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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com
VOL. 83 NO.148
See Animal Cruelty, Page 3
New Hampshire man dies in Chester crash CHESTER, Mass. (AP) — Massachusetts State Police say a New Hampshire man has died in a single-car crash in Chester. Police responded to the crash at about 9 p.m. Wednesday. The initial investigation indicates that the vehicle left the roadway, struck a utility pole and then rolled over, pinning the victim underneath. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The name of the victim was not immediately released pending notification of family, but police said he is a 49-year-old man from Chester, New Hampshire. The crash remains under investigation.
improbable until it moves into the past tense.” — George Ade
THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2014
75 cents
Animal cruelty charged By Carl E. Hartdegen Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A former city resident has been arraigned for a charge of animal cruelty after bleach was poured over a caged dog which was left to soak all day. The case began in January of this year when Officer Luis Morales responded to a Union Street address in response to a report that a person had poured bleach over a dog. According to Dianne Patitucci, the mother of the dog’s owner, the roots of the issue reached back to November, 2013, when Jennifer Gingras, 34, of 23 Lincoln St., Feeding Hills, moved in with her son and his dog. Patitucci said that after Gingras moved in with her son she began a quest to “get rid” of Gigit”, his 15-year-old Jack Russell terrier dog. Ken Frazer, at the time the city director of animal control operations, said when the incident occurred that Gingras did not like the dog and “every chance she had, she kicked it or molested it in some way.” Patitucci said that, as a compromise, her son agreed to keep Gigit confined in a crate when he wasn’t home but apparently his girlfriend wasn’t mollified and she continued to pressure him. Patitucci said that her son told her that the woman went so far as to incite the dog to bite her so she could report the bite to animal control officers. When the bite was reported, Gigit was quarantined for ten days but, Patitucci said, “that wasn’t enough for her as she continued to argue with
“Nothing is
ZBA grants relief for house projects
This participant in the Friends of the Rail Trail Kid’s Bike Ride went all out with her patriotic décor last year. (Photo submitted)
Southwick gets ready to ride By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – Independence Day is being celebrated a bit early in Southwick as the Friends of the Rail Trail host the fourth Annual July Fourth Kids Bike Ride. The event is June 28 with registration at 9 a.m., followed by the ride at 9:30 a.m. starting at the Miller Road parking area of the Southwick Rail Trail. Christy Bannish of the Friends of the Rail Trail said the ride is short and geared toward younger children, but children of all ages are welcome. “We will have the older kids start first, followed by the little ones on bikes,” she said. For toddlers and babies, families are welcome to bring them in wagons and strollers. “Non-motorized scooters are also welcome,” said Bannish. Riders and their families are encouraged to wear their best patriotic attire and deck their bikes, wagons, and more in red, white and blue. “We will give prizes for the most patriotic and most creative,” Bannish said. “Celebrity” judges this year include Selectman Joseph Deedy and Parks and Recreation Commissioner Daniel Call with assistance form the Southwick Police Association. “It’s a lot of fun,” said Bannish. “We have activities for kids like face painting, and Moolicious will be here with their ice-cream truck giving our ice-cream.” Bannish said it’s a fun way to kick off the summer, and a great introduction to the Southwick Rail Trail for young riders and their families. “It’s also a way for people to get to know the Friends of the Rail Trail,” Bannish said. “We are always looking for volunteers, and we are a very low-key group that has fun.” The rain date is June 29. Helmets and parental supervision required.
By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Zoning Board of Appeals last night approved two special permits and a variance requested by city residents to modernize their homes, one on Valley View Drive and the other on Granville Road. James and Sandra Wood petitioned the ZBA for both a variance and special permit to build an in-law addition to the front of their house that will be used to care for Sandra’s mother. The couple proposed to build the 22-by-31 foot addition to the front of the existing singlefamily residence because that neighborhood is not served by city sewers and the septic system is located in the rear of the structure, preventing expansion of the building in that direction. The ZBA members said that the winding street, which has several curves, means that houses do not have a uniform setback. “This is one of the oddest street configurations in the city to say the least,” ZBA member Martin Newman said. “I think the location of the septic system is the key. They can’t build in the back, so they’re kind of hogtied and it does create a hardship.” See ZBA, Page 8
School Committee OKs Hopson’s contract extension
The Southwick Friends of the Rail Trails annual Kids Bike Ride is set for June 28 at 9 a.m. Participants are encouraged to decorate their bikes in red, white and blue. (Photo submitted)
By Peter Francis Staff Writer HUNTINGTON – The Gateway Regional School Committee voted by one vote to award Supertintendent Dr. David Hopson a contract extension. By a vote of seven in favor, six opposing and one abstention, Hopson’s new contract will be extended 14 months until August 31, 2018. “I would only be willing to extend 14 months, because I intend to retire from Gateway in four years and two months, and I would commit to Gateway until that time if you extend my contract,” said Hopson. “If you don’t extend, in all likelihood I would stay for three years but I’d be looking to leave potentially.” In his 20th year of working for the Gateway Regional District, Hopson added that he has applied for a handful of jobs in the past two years, and that he has been interviewed for every job he’s applied for. “Technically, you can take no vote today, and in three months if I get a job offer, you could vote to extend and change it. That’s up to you as a committee,” he said. “I’m just trying See Contract, Page 3
Westfield man stunned, arrested after high-speed chase By REBECCA EVERETT @GazetteRebecca WESTFIELD — A man was arrested on Southampton Road in Westfield Wednesday evening, surrounded by Holyoke and Westfield Police and a State Police helicopter, after leading officers on a high-speed chase through three cities. Holyoke Police Sgt. Kevin Thomas said John Smith of Westfield will face charges including assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and numerous motor vehicle charges after the chase. When Smith finally stopped his car on Southampton Road in Westfield he was uncooperative and police had to use
a Taser several times to subdue him, Thomas said. Smith, who Thomas said was in his mid- to late 50s, was being evaluated at Holyoke Medical Center Wednesday night as a precaution. Thomas said that shortly after 6 p.m. police tried to question Smith as he emerged from a “known drug building” at Elm and Appleton streets. He allegedly fled to his vehicle and drove away, traveling the wrong way on a one-way street. He led police through downtown Holyoke, at one point driving his car straight at an officer who attempted to approach on foot, Thomas said.
Smith then drove north on I-91 into Northampton, getting off at Exit 18 and traveling south on Route 5, back into Holyoke, and then west on Route 202 into Westfield. Westfield Police Lt. Jay Pitoniak said that at 6:30 p.m. his officers deployed “stop sticks,” which are designed to puncture tires, on Route 202, also called North Road. When the vehicle sped by, three tires were popped, he said. The driver turned onto Southampton Road and then stopped, Pitoniak said. ——— Rebecca Everett can be reached at reverett@gazettenet.com.