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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2016
VOL. 85 NO. 83
“Money is in some respects life’s fire: it is a very excellent servant,
but a terrible master.” — P.T. BARNUM
75 cents
Westfield Bank merger ‘compelling’ Dr. Ramon Torrecilha, Dr. Liz Preston, Lisa McMahon Fr. Chris Fedoryshyn, Dan Smith attend the 2016 Westfield (l-r) attend the 2016 Westfield State University Interfaith State University Interfaith breakfast. (Photo by Lynn Boscher) breakfast. (Photo by Lynn Boscher)
Interfaith breakfast focuses on connections, community service By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – At the annual Albert and Amelia Ferst Interfaith Breakfast at Westfield State University Wednesday morning, Lisa McMahon, the university’s director of advancement and university relations was excited to point to the crowd. “This year, we have more students who came and wanted to attend, and more businesses and community partners who paid for those students to come,” McMahon said. The Hon. Michael R. Knapik, executive director of the Westfield State Foundation, who welcomed attendees to the breakfast, said the Interfaith Center was the reason the foundation was formed in 1981 as a fundraising vehicle. “It’s especially important for those of us in education to be able to acknowledge our differences” as well as our similarities, Knapik said. John Torrone, chair of the foundation, said this year they raised $420,000 in total scholarships and paid internships, and thanked Knapik for his work in making that possible. Also greeting attendees was WSU President Dr. Ramon S. Torrecilha. “I’m happy to say that the Interfaith Center has become my parish,” Torrecilha said. Guest speaker at the breakfast was Rabbi Andrea CohenKiener from Temple Israel in Greenfield, who spoke about her many trips to Israel and the West Bank. Cohen said growing up in the “donor class,” she now advocates for partnerships with people. “The one thing we can help or fix is isolation and empathy,” Cohen said. “If he and I can connect, peace work is possible,” speaking about a meeting with a member of Hamas on one of her trips, she said. The breakfast also celebrated the opening of Common Goods at Westfield State, a food pantry for students, staff, faculty and anyone facing food insecurity at the campus,
Robert and Ann Goyette, James Huffmire attend the 2016 Westfield State University Interfaith breakfast. (Photo by Lynn Boscher)
Prabodh and Mina Reshamwala, Roger Carrier attend the 2016 Westfield State University Interfaith breakfast. (Photo by Lynn Boscher)
which is a project of the Interfaith Center. Catholic chaplain, Father Warren Savage, presented two related awards at the breakfast. The Albert and Amelia Ferst Interfaith Student Service Award was given to Philip J. Sheehy, a sophomore from Hampton, N.H. who is majoring in criminal justice. Sheehy has been a big part of Common Goods, picking up and delivering food from the five bins located all over campus to the pantry, which is located in Second Congregational Church. He also helps out at St. Mary’s food pantry in Westfield.
By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Westfield Bank customers can expect continued service and additional benefits with the merger of Chicopee Savings Bank. Westfield Bank President and CEO James Hagan announced the merger of the two local banks earlier this week and said they have created a new holding company, Western New England Bancorp. The merger is exciting on several levels, said Hagan. “The is the first in-market merger in 25 years,” Hagan said. “We have picked up eight new branches, and are extending into Hampshire County.” The only community that will have duplication is West Springfield. Westfield Bank Senior Vice President Kevin O’Connor said the JAMES HAGAN headquarters will remain at the curWestfield Bank rent location on Elm Street. Hagan said the idea of a merger President and CEO was “compelling,” “We found we were more similar than dissimilar in our views of community involvement and being a community partner in western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut,” Hagan said of Westfield Bank and Chicopee Savings. The closing is set to occur during the fourth quarter of 2016, subject to approval by the shareholders of both companies, receipt of required regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Until then, O’Connor said it is business as usual at both banks. “After the merger, there will be less changes for current Westfield Bank customers,” O’Connor said, noting that debit cards and checkbooks will remain the same. “More of the changes will occur for current Chicopee customers,” he added. To keep customers and employees of both banks informed, O’Connor said a communications website will be up and running soon. “We have a plan for regular communication,” O’Connor
See Interfaith Breakfast, Page 8 See Bank Merger, Page 3
What does Noble colonoscopy lawsuit mean for Baystate?
Fr. Warren Savage, Dr. Ramon Torrecilha, Robin Jensen attend the 2016 Westfield State University Interfaith breakfast. (Photo by Lynn Boscher)
WESTFIELD (WWLP) – More than two dozen patients of Baystate Noble Hospital have filed a lawsuit, after they found out that they were put at potential risk of exposure to hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV. A total of 293 patients had been told by the hospital that inadequate disinfectant measures were used at the time they had colonoscopy procedures therebetween June 2012 and April 2013. Twenty-five of those patients are part of this lawsuit. The possible exposures took place more than two years before Baystate Health took over Noble Hospital. That happened in July 2015. Westfield News media partner 22News wanted to find out whether that means Baystate Health assumes responsibility for the case. They got in touch with Attorney Justin Dion, chair of Bay Path University’s legal studies department. Dion, who does See Lawsuit, Page 3
Carrington Road in Russell to close By AMY PORTER Correspondent RUSSELL – Carrington Road in Russell will be closed from Monday through July, worst-case, according to John Hoppe, highway superintendent for the town. Hoppe said a section of the road has to be dug down to a stable platform and rebuilt, along with the retaining wall, which is on a steep grade over the railroad tracks along the Westfield River. A popular piped spring along the road, which residents use for water, also has to be redirected. Hoppe said the spring’s running water has contributed to the instability of the road. “The retaining wall is failing. The
spring and drainage have failed,” Hoppe said. The town has received a $1 million grant from MassWorks for the construction, which took them nine years to get, according to Hoppe. Northern Construction Service, LLC of Palmer, specializing in bridge construction, site work, marine construction, concrete work and utilities, has been contracted to do the work. Carrington Road is the only alternate for that stretch of Route 20 in an emergency. Hoppe said all emergency responders, including Huntington and Montgomery fire departments, state police, and ambulances have been notified of the closure. The deadline for completion of the work is June 30.
Local artist explores the ‘Myth in Women’s Lives’ at Westfield State
John Hoppe, Russell highway superintendent, stands along a section of Carrington Road to be rebuilt. The road will be closed from Monday, April 11 until July. (Photo by Amy Porter)
WESTFIELD — Westfield State University will host an artist reception for Easthampton artist Ruth Kjaer’s exhibit “The Golden Rain: The Myth in Women’s Lives,” today from 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the Arno Maris Art Gallery in the Ely Campus Center. The reception is free and open to the public. Ruth Kjaer is a painter whose studio is located in the Eastworks Building in Easthampton. An artist for nearly four decades, she has been featured in exhibitions both locally and globally including Le Musee d’art Haitian in Port-auPrince, Haiti, the Jill Spanbauer Gallery in Naples, FL., and the Pulse Gallery in Springfield, Mass. Her collections are permanently housed in a number of galleries and businesses including the Sony Corporation in Tokoyo, Japan, the See Artist Reception, Page 3