Thursday, July 2, 2015

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WEATHER TONIGHT

The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns

A few clouds. Low of 55.

www.thewestfieldnews.com

VOL. 84 NO. 166

See Agenda, Page 3

75 cents

City man charged with possession of child porn released on bail

Prolamina groundbreaking ceremony participants, left to right are Dave Hopkins President, U.S. Operations, Prolamina; Kate Phelon, Executive Director, Westfield Chamber of Commerce; Tim French, Chief Operating Officer, Prolamina; Joanne Berry, Director of Human Resources, Prolamina; Greg Tucker, Chief Executive Officer, Prolamina ; John Velis, State Representative; Donald Humason, State Senator; Joe Mitchell, City Advancement Officer.

Prolamina breaks ground on new facility WESTFIELD – Prolamina Corporation, a leading North American packaging company that serves the food, medical and specialty markets, celebrated breaking ground on a major renovation of their Westfield manufacturing facility. In addition to over 100 Prolamina employees, the groundbreaking was attended by state and local officials such as State Senator Donald Humason; State Representative John Velis; Westfield City Advancement Officer Joe Mitchell; Westfield Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kate Phelon; and members of the Westfield City Council. The event kicked off with words from President of Prolamina’s U.S. Operations Dave Hopkins, followed by the presentation of an Official Citation from the mayor’s office, given by Joe Mitchell; recognition from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts House of Representatives was then presented by John Velis; with concluding remarks from Prolamina CEO Gregory Tucker. The shovel ceremony concluded the formal events after which attendees enjoyed lunch and an ice cream sundae reception. The Westfield facility produces flexible packaging solutions from the most basic to

the most technologically advanced multilayer packaging substrate. Westfield’s 250,000-square-foot manufacturing facility has been in operation for over 30 years. Although the building has seen improvements and renovations, until now, a refurbishment of this magnitude has never been done. The build out includes facility improvements that are necessary to remain a leader in the markets we serve. Along with exterior and interior beautification, there will be improved facility wide technology and green initiatives. Infrastructure improvement projects include: adding additional administrative space; a small amount of manufacturing space; roof repair / replacement; overall building maintenance and rehabilitation; air quality and flooring improvements; and the accommodation of new manufacturing equipment. In the end, the improvements will make the Westfield facility a showpiece for Prolamina and provide significant aesthetic improvement to the gateway of downtown Westfield. Prolamina’s Westfield facility employs over 250 people and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

JULY 4TH CELEBRATIONS HAMPTON PONDS ASSOC. July 4th Parade 10 am SOUTHWICK BOAT PARADE Babbs Beach 4pm WYBEN July 4th Parade - 6:30pm Citizens Restoring Congamond (CRC) President Deb Herath said the event is meant to be a fun celebration of the lakes. “There are no prizes, just grins!” she said. Boats will be decorated in their red,

By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Correspondent WESTFIELD – After spending a weekend in jail, Eric S. Jenney, was released on Monday with strict orders from the judge to follow a long list of pretrial release conditions. Jenney, 45, of Westfield, was released after paying $5,000 personal surety pending an August 7 hearing to be held in Westfield District Court. On Friday, Jenney had been arraigned on the following charges: three counts of possession of child pornography, three counts of possessing a firearm without a Firearms Identification (FID) card and one count of improper storage of a firearm, brought by Westfield police. As part of an ongoing investigation, officers had executed a search warrant of Jenney’s residence on June 25 and found images of child pornography on his personal computer (Dell hard drive), a Sony camera’s scan disc card and on a thumb drive. The pornography charges include videos of sex with children under 10 including what police believe to be a very explicit situation involving the defendant with a minor child, according to court records. The Commonwealth had filed an affidavit in support of pretrial detention, but on Friday during a bail hearing, Westfield District Court Judge Philip Contant said Jenney’s case doesn’t fit the criteria required for pretrial detention. The judge did agree to the Commonwealth’s request for conditional release based on dangerousness. These conditions include having no contact with nor See On Bail, Page 3

ERIC JENNEY

Remains of World War II Marine returned home to Westfield

Congamond Boat Parade set for July 4 By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – Get ready to show your patriotic pride, boat enthusiasts! A tradition since the mid-70s, the Congamond Lakes Fourth of July Boat Parade is set for Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. Boaters should gather at Babbs Beach at 4 p.m. and will launch around 5 p.m. after a short ceremony that will include the singing of the National Anthem.

The Westfield News Group office will be closed Friday, July 3. The Westfield News will not publish, Saturday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.

THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2015

Appointments, revenue top Council agenda By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The City Council will vote tonight on the appointment of City Treasurer Meghan Kane as the acting city treasurer and will consider two revenue-generating taxes as it prepares for the annual six-week summer recess. The next scheduled City Council meeting will be Aug. 20, 2015. Mayor Daniel M. Knapik submitted Kane’s name for the acting position at the council’s special meeting Tuesday, but the council did not vote on the appointment because City Charter gives the appointing authority specifically to the City Council. The city is currently seeking a consulting firm to review the operations, standard procedures and staffing of the Collector’s office and to determine if changes are needed in that department. The city posted a request for bids for that service which are due by July 9, 2015. The city is also assessing the consolidation of the Collector’s Office with the Treasurer’s Office. The two offices were under a single department head until they were separated more than a decade ago. The council will also decide if the city will act upon a local option meals tax of three-quarters of a percent (.75) and a local option room occupancy excise tax of 6 percent. Knapik used the revenue from those two taxes, estimated at $300,000, in the 2016 Fiscal Year Budget. The council voted in January to reject both taxes and would have to suspend the City Council Rules to reconsider adoption of the two taxes. The council’s Personnel Action Committee will bring out three candidates for appointment tonight and Knapik has submitted seven reappointments on tonight’s agenda. The Pac will bring the nominations of Barbara K. Taylor as a member of the Council on Aging; Sofia Bitzas Williams as a member of the Zoning

INDEPENDENCE DAY

WESTFIELD (AP) — A Marine killed in World War II is being buried in his hometown 71 years after he died in the Pacific battle of Tarawa. Capt. Richard Vincent’s remains arrived yesterday at Bradley airport. Vincent had been reported killed in action, but his remains weren’t identified until last October. His coffin was escorted to Westfield by Marines from Dennis and Katie Goldie, of north pond of the Congamond Lakes, and a guest, circle the middle pond during the annual boat parade In 2012, sponsored by Citizens Restoring Congamond. (WNG File photo) white and blue best, and everyone is welcome to participate. ‘You don’t have to live on the lake to join the parade,’ said Herath. The boaters will parade counterclockwise – as is the proper way to navigate the lakes – around Middle Pond. The best viewing for spectators is at Babbs Beach on Babbs road, Suffield, Conn., at the Southwick Town Pier on Point Grove Road, and at the neighboring Louie’s Restaurant and Bar’s outdoor deck, also on Point Grove Road. Herath said in the past, they have had

from 30-60 boats in the parade, each decorated for the holiday. There are no prizes for decorations, however, lake dwellers show their appreciation by waving and cheering from their decks and shoreline. Herath said she does not know how the tradition first started but in recent years it has been a celebration of lake health. “A while ago the lakes were taken over by milfoil and the CRC helped clear them,” said Herath. “So the parade shows people the lakes are healthy.”

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See Remains, Page 8

MASSACHUSETTS STATE POLICE


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