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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 84 NO. 281
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2015
“The world cares very little what you or I know, but it does care a great deal about what you or I do.” — BOOKER T. WASHINGTON
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Deadly terrorist attacks strike Paris By LORI HINNANT and GREG KELLER Associated Press PARIS (AP) — A series of attacks targeting young concert-goers, soccer fans and Parisians enjoying a Friday night out at popular nightspots killed over 150 people in the deadliest violence to strike France since World War II. President Francois Hollande condemned it as terrorism and pledged that France would stand firm against its foes. The worst carnage was at a concert hall hosting an American rock band, where scores of people were
held hostage and attackers ended the standoff by detonating explosive belts. Police who stormed the building encountered a bloody scene of horror inside. When the attacks were over, eight attackers were dead — seven of them in suicide explosions, one killed by security forces in the music venue, Paris prosecutor's spokeswoman Agnes ThibaultLecuivre told The Associated Press. She could not exclude the possibility that some attackers might still be at large. Authorities are searching for possible accomplices.
Logistics Readiness supports 104th deployment By MAJOR MARY HARRINGTON Chief, Public Affairs 104th Fighter Wing Barnes Air National Guard Base WESTFILD – The 104th Fighter Wing at Barnes Air National Guard Base has deployed for two weeks to Nellis AFB in Nevada, in support of the USAF Weapons School. This is one of three deployments for the 104th Fighter Wing in fiscal year 2016, each deployment growing in size throughout the year. The next deployment is in support of “Red Flag,” a highintensity air-to-air combat training exercise, also at Nellis AFB; and a deployment to Europe. The final challenge for the 104th in FY16 is an airshow, planned in the August/September time frame. “We plan our deployments for each fiscal year to ensure we are maximizing the required training for our people and fulfilling the priorities of our major commands and the combatant commander” said Col. Pete Green, Vice Wing Commander. “We are an expeditionary Wing and our job is to mobilize and deploy when called upon, so these training deployments multiple times each year allow us to adapt to unique changes each time including the mission, location, updates to systems and processes, staff in new positions, and similar variations that make each and every deployment different.” An Air National Guard deployment is very similar to an active duty or Reserve deployment; the logistical processes are primarily the same, although there are small differences including the need to leverage support from active and Reserve resources, more limited air transportation support, and the need for Air Guard members to wear multiple hats to get the job done. “We end up being very broad in our experience, because it still has to get done,” said Maj. Wendy Kiepke, a Plans and Integration Logistics Readiness Officer. “It also maximizes resources and our investment.” The process of deploying a group of aircraft, equipment and people starts with planning See Logistics, Page 5
The 104th Fighter Wing Logistics Readiness Squadron shipped about 40 tons of equipment in support of the Weapons School at Nellis AFB. (US ANG photo by Maj. Mary Harrington)
The death toll was at least 150 people at six sites, including the national stadium and a circle of popular nightspots, ThibaultLecuivre said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks. Jihadists on Twitter immediately praised them and criticized France's military operations against Islamic State extremists. Witnesses in the concert hall described hearing attackers say "Allahu Akbar." Hollande declared a state of
Medical staff stand by victims in a Paris restaurant, Friday, Nov. 13, 2015. (AP Photo/ Thibault Camus)
See Paris Attacks, Page 4
BEVERIDGE FAMILY CHALLENGE GRANT
Carol Martin stands in front of her company located at 360 Elm Street in Westfield. (WNG File photo)
Museum seeks community support in grant challenge By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Westfield Museum Inc., located at 360 Elm St., was recently awarded a $15,000 matching grant by the Beveridge Family Foundation, to help establish a living museum of the city’s industrial past. The Beveridge Family Challenge Grant will match dollar for dollar money raised by the Westfield Museum Inc. which is located in the last whip factory in the city and which continues to manufacture whips with equipment dating to the late 1800s when Westfield was the whip manufacturing capital of the world. The museum concept was initiated to create a living museum at 360 Elm St. by Carol Martin, who owns the Westfield Whip Manufacturing Company. WHIPP, Inc. merged with Westfield Museum Inc., a group formed to
showcase the city’s industrial history, thus expanding the scope of the original living museum concept to include a display area that will be used for other aspects of the city’s industrial past. The merger of the two 501-C3 organizations was effective as of July 1, 2012. The WMI Board of Directors has established a goal of raising $15,000, with community support from individuals, businesses and other organizations, prior to Dec. 15, 2015 Judge Peter Velis, president of WMI, said this morning that goal of the museum is to give city residents a venue displaying the city’s industrial past. “I’m hoping that Westfield residents see the vision of Westfield which has been a breeding ground for innovation,” Velis said. “I’m so grateful that an institution See Museum, Page 5
Indian Motorcycle dealership seeks to expand By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Dennis Bolduc of DNKB, LLC is seeking to expand his Indian Motorcycle dealership to a second location of Southampton Road. The City Council conducted a public hearing last week on Bolduc’ special permit application and referred the application to the License Committee and the Zoning, Planning and Development Committee. Bolduc currently operated his Indian MC sales and service business at 962 Southampton Road, but is seeking to establish a second location at 1120 Southampton Road, a former antique car repair and sales dealership. “Business has been good for us,” Bolduc said. “We’re trying to expand to sell more motorcycles and parts out of there (1120 Southampton Road). We’re the number three Indian Motorcycle dealership on the whole east coast.” Bolduc said has has a five year business plan to make his Indian dealership a destination regionally, nationally and even internationally. “Indian Motorcycle has a very deep tradition in western Massachusetts because of its birthplace in Springfield,” Bolduc said. “We plan to have a museum and restaurant. “We have a collection of antique motorcycles to be displayed in the museum – we’re looking to make this a tourist location,” Bolduc said. “We attract people from all over the United States, the world.” The former antique car sales and service business, which had a Class 2 Auto Agent license to sell used vehicle, has been out of business for more than a year, which requires Bolduc to secure a special permit from the City Council and then a Class 1 auto agent license is required from the city’s license commission. The 1120 Southampton Road property is located in the Water Resource Protection District which was adopted several months ago to protect the city aquifer water resource. The Barnes Aquifer provides drinking water for Westfield, Holyoke, Southampton and Easthampton. The City Council approved the Water Resource Protection District zoning ordinance on March 18 of this year. The intent and purposes of the Water Resource Protection District are: to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the community; to protect, preserve and maintain the public water supply and the lands that contribute to it; to conserve the natural water MARY resources within the City; and to O’CONNELL prevent the pollution of the public water supply of the City and surrounding areas. Ward 4 Councilor Mary O’Connell said she is concerned about what materials will be used or stored at the site as part of the dealership’s day-to-day business operations. The City Council has three sessions remaining in the current calendar year with the current slate of council members. If a decision is not made by the end of December, a new public hearing may be required because of the upcoming changes in the council membership. New members of the City Council would be prohibited from voting on the special permit because they were not in office when the hearing was held last week.