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WEATHER TONIGHT
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
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— JOHN KENNETH GALBRAITH
SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2015
VOL. 84 NO. 123
“The enemy of the conventional wisdom is not ideas but the march of events.”
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BOSTON MARATHON BOMBER SENTENCED
Jury orders death By DENISE LAVOIE AP Legal Affairs Writer BOSTON (AP) — After slouching through his trial for months with a bored look on his face, the defendant was ordered to rise. For close to half an hour, Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was on his feet, fidgeting as he listened to the reading of a 24-page worksheet in which a jury dismantled, piece by piece, any hope he had of mercy. By page 21, his fate was clear: death by injection. In the nation's most closely watched terrorism trial since the Oklahoma City bombing, the 21-year-old Tsarnaev was sentenced to death Friday by
a federal jury that swept aside arguments he was just a "kid" who fell under the influence of his fanatical older brother. The decision — which came just over two years after the April 15, 2013, bombing that killed three people and wounded more than 260 — brought relief and grim satisfaction to many in Boston. "We can breathe again," said Karen Brassard, who suffered shrapnel wounds on her legs. The death sentence sets the stage for what could be the nation's first execution of a terrorist in the post-9/11 era, though the case is likely to go through years of appeals. In the meantime, Tsarnaev will probably be sent to death
Teachers recognized By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD-Seven teachers in the Westfield Public Schools were recently feted by the Harold Grinspoon Foundation for their excellence in teaching practices. The Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House in Holyoke was the backdrop for the annual Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards Program which brought together 39 teachers representing Hampden County “West” who were honored as “outstanding for their tremendous commitment and impact on children in their schools,” according to Mary Anne Herron, program director. Local teachers acknowledged at the May 7 event were Krista Comee, kindergarten teacher, Franklin Avenue Elementary School; Kevin Grimsley, Grades 9-12, vocational education teacher, Westfield Vocational Technical High School; Joanne Hewins, Grade 3 teacher, Southampton Road Elementary School; Pauline McClaflin, math teacher, Westfield Vocational; Thomas O’Neil, Grade 9 U.S. History and Grade 10 AP U.S. History, Westfield High School; Hava Preye, school library teacher, North Middle School, and Christy Roselli, Grade 3 teacher, Munger Hill Elementary School. The awards program has grown from 16 school communities and 96 honored teachers in 2002-2003, to 34 school communities and 142 honored teachers this spring. Each year the educators are recognized in three banquet celebrations. The first celebration honored teachers in Hampshire-Franklin counties on April 29, the second celebration for Hampden County “West” teachers was conducted May 7, and the third celebration took place May 14 for Hampden County “East” teachers. Nominees must be certified by the State of Massachusetts and demonstrate professionalism through excellence in teaching practices, as well as his/her own professional development, and good attendance on the job. The foundation allows each school com See Teachers, Page 7
In this courtroom sketch, Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, center, stands with his defense attorneys as a death by lethal injection sentence is read at the Moakley Federal court house in the penalty phase of his trial in Boston, Friday, May 15, 2015. The federal jury ruled that the 21-year-old Tsarnaev should be sentenced to death for his role in the deadly 2013 attack. (Jane Flavell Collins via AP)
row at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, where Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh was put to death in 2001. A somber-looking Tsarnaev stood with his hands folded, his head slightly bowed, as he learned his fate, sealed after 14 hours of deliberations over three days. His lawyers left court without comment. His father, Anzor Tsarnaev, reached by phone in the Russian region of Dagestan, let out a deep moan upon hearing the news and hung up. The 12-member federal jury had to be unanimous for Tsarnaev to get the death penalty. Otherwise, the former college student would have
WESTFIELD AVIATION MUSEUM
automatically received life in prison with no chance of parole. In weighing the arguments for and against death, the jurors decided among other things that Tsarnaev showed a lack of remorse. And they emphatically rejected the defense's central argument — that he was led down the path to terrorism by his big brother. "Today the jury has spoken. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev will pay See Tsarnev, Page 8
New fire captain chosen
on Wednesday, June 10 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at East Mountain Country Club. State Rep. John Velis will emcee the event, which will include a cocktail hour, music by Patrick Kennedy and members of the Westfield High School band, and a chicken buffet. There will also be numerous silent and live auction items, including three airplane rides donated by three different members of the museum’s board, as well as automobile and sports memorabilia. Invitations have been mailed out, but any member of the public who would like to attend may contact Rich Rubin at 413-4545896 or rarubin.44@comcast.net by June 5. Plans for the museum don’t stop with the first building, however. Eventually, they would like to have three display hangars as well as a replica WWII-era control tower, which will house meeting space and a gift shop. There is ample space at Barnes Airport, a 1,200 acre city-owned airport.
By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Fire Commission met in special session for 10 minutes Thursday afternoon to vote on its appointment of a fire captain who will serve as the department’s training officer. The special meeting was called to appoint a training captain after the two candidates, firefighters Christopher Kane and Keith Supinski, were interviewed Monday. The special meeting required a 48-hour posting to comply with the state’s open meeting laws, so Thursday was the earliest time it could be conducted. The commissioners chose not to make an appointment Monday night and wanted to discuss the appointment process with the city’s Human Resources and Law departments before make a decision. Initially there was some debate over the process of making a motion for one or the other candidates. Commissioner Carlo Bonavita eventually made a motion to appoint Keith Supinski, a paramedic and 14-year veteran of the department, as the training captain. Chairman Albert Masciadrelli asked for a second to that motion but Commissioner Patrick F. Olearcek remained silent. Masciadrelli then seconded the motion. Both Bonavita and Olearcek said the decision to select either Supinski or Christopher Kane, a six-year veteran of the department, was difficult because both were excellent candidates. Bonavita said that he nominated Supinski because he has “been with the department longer” and that combined with his paramedic experience made him a stronger option for the training post. “That’s not to say that Chris will not be appointed captain in the future,” Bonavita said. “We have two excellent candidates.”
See Aviation Museum, Page 7
See New Captain, Page 7
Harland Avezzie cranks up the engine of his 1942 PT 23A WWII trainer, one of the Westfield Aviation Museum’s display planes. Avezzie flies the airplane 60 hours a year and takes it to air shows, including the upcoming Westover Air Show this weekend. “There’s probably about ten of these flying in the country,” he said. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Museum launches capital campaign By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – Members of the Board of the Westfield Aviation Museum (formerly known as the Pioneer Valley Military & Travel Museum) located at Barnes Airport, have “grandiose plans,” according to president-elect Peter Howe, CEO of Thermal Dynamix in Westfield. “The object is to have a live museum, in which pieces actually work, and airplanes are operable,” Howe said, adding that very few air museums have access to a live runway. Plans include construction of the museum’s first good-sized display hangar by the end of June, which will enable them to open to the public for the first time. Howe said they already have the building permit, and have hired Morton Buildings in Westfield to do the construction. Now they have to raise the money. The museum is launching a $150,000 capital campaign with a kick-off fundraiser
TSARNAEV
Budget Confusion at Gateway School Committee By Amy Porter Correspondent The Gateway Regional School Committee began its meeting on Wednesday with public input, after introducing Tara Balboni as the new member from Russell following the town election. Tony van Werkhooven, member of the Finance Committee from Blandford, said despite public perception, he did not believe that the Gateway budget was passed at his annual town meeting. The Finance Committee offered a budget at the town meeting that contained an assessment for Blandford that was less than what was in the Gateway budget passed by the school committee.
Later in the meeting, Ruth Kennedy of Russell said that she went to the Middlefield, Blandford and Russell town meetings. Kennedy said that she has done some research, and according to state law, the budget in Blandford didn’t pass. She said people were confused because they thought the school committee had voted on new figures. “The school committee did not authorize that amount,” Kennedy said. Middlefield passed the budget, and Russell voted it down, according to Stacy Stewart, Secretary, following the meeting. David B. Hopson, Gateway superintendent, said, “Technically speaking, they (Blandford) did not pass the budget because they did not pass
the whole amount.” Hopson also said that if the district receives the $630,000 in mitigation funds for Worthington’s withdrawal, which the school committee had earlier voted to give back to the towns, and the new assessment for Blandford is less than what was voted on, the budget may still pass. “By law, if whatever amount the school asks for doesn’t pass, the budget doesn’t pass,” he said. Another question raised in the process involved whether four or five towns are required to pass the school budget this year. “We are still a seven-town district until July 1,” said Kennedy. Previously, five towns were needed to pass the Gateway budget.
Hopson said that Gateway has received Chapter 70 funding from the Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) based upon being a six-town district, and Worthington received Chapter 70 funding based on being a one-town district. Worthington will not be voting on the Gateway budget for next year. Therefore a (yes) vote from four out of six towns is needed to pass the school budget. Darlene McVeigh, Huntington finance committee member, expressed concern that the current district regional agreement states that five towns must vote in favor to pass the budget. McVeigh asked for legal clarification from the school committee.
Noreen Suriner, school committee member from Middlefield, asked if the question could be covered by the school’s attorney at the next meeting on May 27. “I was just curious if the fourtown vs. five-town question could be taken to the district attorney. This is a matter that’s beyond the towns. If the DESE is not supposed to be making decision and they are, then we should ask the district attorney,” said Jeff Wyand of Huntington. In other business, the school committee heard a presentation from Todd Bard about joining a solar project underway for net metering credits, which is located in Deerfield. See Gateway, Page 7