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WEATHER TONIGHT Scattered t-storms. Low of 60.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2015
VOL. 84 NO. 227
“Hope, like faith,
is nothing if it is not courageous; it is nothing if it is not ridiculous.” — THORNTON WILDER
75 cents
Sex offender to stay in jail while raising money for private attorney By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Registered Sex Offender Jesse J. Caisse, Sr. will remain behind bars while his wife attempts to raise funds to hire a private attorney. Caisse, 44, of Westfield, has been in the Hampden County House of Correction since his July 18 arrest when he was charged with indecent assault and battery of a person age 14 or over and witness intimidation. Maria Barroso, the defendant’s court-appointed attorney, asked Judge Philip A. Contant in Westfield District Court Friday for a continuance while Caisse tries to raise money to hire private counsel. Barroso asked for a new date of October 9 for pretrial, but Caisse JESSE J. CAISSE, SR. indicated he needed more time. Caisse waived Rule 36, his right to a “speedy trial,” and was given a pretrail date of October 30. He will continue to remain incarcerated. His wife, Cassondra Caisse, who was in the courtroom Friday with her mother, has started a gofundme page, stating: “I am a new homeowner. I am having my first baby and need to raise the money for a lawyer for my husband. This lawyer will help him out a lot and help to prove he is innocent. I need $5000 to lock him in as his lawyer. I need him home to be here for his baby.” So far, in the first eight days of the campaign zero dollars of $5,000 have been raised. A search warrant was served on the couple’s Holyoke Road address the afternoon of July 18 after a 14-year-old female went to the Westfield Police Department the day before to report she had been sexually assaulted on July 17, according to court records. The defendant had invited the victim, who is apparently a family friend, to his house on July 16 for a sleepover with his See In Jail, Page 5
Accused thief has case moved to Superior Court By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The man accused of breaking into a city gas station has been indicted in Hampden County Superior Court. Jonathan P. Hall is facing charges of felony breaking and entering at nighttime, larceny from a building and defacement/vandalizing property in connection with a July 9 breakin of the Westfield Mobil Gas Station, located at 162 Southampton Road. Hall’s court-appointed attorney, Kathleen Cavanaugh, asked Judge Philip A. Contant in Westfield District Court Friday to waive her client’s appearance for his pretrial hearing because he is due to be arraigned in Superior Court on See Court, Page 5
JONATHAN P. HALL
Members of the Southwick Fire Department listen as Chief Richard Anderson recalls the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001. See Sons of Erin 9/11 ceremony photos Page 5. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay)
Southwick remembers 9/11 By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – Residents and officials of the Town of Southwick gathered Friday morning at the Southwick Fire Department to mark the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Fire Chief Richard Anderson recalled the tragic event where thousands of people lost their lives in the terrorist attack that changed America. “There was a difficult pause on that September morning when a question seemed to hang in the air: How do we respond to a moment such as this? Can we respond to a moment such as this?” said Anderson. Anderson said in the 14 years since that day, 9/11 has become more than an attack. He said it showed the world what Americans are made of. “It has come to represent our response to the unthinkable acts of humanity at its
worst,” he said, “because right there, through the tears, through the debris, through the smoke, we witnessed humanity at its best.” Firefighters, police officers, EMTs and other first responders ran into the chaos that morning to save people. “9/11 remembers the tragedy and loss, but it also represents how we didn’t turn away, how we, as first responders, went forward into the flames,” Anderson said. Lives have been forever changed, he said. How we live has changed. “The events of 9/11 changed many parts of our lives over the last 14 years,” he said. “It changed how we travel. It changed the way we see our allies and enemies. But one thing that 9/11 hasn’t changed is the way we respond, the way we do our jobs as firefighters and first responders. “It has not changed or taken away our determination and courage. 9/11 has not
Huntington Fire 9/11 Tribute Friday, Huntington Fire Department honored those that gave all, and remember those that were lost. HFD sounded off their air siren twice at the times when each tower fell, followed by a moment of silence and salute. Pictured are Lieutenant firefighter John McVeigh (left) Chief Gary Dahill (right) Hilltown Ambulance: (not pictured outside of vehicle) Paramedic/firefighter Jeff Parr, EMT Chris Lucas. (Photos courtesy John McVeigh)
taken away our call – the call to serve in a way that demands we run toward danger for the sake of our neighbors.” Anderson said every time firefighters hear a tone, or police respond to a call, they honor those lives that fell victim to terrorists on Sept. 11, 2001 and those who responded to that tragedy as well as the Washington State wild fire, the Worcester Cold Storage fire, and every emergency. Firefighter Steve Pinette had the honor of striking the four fives, which is the striking of a bell, to remember fallen comrades. Southwick Fire Chaplain Taylor Allbright offered a prayer and said he was thankful for that moment. ‘Thank you for setting apart these brief moments to remember the events of Sept. 11,” he said. “It’s all too easy to forget even the recent past.”