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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com
— JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
75 cents
THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016
VOL. 85 NO. 113
“Mistrust the man who finds everything good; the man who finds everything evil; and still more the man who is indifferent to everything.”
A good day for veterans on the hill
REP. JOHN VELIS
By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – State Rep. John Velis said Wednesday at the State House was an “unbelievable day for veterans in terms of housing.” Velis said veterans in Massachusetts will now have a housing preference that applies to any city or town in the Commonwealth. Previously, they would have had to wait for an opening in their town of residence. Also, for veterans who are 100% disabled, their disability income will no longer exclude them from being eliglble for subsidized housing. The bill that was passed also established an office for state veterans homes and housing oversight, and will appoint a full-time executive director to oversee its pro-
grams. This is the only part of the bill that made Velis nervous. “We just had a big fight for the Holyoke Soldiers Home,” he said. Velis said he saw in this language an additional layer of command that concerned him. Speaking to colleagues about his concerns that the new office would take local authority from the Holyoke Solders Home, they said they didn’t think the law would be interpreted that way. “So I filed an amendment,” he said. His amendment reads: “Nothing in the aforementioned shall be construed as giving oversight authority See Veterans, Page 3
Westfield State students succeed in replacing the globe By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – After a year of multiple fundraisers and technical difficulties, the students at Westfield State University achieved their goal on Friday, May 6 when a new giant globe was installed on the campus green. Vice President of Student Affairs Carlton Pickron said what started as a “Save the Globe” campaign by the Student Government Association in the spring of 2015 soon became a campaign to replace the old globe which had been too badly damaged in celebratory events to save. “Too much enthusiasm,” Pickron said. The final blow was dealt to the old globe after the New England Patriots won the Super Bowl on February 1, 2015 and students climbed inside and on top of the structure, ruining the base and wiring. The old globe was old, having originally come from the administrative offices of Stanley Home Products, built in 1968, which is now the Horace Mann Center on campus. The sculpture, originally intended as an indoor sculpture, was donated to the University following the sale of the building in 2000. Pickron said See WSU Globe, Page 3
HOLYOKE SOLDIERS HOME
NYC man caught passing $100 counterfeit bill in Westfield
Image from an online post about Westfield High School being “For Sale.”
WHS for sale? By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – It appears a prankster has listed the venerable building on Montgomery Road for sale on a popular online classified web site. The online listing says, “This school has seen a lot, and it’s last owner left a lot of wear and tear. It has no A/C, it’s sporting facilities are run down, and rumor has it the ghost of the previous owner still haunt’s it. It is said that you can hear a ghostly howl after school hours, whispering down the hall way, “the lisssttttt, the lissssst, bring back the lisssttttt”. While there are a few remaining good parts of the property, it’s most valuable asset is leaving. The class of 2016 is preparing to graduate, taking with it the heart and soul of the school. After they leave the only good part left will be the school dog. So please, help make Westfield High Great Again, and purchase this school.” “Our best offer so far has been $2,016,” quipped WHS principal Dennis Duquette. He said the sign must have gone up on Tuesday evening after 8:30 p.m., which is when he left the school grounds that day. “I think it was a very positive student prank. I’m proud of them. Nothing malicious, no damage. It’s great,” Duquette said. See WHS for sale?, Page 3
The newly installed WSU globe.
By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A New York City man was arrested for passing a $100 counterfeit bill in Westfield. Jj Sheomangal, 23, of 103-26 124th St., South Richmond Hill, New York, was placed on three months pretrial probation for charges of utter counterfeit note and larceny under $250 by false pretense when he appeared in Westfield District Court May 5. Allegedly Sheomangal drove an accomplice to theTobacco Barn at 9 p.m. on July 23. The accomplice passed a counterfeit $100 bill to make a small purchase, according to court records. “She received $93.64 in real currency as change for the purchase and $6.36 in tobacco products in exchange for the worthless counterfeit bill,” according to court records. The bank confirmed that the bill was false. The two had allegedly passed another $100 bill several hours earlier in Wallingford, Conn., “in almost the exact same fashion,” according to court records. “The defendant drove from New York City to Westfield” and passed multiple counterfeit $100 bills. “It is implausible to say that he was unaware of what was going on,” according to court records. Information about charges against Sheomangal’s accomplice was not available in Westfield District Court. ———— Staff Writer Christine Charnosky can be reached at christinec @thewestfieldnewsgroup.com Follow her on Twitter @charnoskyWNG
Women find inner strength through Livestrong at YMCA By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD-The chalet at Camp Shepard off Northwest Road was beautifully appointed as 10 women gathered to celebrate a milestone on Wednesday – graduating from the YMCA of Greater Westfield’s pilot Livestrong program. The free 12-week exercise program is for cancer survivors who are currently in or have completed treatment and are physically deconditioned, according to Andrea Allard, YMCA CEO, who had arrived early in the day to set up the room that overlooks a picturesque pond. Allard, along with Cindy Agan and Michelle Urbanski, both certified Livestrong
fitness instructors, congratulated the women with special certificates, a healthy luncheon buffet, and gifts as a reminder of their time at the YMCA. Livestrong, developed by Stanford University, has proven to help survivors regain strength, overcome fatigue, and enhance functional ability to do everyday tasks. The Livestrong Foundation partnered with the YMCA of the USA in 2007 to promote the importance of physical activity after a cancer diagnosis. Today, more than 36,983 people have been served in 478 communities by the Livestrong at the YMCA program. Additionally, the foundation has trained 2,757 YMCA staff members since 2007 in cancer survivorship, post-rehabilita-
tion exercise and supportive cancer care. Allard noted that the YMCA is committed to serving individuals and their families living with, through and beyond cancer. For Elaine Gamble of Russell, the Livestrong experience was life changing. “Doing the program with others who have had cancer makes a difference,” said Gamble. “Not only have I met such strong women, but I also now have some wonderful friends.” Jane Welch of Westfield echoed those sentiments. “My last chemo treatment was last week,” said Welch, adding that feeling fatigued all See Inner Strength, Page 3
Michelle Urbanski catches up with Marilyn Wardner and Pat Gilbert before the Livestrong graduation celebration.