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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 84 NO. 150
MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2015
The times are not so bad as they seem; they couldn’t be.” — JOHN FRANKLIN CARTER
75 cents
Chicopee man dead in North Road accident State Senator Don Humason brings out flag-wavers on Flag Day. See additional photos Page 3. (Photo by Don Wielgus)
Flag Day observed
By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A 21-year-old Chicopee resident died Sunday night after his vehicle glanced off another vehicle and then struck a tree on the north shoulder of North Road (Route 202). Westfield Police identified the victim of the 8:48 p.m. accident as Emmanuel Almonte. Two passengers in Almonte’s vehicle were transported to area hospitals. The 8:48 p.m. accident is being investigated by the Westfield Police Department Traffic Bureau and the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Team. Westfield Police report that Almonte was traveling eastbound behind the vehicle of several friends, retuning from a gathering in Huntington, when the line of vehicle slowed because the front vehicle was attempting to make a left turn onto Jaeger Drive. Almonte was attempting to pass the line of traffic when his vehicle struck the vehicle turning onto Jaeger Drive. Almonte’s vehicle ricocheted off the turning vehicle and slammed into a tree, causing significant damage to Almonte’s vehicle. Westfield Police Captain Michael McCabe said that investigators have determined “that speed was a factor in the accident.” The accident remains under investigation. McCabe said that additional information will be released as it becomes available.
Map show corner of Jaeger Drive and North Road (Route 202). (Source Google.com/maps)
Pastor Christopher Hazzard from St. John's Lutheran Church standing with family and friends. (Photo by Don Wielgus)
Pless represents Gateway at MassSTAR HUNTINGTON – Anna Pless, a sophomore at Gateway Regional High School, missed her prom to attend the 2015 MassSTAR (Massachusetts STudents Accepting Responsibility) Citizenship Conference held at Lasell College the weekend of May 29. “It was uncomfortable at first not knowing anybody in my group,” Pless admitted. “By dinner, we were all close friends.” The MassSTAR Conference is an intensive three-day event, which gives student delegates the chance to partner with leaders across many fields such as business, politics, science and the arts, as they mutually explore the true meaning of themes including Responsibility, Respect, Intentionality, Initiative and Collaboration. MYL Foundation invites one sophomore from every Massachusetts-accredited high school to participate in the conference; students are selected by their schools based on each school’s own criteria. Over the course of the conference, Pless worked as part of a team on leadership exercises, explored stereotyping, and completed a service project for the organization, “Birthday Photo (left to right) are Gateway sophomore Anna Pless, delegate to Wishes.” She said she was inspired by the MassSTAR with last year’s delegate Brennan Foley. Their pose See MassSTAR, Page 3 reflects an “O” for “Outstanding”
Gateway open to school choice HUNTINGTON — The Gateway Regional School Committee recently voted to remain open for school choice during the 2015-16 school year. The Gateway district consists of 5 schools: Chester and Littleville Elementary Schools, and a regional middle school (Grades 5-6), junior high school (7-8) and senior high school (9-12). Education is focused on the whole child and is provided in state-of-the-art facilities by highly qualified teachers and staff. Gateway has a focus on high student achievement, with double the state average in perfect MCAS scores. The high school offers standard, advanced, AP, Honors and dual-enrollment courses. It also has a vocational welding program. All schools have wireless Internet access and integrate a range of educational technology into the education of stu-
dents. On-line courses are available at no charge. Each student in grades 3-7 is issued a Chromebook. The technology department supports a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) model, as well. Gateway’s school safety plan is a model in the state of Massachusetts. The Hilltown Community Health Centers operate a School-Based Health Center (for primary health care, sports physicals, acute care, behavioral health, nutrition counseling, and more) and a comprehensive dental health program, “Gator Grins” (x-rays, fillings, cleanings, sealants, etc.) at school. Gateway maintains a focus on the whole child and offers music, art and physical education in all schools. M.I.A.A. athletic teams are offered to students in grades 7-12. Before See Gateway, Page 3