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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
“Nothing you can’t spell will ever work.” — WILL ROGERS
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 231
75 cents
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016
Auxiliary police provide protection and savings for residents By DAN DESROCHERS Corresponding WESTFIELD—For officers in the Westfield Auxiliary Police Department, the only compensation they receive is pride in serving their community—but that’s all many of them want. The Westfield Auxiliary Police, a 30-personnel group that serves under the Westfield Police Department, is an all-volunteer department for the city of Westfield. Their existence and hundreds of hours worked each year save the department tens of thousands of dollars a year and provides the city with an additional layer of service and protection that may not be available during busier times. “We provide a high level of service for the citizens of Westfield and it isn’t possible without them,” Westfield Police Chief John Camerota said. The auxiliary police, who Camerota said have the full spectrum of police powers when
called to duty, help the city by providing volunteer policing for events, traffic details and even patrol. “Concerts, road races, any large scale function, the Westfield Fair, Westfield Taste—the fireworks is probably our biggest event of the year” director of the auxiliary police, Robert Sorel, said. “We do everything from crowd control to traffic to maintaining intersections,” he said. “And we augment patrol Thursday through Sunday.” Camerota said “from July to present, if we use the lowest patrol rate, they saved us just under $40,000.” For comparison, that would be enough to fund a new police patrolman, based on salaries from the online database. Sorel reported that the officers log an average of 3,000 hours a year, and have worked a total of 2,200 hours so far in 2017.
Each auxiliary officer is mandated to provide at least 100 hours of service a year, which Sorel said many exceed. He said that some officers manage to volunteer for as many as 400 hours a year, which breaks down to almost eight hours a week—and this is in addition to their full-time jobs and time devoted to families or other activities. Sorel said that these auxiliary officers are not compensated monetarily, except for in a few instances, but his officers generally do not take it. “We get the road details after regular officers and then retirees, but less than half of our officers take advantage of that,” he said. Road details are assignments such as traffic control around construction zones, and are compensated at the standard rate that full-time officers are paid at. See Auxiliary Police, Page 5
Robert Sorel, director of the city’s auxiliary police force, accepts a $500 contribution from Mark Boardman, chair of the Westfield Rotary club’s fireworks committee, in appreciation of the assistance provided by auxiliary officers at the Independence Day fireworks display in the city. Looking on is Auxiliary Lt. Don Humason Sr. (Photo courtesy The Rotary Club of Westfield)
Ongoing drought put into perspective
Whip City Witches enjoy rehearsing on the Westfield Green.
Whip City Witches are Broom Bound across city By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD-If you have done a double take while driving around the Westfield Green of late, your eyes have not deceived you – witches are rehearsing for upcoming events throughout the city in the coming weeks. The Whip City Witches, founded recently by Lori McElhiney aka Adareya, Ginnie Bassi, aka Storm, and Cindy Pendleton, aka Blaze, are eager to showcase their choreography. Members also include Mary Beth Berrien, aka Sage, Betz Magni, aka Risa, Lisa Huntoon, aka Raven, Karen Schomer, aka Cinder, Stephanie Haskins, aka Yzma, and Endura, who prefers to remain anonymous behind the mask. “A women’s social group was formed about four years ago,” said McElhiney. “We get together a few times a year for dinner or an event, and the members of Whip City Witches also are members of the group.”
Earlier this year, McElhiney had seen a Facebook video of a German group performing a dance to the song “Schuttel dein speck” by Peter Fox and posted the video to her page. After Bassi saw the performance, she was “enchanted” and encouraged McElhiney to find a way for the women to perform it in the area. “I didn’t take her seriously initially but after she memorized the dance and Cindy also got on the band wagon, I grabbed the music and modified the dance,” said McElhiney, noting that as a former professional belly dancer, she knew the group could not copy the dance. Once the routine was created and mastered, McElhiney created a Facebook page called Witches of Walpurgis which consisted of Bassi, Pendleton and herself, and sent out a message that a dance group was forming to see if there was any interest. See Witches, Page 3
Westfield Financial, Inc. and Chicopee Bancorp, Inc. Shareholders Approve Merger Transaction
Contractors go on site visit at Whalley Park for lighting project
WESTFIELD (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Westfield Financial, Inc. (NasdaqGS: WFD), the holding company for Westfield Bank, and Chicopee Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBNK), the holding company for Chicopee Savings Bank, today jointly announced that the shareholders of Chicopee, at its special meeting held on September 28, 2016, and the shareholders of Westfield, at its annual meeting held on September 29, 2016, approved the previously announced merger transaction whereby Chicopee will merge with and into Westfield. Closing of the transaction remains subject to receipt of approval from the Massachusetts Board of Bank Incorporation.
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – There was a site walk that occurred at Whalley Park on Wednesday afternoon involving the lighting project in the park. Kevin Sacco Electric, Collins Electric, Amp Electrical Inc., JL Construction Corp, Mountain View Landscape, and Elm Electrical Inc. were the contractors that showed up and were interested in bidding for the project. John Goddard of R. Levesque Associates, was present to guide contractors through the bidding process. Mike Mahoney of Musco Lighting was also at the site visit to help give details and insight on foundation, installation, and controls. “It makes everybody aware of what’s going on,” said Karl See Whalley Park, Page 3
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent WESTFIELD – The drought continues to be a growing problem for several parts of Western Mass. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s latest report on Sept. 29, parts of Western Mass. are in an extreme drought. Brian Lapis, a meteorologist for our media partner WWLP, has been closely following the drought in the recent weeks. As Lapis says, this is the first time in decades the Western Mass. area has had this critical of a drought. “We have to go back to the early 80’s for a significant drought like this,” said Lapis. Although the drought is still considered a concern, the three month outlook of Oct., Nov., Nate Sperry, a horticul- and Dec., is showing that there is an above ture supervisor at chance for rain. Westfield Technical “At least we’re not looking very dry,” said Academy, has seen the Lapis. affects of the drought with Despite the rain that is in the forecast for the new plants being planted. coming days, a news release from the University (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick) of Massachusetts on Sept. 20 puts the true meaning of a drought in perspective. In the news release, University of Mass. hydrologist David Boutt, discussed how a drought doesn’t just drop off. “Droughts are multi-year events; they take some years to develop. And like the others, this one will be felt for longer than one season,” said Boutt. See Drought, Page 3
Brown eeceives Elite Award for ‘Selfless Dedication’ By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD — Kellie Brown, director of operations at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield, was the center of attention Wednesday night as she received an elite award. During festivities which included an open house that marked the club’s 25th anniversary, Brown accepted a $20,000 financial grant for receiving a 2016 Maytag Dependable Leader Award. The funds will be used to award scholarships to deserving club members so they can advance their talents and thrive in their passions. The scholarships cover a variety of special areas including the arts, leadership skills, and education enhancement. Jose Roman, program director, had nominated Brown for the prestigious award. Brown is one of 12 winners nationwide to receive this year’s distinction which recognizes Boys & Girls Club officials who are committed to making a difference as dependable and exceptional role models. Roman had noted that for more than a decade, Brown has been the “heart and soul” of the club, and each year during the holiday season in particular, she helps organize multiple “joyous events” for club members to ensure they receive food and gifts. Roman added that Brown had also coordinated a Secret Santa delivery one year for which donors purchased gifts for kids who otherwise might not have received one. Brown and the donors delivered each gift directly to the child’s door. “Kellie is a dynamic, selfless leader at our club,” said Roman. “Every day she tirelessly dedicates time to helping our staff and our members with what they need to feel motivated to reach their full potential. No matter what, Kellie finds a way to brighten people’s lives.” During the course of the evening, staff shared fond memories of how See Awards, Page 3
Kellie Brown, center, shares the Maytag Dependable Leader Award with her staff members.