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TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 TUESDAY, JUNE THURSDAY, JULY27, 13,2017 2017
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Woman Sheds Light on Autism at State House By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD – Jamie Curran is “excited” to share her story – and passion of wanting to help others with disabilities – today in Boston with State House legislators. Curran was selected by Massachusetts Advocates for Children (MAC) to provide testimony about her experience as a former Mass Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative (MAICEI) student when two bills among 49 will be presented during a hearing of the Joint Committee on Higher Education. Rep. Patricia A. Haddad, D-Somerset, is sponsoring H.634, and Sen. Barbara A. L’Italien, D-Lawrence, is sponsoring S.698 – both Westfield resident Jamie centering on “allowing Curran will present testimony persons with intellectual today at the Massachusetts disabilities (ID) and State House in support of bills autism to access state creating higher education colleges and universities opportunities for students with to gain skills necessary intellectual disabilities and to work and live independently in the commuautism. nity as adults.” Sherry Elander, M. Ed., special education teacher and transition specialist with the Westfield Public Schools, will join Curran to support her, along with Julia Landau, an attorney and senior project director at MAC. “I am very proud of this young lady,” said Elander. Landau echoed those sentiments. “Jamie’s testimony will illustrate to lawmakers the opportunities for young people when doors to higher education are opened further for them,” said Landau, adding that state residents are encouraged to contact their local state representatives in support of these bills. “Western Massachusetts has been at the forefront for supporting these measures, especially Westfield State University, Holyoke Community College, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.” On Tuesday afternoon at Westfield State University, Curran, now 22, discussed the highlights of her testimony. She attended Paper Mill and North Middle schools, and received a certificate of completion in 2013 from Westfield Technical Academy. Curran is the daughter of Lynn and Kevin Curran. “I know I will be nervous when I start reading my testimony,” said Curran, noting she has practiced several times with Elander since three minutes are allotted for each person speaking. Since 2007, hundreds of young people with disabilities similar to Curran’s have successfully been included in college through the state’s “groundbreaking” grant program called MAICEI, according to Johanne Pino, project coordinator, MAC. The two bills will allow state colleges and
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The Southwick Police Department will continue to investigate the breaking and enterings. (WNG File Photo)
Police investigating series of breaking and enterings By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Police Department is currently investigating a series of breaking and enterings that have happened over the past few weeks. On Wednesday, the department posted a statement about it on their Facebook Page. “Suspects have entered homes through windows, windows with air conditioning units in them and/or forcefully opening doors while the home is vacant. There have been NO reports of any B&Es while any of the homes were occupied. Suspects in these cases seem to be after small items such as jewelry, cash and smaller electronic devices.” Chief Ricardi and the rest of the department are requesting that residents be aware of any suspicious vehicles or people in their respective neighborhoods. People should write down any license plates that individuals feel are suspicious and hand them over to the police. Southwick Police is also asking the community to not approach anybody that may be suspicious and to leave that to the police. Ricardi is all too familiar with this particular issue occurring at this time of year. “We experience this every summer,” said Ricardi. “We will do our due-diligence to keep an eye on it.” The Southwick Police Department is also strongly suggesting residents to keep a close watch on their neighbor’s homes while they’re at work or on vacation. A couple of tips include informing your neighbors that you’re leaving so they can keep a good eye on your home and try not to post pictures on social media of you being on vacation until you get back home. Lastly, secure your belongings while not home. If you have any concerns about a suspicious person, vehicle, or a breaking and entering, call Southwick Police at 413569-5348.
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – A bicyclist was hit by a vehicle at the intersection of College Hwy and Bugbee Road around 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon. Although the name of the victim hasn’t been released, the bicyclist has been identified as a teenage girl. Southwick Police and Fire closed off College Hwy for several hours after the accident, while the Massachusetts State Police Reconstruction Team investigated. According to Communications Director James Leydon of the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office, the vehicle was traveling down Route 10 and 202 on College Hwy when it collided with the bicyclist. The teenage girl was taken to Baystate Medical with serious injuries. There is no update at this time of the status of the victim. The Westfield News will give an update once more information is released as Massachusetts State Police continues to investigate.
Westfield Fire responds to propane leak on Cycle Street By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent WESTFIELD – Late Wednesday afternoon, the Westfield Fire Department arrived to the area of Cycle Street after they had received a call from a neighbor that a propane tank was leaking at a nearby home. Immediately sending a full response team to investigate the situation, the team found that the propane tank was fully venting, which meant it was venting its product into the atmosphere. According to Deputy Fire Chief Patrick Egloff, they put a fog nozzle onto the propane tank and then shut off the valves on the tank in order to remove the hazard that was leaking. The Westfield Fire Department evacuated at least 10 homes in the neighborhood and allowed them to return once the situation was deemed safe. Egloff mentioned that this specific issue could have resulted in a vapor explosion. “If it did catch on fire, that would have been extremely dangerous,” said Egloff. Egloff credits the experience and knowledge that the response team had with a leaking propane tank. “Through training, this was a routine call for us.”
Rainy summer, Risk of illness rising By NICK LOMBARDI WSU intern ‘18 WESTFIELD – The summer’s frequent rainstorms are a welcome change after last year’s drought, but this may have negative consequences to public health. Dr. Brian Sutton, Emergency Medicine Specialist at Noble Care Express, says that the warm, wet air can increase the spread of mosquitoes in places where standing water is not drained, and as a result, can spread deadly diseases like West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE).
Both diseases have flu-like symptoms and can cause severe illness or death. The best way to protect yourself, Sutton said, is to keep your living area clean and remove standing water that can collect in outdoor vases, pet water bowls, old tires, birdbaths, trash cans, and buckets. If you’re planning an evening out, wear long sleeves or pants to prevent mosquito bites. This time of the year our pets are at risk as well. Domestic animals can be infected with West Nile Virus, and EEE virus infection spreads among horses.
Cats and Dogs can also get heartworms from mosquitoes, so be sure pets are up to date with their heartworm pills. Outdoor pets can also get sick from drinking stagnant water. If your yard is close to the woodlands, where puddles collect, then this can happen. Not only our pets, but we must keep children from playing in stagnant water. If ingested, stagnant water can cause one of many diarrhea illnesses, some of which can be fatal like Shigella or See Summer Illness, Page 5
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(AP PHOTO/FELIPE DANA, FILE)
VISIT US AT AMELIA PARK ICE ARENA Stop by Tuesday evenings from 5:00-7:00 pm and Saturday mornings from 10:30 am-12:30 pm. We’ll be answering your questions in the lobby of the Amelia Park Ice Arena. WHIP CITY FIBER AT THE SENIOR CENTER June 18 + 25 | 10:30 am-12:00 pm Stop in anytime during these times for answers to your questions about watching TV over the internet.