Search for The Westfield News
WEATHER TONIGHT Partly Cloudy. Low of 38.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com
the one we learn with and the life we live with after that.”
— BERNARD MALAMUD
75 cents
THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016
VOL. 85 NO. 101
“We have two lives...
Victim of deadly crash was being chased by police
Teenage bombers released
WESTFIELD (WWLP) – A 21 year-old Springfield resident was identified as the driver killed in a rollover crash in Westfield, early Tuesday morning. Westfield Police Sgt. Robert Saunders said that Rakeem Nelson was going around a turn on Union Street at around 12:30 a.m., when he flipped his car over and struck a tree. Nelson was the only person inside the car at the time of the crash. According to a news release from the Hampden County DA’s office, before the crash, Nelson was pulled over for speeding. When the officer tried to confirm his identity, Nelson took off, which lead to the police chase. The Massachusetts State Police are handling the investigation.
By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Two men were in court Tuesday after causing a chaotic scene Monday night when they put explosive devices out on Woodmont Street. Patrick J. Baker, 19, of 88 Woodmont St., was released on $1,000 personal surety after he was arraigned in Westfield District Court on four counts of secreting/throwing/launching/placing explosives and four counts of discharging/igniting/exploding explosives. Media partner, WWLP, reported that Sean Barrett, 18, was also arrested Monday night. A clerk from the Clerk’s Office said two defendants were arraigned on Tuesday, but she did not have the second defendant’s file available Wednesday afternoon. Westfield police were called to 88 Woodmont Street Monday evening after a resident found “a plastic bottle in front of her house that was foaming at the cap” with “silver pieces inside of it,” according to court records. Four bottles were found, one on the property of 83 Woodmont and three on the property of 88 Woodmont. Police notified the Massachusetts State Police bomb squad who deployed its robot that “rendered (the bottles) inert,” according to court records. One of the defendants told his mother that he had searched on YouTube how to make bombs and placed the bottles outside, court records state.
SATURDAY
Artists take center stage at Articulture WESTFIELD By LORI SZEPELAK Staff Writer WESTFIELD-With only days left before the city’s first Articulture WESTFIELD celebration, members from ArtWorks | Center City Westfield are putting the finishing touches on last-minute logistics. “This event will have something for everyone from every age group,” said Cheryl Crowe, creative director. “This event is for the local artists to display and showcase their talents to their community as well as the ability to sell and advertise their merchandise.” Articulture WESTFIELD is planned April 30 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Westfield Woman’s Club on Court Street. Westfield On Weekends is presenting the event in conjunction with ArtWorks | Center City Westfield. General admission is $5 and children under age 12 will be admitted free. Crowe noted that additional donations during the main stage performances will be welcomed. See Articulture, Page 3
Doug Cotton, owner of Whip City Music, donates a Palmer PE-Core electric guitar for this Saturday’s first Articulture WESTFIELD celebration. Bill Westerlind from Articulture WESTFIELD accepts the guitar from Cotton.
Gateway High School junior inductees for the National Honor Society at a ceremony on Wednesday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Gateway inducts juniors into National Honor Society in ceremony By AMY PORTER Staff Writer HUNTINGTON – Gateway Regional High School held its fifty-second National Honor Society Induction Ceremony Wednesday in the Performing Arts Center at the school. Twelve junior class leaders who met the NHS requirements based on leadership, scholarship, service and character became fullfledged members. The junior inductees were Madisen Bang, Dayna Britland, Nicholas Cooper, Rachel LeBarron, Miranda Piangerelli, Anna Pless, Camryn Rock, Franky Tangredi, Diana Tereshchuk, Eduard Usatyy, Nazar Vasilchenko and Emily Warren. During the ceremony, several members of the senior class lit a candle representing dif-
ferent facets of the society, congratulated the junior inductees and spoke about their experiences. Speaking of service, senior Montana Paradis noted that the junior class had already done many hours of community service to become inductees. She spoke about “the warm glow that swells in your heart when you help people in need.” Senior Jenna Margarites introduced the juniors one by one as they lit their candles from the candelabra, and recited the NHS Pledge. The juniors then received their stoles and pins. Eighteen NHS seniors will be graduating in See NHS, Page 8
Gateway School Committee tackles town assessments and kindergarten entrance age By AMY PORTER Staff Writer HUNTINGTON – The Gateway Regional School Committee met last evening to revisit the FY17 budget that passed on March 9, which contained a 2.11% increase in assessments to the towns of $189,671, despite an overall reduction of more than $400,000 from last year’s budget. After the budget initially failed to pass at the March meeting, Gateway Business Manager Stephanie Fisk had suggested that the Committee
reconvene once the House budget numbers came out, which have historically lowered assessments to the towns. A second vote for the $15,938,128 FY17 budget passed at the March meeting with an amendment to reconsider assessments once the House budget was known. Last night, a revised budget was presented which included a downward adjustment of $91,932 in assessments, reducing the overall increase to the towns to 1.09%. This was made possible due to an increase of
just over $30,000 in Chapter 70 funds, and just under $60,000 in transportation reimbursement contained in the House budget. “What if the amount from the state is less?” asked Russell representative Ruth Kennedy during discussion of the motion to approve the revised budget. The state budget was not finalized until mid-July last year. “The reality is, this does happen. The School Committee asked us to
See Teens Released, Page 3
Cyclist takes to road for PMC By LORI SZEPELAK Staff Writer WESTFIELD-Brian Kelly now rides the Pan-Mass Challenge in his dad’s memory. Each spring, as Kelly starts preparing for the 192mile route from Sturbridge to Provincetown that raises funds for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, he composes a thoughtful letter to bring his supporters up-to-date on Team Perseverance which he leads. This year, the team consists of 35 riders from across New England. The Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC), founded in 1980, is a bike-a-thon that runs through 46 towns across the state. More than 6,000 cyclists rode in 2015, selecting from 12 routes of varying mileage designed to cater to all levels of cycling strength and fundraising ability. Cyclists are required to raise between $500 and $5,000 to ride in the event, depending on the chosen route. The challenge is presented by the Red Sox Foundation and New Balance and raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the country, according to its website. See Cyclist, Page 8
See Gateway, Page 8
WSU holds Millennial Engagement Round Table WESTFIELD — Westfield State University’s Office of Advancement, Alumni, and University Relations will hold a Millennial Engagement Round Table led by Senator Eric Lesser and Representative John Velis on Friday, April 29 from 3-4:30 p.m. in the Horace Mann Center Garden Level Conference Room B. The round table will be composed of 13 veterans, military members, and family members, most under the age of 35, discussing current events, concerns, issues, and challenges. “The Millennial Engagement Round Table aims to create a dialogue with millennial veteran, military and family members about the issues that matter most to them,” said Lisa Ducharme, veteran and military services coordinator. The event was organized in response to a state-wide conversation about engaging mil-
lennials. “Last year the Senate listened to the concerns of thousands of residents during our Commonwealth Conversations tour,” Senate President Rosenberg said. “This initiative focuses on the concerns of millennials, who have important perspectives and ideas that deserve to be heard.” Senator Lesser said it’s important for millennials to know that their concerns matter to legislators. “It’s important for us to learn more about what state government can do to promote policies that help engage millennials. Together, we can make progress on specific issues that most directly impact my generation,” said Sen. Lesser, who at age 30 is the youngest member of the Massachusetts Senate. The event is free. For more information, contact Lisa Ducharme at (413) 572-8370 or lducharme@westfield.ma.edu.
Cyclist Brian Kelly, an owner of Westfield Home & Garden, is gearing up for his yearly training to participate in the Pan-Mass Challenge.