complimentary coffee and pastries. Members of the Friends of the Columbia Greenway Board will be on hand with information about trail activities and survey forms for input from the public. Riders who use the trail are invited to bring their comments and suggestions. Friends Board member, Alice Flyte, the Baystate Bike Week coordinator for Westfield and Southwick will be on hand and asking for input to give to the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. Sunday, May 15, 1 p.m. Family Trek on the Trail Bicyclists should meet at the Rail trail head at Stop and Shop on Main Street in Westfield for a Family Trek on the
BOKS Program gets kids moving before school By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD — Michelle Urbanski was ecstatic when she heard that BOKS was being proposed as an initiative for the Westfield Public Schools. BOKS (Build Our Kids’ Success) is a free before school physical activity program aimed to get children moving in the morning and their brains ready for a day of learning, funded by the Reebok Foundation. The worldwide program currently has 1,600 schools enrolled. “When I heard it discussed three years ago, I wanted to become involved,” said Urbanski, prior to the 8 a.m. session on Wednesday at the Highland Elementary School. The Munger Hill Elementary School also hosts a BOKS program, according to Tina Macy, volunteer coordinator, Volunteers in the Public Schools of Westfield. Urbanski, a fitness instructor at the YMCA of Greater Westfield, is in her element as she methodically gets everyone settled down to listen to the agenda of the 45-minute session. Urbanski, who has a daughter in the program, is joined by several mothers who also volunteer their time to ensure that the lightning quick program remains on track. Mothers assisting Urbanski with BOKS include Amie Harlin, who has two children in the program, Karlie and Morgan; Jacque Kopaka also has two children in the program, Hunter and Aubrey, and Jodie Moore, who has three children, Abigail, Patrick, and Edward. Moms who also lend a helping hand are Melissa Johnson, who has two children, Noah and Davin; Melissa Kaleta, who has two children, Caleb and Olivia; Colleen Brenzel, who has a
See Bike Week, Page 3
Michelle Urbanski leads the BOKS program at Highland Elementary School. She is seen here demonstrating the importance of performing planks in one’s fitness routine. daughter, Abigail, and Melanie McNamara, who has two children, Cooper and Breanna. The program is currently wrapping up for the school year and Brenzel, Kopaka and McNamara will take over the responsibility of the program from Urbanski for the 2016-2017 school year. Free training for the women was provided in February by BOKS which is based in Canton. For Moore, she enjoys the camaraderie with her peers and seeing her children flourish physically. See BOKS, Page 8 The Press Room is located at 62 School Street.