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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com
VOL. 84 NO. 279
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2015
2015 Westfield Veteran’s Day Cousins, left to right are Logan Csekovsky (age 6), Peyton Savaria (age 5), Ben McEwan (age 3) and Devon Savaria (age 3) are seen on the 2015 Westfield Veteran's Day parade route. See additional Veteran’s Day photos on Pages 4, 5. (Photos by Don Wielgus)
— ELIZABETH CADY STANTO
75 cents
By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Water Commission approved Tuesday a funding request to relocate a major water line that was impeding the installation of a new stormwater drainage system. City Engineer Mark Cressotti asked the board to approve funding “up to, but not to exceed” $130,000 to relocate a 12-inch water main, which had to be moved to allow installation of the new stormwater drainage system. The stormwater drainage is a key element of improving the North Elm and Notre Dame streets intersection which chronically flooded because the water from that intersection was suppose to empty into Powdermill Brook. The problem being remedied is that the brook silted up and is at about the same level as the intersection. During periods of high flow in the brook water would back up the drain pipe and flood the intersection. That pipe has been blocked to prevent backflow into the intersection. The other major aspect of the $4.4 million job is to enhance traffic flow through the intersection by installing new dedicated left-turn lanes in both directions on Elm Street at the Notre Dame Street intersection. North Elm Street is being widened and a new drainage system is being installed. “As the new drainage was being put it, there was a See Water Main, Page 3
More than $1,000 embezzled from Goodwill Store By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A city woman employed at Goodwill did not act in good will while she was managing the store, according to police. Sarah R. Hoynowski-Curran, was released on her own recognizance Friday after being arraigned in Westfield District Court on charges of larceny over $250 by single scheme. The defendant allegedly conducted fraudulent voids of transactions while working as the manager of the Goodwill located at 621 E. Main Street. Hoynowski-Curran, 25, allegedly made 15 fraudulent voids between July 10 and July 24 totaling $1,122.23, according to court records. Video captured Hoynowski-Curran making 14 of the 15 transactions. The one transaction not caught on camera was done by a manager who had maintained the keys to conduct a transaction void, Westfield Police Det. Todd Edwards wrote in his report. The defendant was the manager at the time of that transaction. Hoynowski-Curran did not place the void receipts along with the original transaction receipts for tracking with the deposits, which is used to prevent fraud, according to Edwards. The untracked voids allowed the excess money to be removed from the register when the defendant closed the
See Bond, Page 3
Liquor license request considered By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – The Board of Selectmen is considering a request for a beer and wine license for 801 College Highway. The Smartmart store – widely known as the former Cinderella’s – is a gas and convenience store owned by Suni Patel. Patel also owns two other stores one in West Springfield and one in Easton. Patel’s brother-in-law would manage the Southwick store and oversee alcohol sales. An attorney for Patel said he was a struggling small business owner who wanted to add the beer and wine sales to boost his business and provide a service to customers. She also disclosed that Patel previously held a liquor sales license in another location and lost it due to sale to underage customers. To ensure that doesn’t happen again Patel and his staff would become TIPS certified and also purchase an app that would scan identification cards to check for fraud. Selectman Chairman
girls regard themselves not as adjectives but as nouns.”
Water Commission approves North Elm water main funding
Council initiates $1.8M athletic bond approval By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The City Council approved the first reading of a $1.8 million bond “associated with rehabilitating municipal outdoor recreational and athletic facilities” last week on a 12-1 voice vote. The second reading and final passage of that bond could be approved at the City Council’s Nov. 19 session. Ward 1 Councilor Christopher Keefe was the only councilor opposed to the athletic facility bond package because of concerns that those funds could be better applied in other areas, such as education and road maintenance. At-large Councilor Cindy Harris also has similar concerns. “Citizens have told me they are concerned about the condition of roads in the city,” Harris said. “I’d support this bond if there is also a bond for road repair. Ward 5 Councilor Robert A. Paul, Sr., said he would not support a bond for athletic and recreational facilities. “The priority should be school technology and infrastructure improvements,” Paul said. “Let’s get the school technology bond before us. It is sitting in the mayor’s office.” At-large Councilor David A. Flaherty said he supports the bond to improve athletic facilities, but also sees an opportunity to bond for road improvements. “Can we afford this given all the other bonds we have?” Flaherty asked. “We decided that we could
“I would have
The Board of Selectmen is considering a request to sell beer and wine at this convenience store. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay)
Joseph Deedy expressed some concern about the past problem. “This board is kind of tough” he said. “We’re not big fans of violations.”
The Board is also not prone to allowing more alcohol licenses than they deem necessary. They previously denied a license request from Ocean State Job Lot and said
the town’s alcohol sales needs were already being met. The town has three all-alcohol licenses available and already has a total of 28 licenses for alcohol sales.
See Goodwill, Page 3
Man will spend year in jail for cashing counterfeit checks By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A Springfield man will spend a year behind bars after cashing counterfeit payroll checks. Easthampton Savings Bank, located at 85 Broad St., called police on June 29 to report that a number of counterfeit checks had been cashed at its branch, according to court records. Donnell T. Cradle, 55, cashed a counterfeit check on June 26. He went into the bank and presented a payroll check drawn on Easthampton Savings Bank from R&H Roofing of Easthampton for $947.07 and cashed it, according to court records. R & H Roofing, LLP is a locally owned licensed roofing company serving the New England area since 1987, according to its website. Cradle presented a North Carolina driver’s license as ID to cash the check, according to Westfield Police Det. Anthony Tsatsos’ report. The defendant also has a Massachusetts driver’s license, which was used to identify Cradle along with utilizing the bank security video. According to Tsatsos, Cradle had three active WMS (Warrant Management System) warrants for the same offenses. See Checks, Page 3