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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 19
“It’s not what you are, it’s what you don’t become that hurts.” — OSCAR LEVANT
SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2016
75 cents
BAYSTATE NOBLE
Hundreds notified of possible infection
ELM ST. URBAN RENEWAL 2016
City council gets primer on Elm Street Urban Renewal Plan WESTFIELD – City Advancement Officer Joe Mitchell provided a primer on the Elm Street Urban Renewal Plan. Mitchell appeared before the City Council’s January 21 regular session. The council approved the plan in June 2013, followed by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development. Mitchell said only three current councilors approved the plan. He wanted to familiarize the body’s newest members. In the November 2013 municipal elections, he said a number of candidates ran on a “what are we doing in Downtown” agenda. The plan is spearheaded by the Westfield Development Authority. ? He said the former Newberry’s Department Store suffered a fire in 1986. The block, he said, became “blighted and decadent,” which “pulls down the rest of the neighborhood.” Nearby properties went into a
decline. The Block Building on the corner of Elm and Arnold Streets was acquired in tax title by the City of Westfield. Mitchell said the city has studied the issue of blight for over a decade. Several consultants, the business community, economists and the public provided input on the plan. “The WRA is uniquely suited to execute this plan,” said Mitchell. The WRA can acquire properties through eminent domain and rehabilitate the parcels for commercial purposes. Future developers, he said, can choose properties based on “form and fit” instead of price. He spoke of a “Commercial Renaissance” on Elm Street and adjacent streets. One proposal calls for a mix-use, four-story building upwards of 100,000 square feet. The first floor would entail retailers and restaurants with the remaining floors reserved for commercial use. “What we want to do in our
Downtown is create density,” said Mitchell. “We want people to be there so they can walk the streets and frequent our businesses.” He proposed a Smart Parking or 300-500 car garage that reduces the “parking crunch.” If implemented, the plan would inspire nearby property owners to make improvements. The proposed building would match the historic feel of Elm Street, similar to Throne’s Market in Northampton. Mitchell added he frequently fields calls from developers on locating a restaurant in the Downtown. Unfortunately, the current building stock requires a “significant investment,” he said. He cited Easthampton, Cambridge and Burlington, Vermont as communities that have undergone remarkable transformations. Mitchell envisions a modern transit pavilion that See Renewal, Page 8
Fundraiser planned for Team Justice By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – The community is rallying to help Team Justice following the theft of three motorcycles this week. A Team Justice Fundraiser is set for Jan. 30 from 6 p.m. to midnight at Roma Restaurant, with pizza, music, and raffles. Team Justice President Kevin Bishop, a lieutenant with the Southwick Police Department, reported the bikes missing from his own garage Monday. “We’re devastated,” said Bishop. “The kids are in shock.” Team Justice is a motocross racing team founded by Bishop in 2004 to help at-risk youth. The team currently consists of riders age nine to 18, and adult mentors, who were once riders themselves. The larceny could mean the end to Team Justice’s 2016 racing season before it begins because Bishop said the team, which is mainly funded by donations, does not even have enough money to replace one bike, let alone three valued at $22,000 total. To help rebuild, Bishop’s daughter Jessica Bishop, a member of the Southwick Fire Department, is organizing the Team Justice fundraiser, not just for her father, but for the team. “These kids are always helping
Team Justice MX Racing will benefit from a fundraiser at Roma Restaurant Jan. 30. Three team motorcycles were stolen this week, jeopardizing the 2016 race season. others,” she said. “They’re behind the scenes working at other fundraisers.” Bishop said Team Justice is about more than motocross. He teaches the youth about giving back and staying on a good path. Riders must strive to achieve good grades, stay alcohol and drug free, and do the best always. Jessica Bishop wants to help keep the team going, especially for one team member in particular. “Austin is 18 and this is his last year,” she said. “He started racing when he was only five – I want him to have his last year.” Jessica Bishop said the town and motocross community have really come together. In two day, she received donations of Red Sox opening week tickets, other sporting event tickets, gift certificates, and more to raffle. Keith
Johnson, Southwick Motocross 338 promoter, donated four VIP tickets worth $200 each for the Nationals race, which makes its return to Southwick this year. He also donated tickets for all open practices and admission to his motocross school. “I don’t like to ask for things, but this is important and so far, no one has said no,” said Jessica Bishop. “I think businesses here know Team Justice and how much good they do.” Bishop said he was overwhelmed by the support from Southwick residents and the motocross community. “From what I have heard and seen I am amazed at the community support of the people that have come forward to make cash donations or have give gift prizes for the raffle for the kids,” he said. The chance of recovering the stolen bikes is slim, however, Bishop said if they are found, the funds raised at the Jan. 30 event will not go to waste. “if the bikes are found or there is any surplus on funds raised, all money will still be going into the Team Justice fund to help other kids through out the season,” he See Team Justice, Page 8
By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Baystate Noble Hospital is assuring the community that patient safety is top priority after announcing some colonoscopy patients could be at risk for Hepatitis B, C, and HIV. Patients who had a colonoscopy between June 2012 and April 2013 were sent letters via FedEx this week alerting them of the risk. The letter states “there was an error in the cleaning of the equipment used in your test.” Medical Director Dr. Stanley Strzempko said the error was corrected in April 2013 and the hospital was informed of the possible risks last month from the Department of Public Health (DPH). “The DPH came in and asked us to review the patients seen with the then-new colonoscope,” said Strzempko. “That look back allowed us to see that we got up to speed in 2013.” The colonoscopes were purchased in June 2012 and staff were unaware that an adapter was needed to ensure proper disinfecting until April 2013, which is why only patients during this period are at risk and being notified. Due to a failure in training, the disinfection of those endoscopes between procedures did not adequately expose the devices’ single water irrigation channel to high-level disinfection during the last phase of cleaning. This is similar to other, more recent problems with sterilization encountered across the country with endoscopes used for other procedures. Strzempko said 293 patients were identified for slight risk. He said at that time the equipment was overseen by leadership no longer in place, and the hospital leadership today is taking its responsibility to patients seriously. “I’m confident there was no harm here,” said Strzempko. “We have learned from this to make a great hospital even stronger.” Baystate Noble President Ronald Bryant apologized to patients. “On behalf of Baystate Noble Hospital and Baystate Health, I apologize to all those affected by this failure in safety,” said Bryant. “The safety of our patients is our very highest priority, and we take full responsibility for our part in allowing these patients to have potentially received unsafe care.”. In April 2013 Noble received new equipment and training that enabled it to appropriately disinfect the endoscopes involved. At the time, the hospital team did not recognize the potential risk of harm to patients who had colonoscopies between June 2012 and April 2013. The issue was then considered closed. Strzempko said the hospital will track all of the notified patients who come in for testing and will reach out again to those who do not respond to the letter. See Patient Safety, Page 8
JANUARY 2016 BAYSTATE NOBLE LETTER