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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 84 NO. 249
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2015
The Westfield News will run our masthead in pink, in recognition of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
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Gateway board to send new budget to towns By AMY PORTER Correspondent CHESTER – The Gateway School Committee, meeting on the road Wednesday evening in the Chester Elementary School, voted to send basically the same budget approved in March back to the towns, with amendments including line-item transfers and slightly revised town assessments. Four of the six towns in the
Gateway region have previously defeated the budget twice at town meetings. Gateway Regional Superintendent Dr. David Hopson said at the start of the discussion that he had received a call this week from Rep. Stephen Kulik regarding the progress of the state’s supplemental budget, which Gateway hopes will contain promised mitigation funds of $630,000 to offset
the cost of Worthington’s withdrawal from the district, and that will reduce town assessments. Kulik told Hopson that he expects the Senate to vote this week on the supplemental budget, which passed the House last week. After the Senate vote, it will go to the Governor to sign. “Who knows how long he’ll take,” Hopson said. “I think, by the end of October.” Ruth Kennedy, board member from Russell, said she spoke to Kulik this week, too, and heard basically the same thing. “There’s still no guarantee on it,” Kennedy said. “We can’t decide anything tonight that’s not conditional,” Shirley Winer of Chester said. Winer also asked what happens if the courts decide in favor of an injunction on Worthington withdrawing from the district. The hearing on the injunction is set for October 22.
The Gateway School Committee met in the Chester Elementary School on Wednesday in one of its meetings on the road. (Photo by Amy Porter)
See Gateway, Page 3
Road rage incident leads to 3 arrests By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A road rage incident Wednesday afternoon led to the arrest of three men. A female motorist called police at 2:48 p.m. Wednesday reporting a road rage incident on Route 20 saying someone in a vehicle that contained four occupants allegedly revealed a handgun.
Route 20, in the area where East Main Street becomes Springfield Road, police stopped the vehicle involved in the incident, but it then only contained three occupants and no gun was recovered, said Westfield Police Lt. Jay Pitoniak. It was reported that the vehicle had turned down Little River Road, turned around and returned to Route 20, which is where police stopped the car.
Emmanuel Diaz, 25, of Westfield, was arrested for driving with a suspended license while Ariel Serrano, 20, and Juan Ortiz, 20, both of Springfield were each arrested on outstanding warrants out of Springfield District Court, Pitoniak said. Staff Writer Christine Charnosky can be reached at christinec@ thewestfieldnewsgroup.com
Mad Hatters
In this Nov. 20, 2014 file photo, David Mayer, owner of Mayer's Heating Service, installs a roof vent pipe as part of a new direct vent furnace installation in East Wareham, Mass. (AP Photo)
Stable winter energy costs projected for city By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A number of factors are expected to reduce the volatility of winter energy costs and “soften” price hikes which have occurred for both electricity and natural gas the last several years. Westfield Gas & Electric Department General Manager Dan Howard said winter energy costs in New England will continue to be higher than in other part of the country because of the limited pipeline transmission capabilities.
“While natural gas supplies are plentiful, the delivery infrastructure in the Northeast remain inadequate,” Howard said to member of the Municipal Light Board Wednesday night. “The demand for natural gas, particularly in the electric generation business, had been relatively flat when the pipelines were built in the 1950,” Howard said. “Gas accounted for about 10 percent of the electrical generation. This began changing about a decade See Energy Costs, Page 3
Ricardi seeks legislation to extend time as chief By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Board of Selectmen this week unanimously approved pursuing special legislation to extend the police chief’s position. Police Chief David Ricardi is seeking approval from the state to stay on as chief for up to another five years. Ricardi should retire in the coming year but if the special legislation is approved, he POLICE CHIEF would be allowed to continue as chief until DAVID RICARDI age 70. Ricardi said his hope is to extend his time two-fold. “I’m not ready to retire, and I can do a lot more,” Ricardi said.
Hat contest winners from this year’s Tri Club Luncheon are Debbie Hess, Pat Steelel-Perkins, Karen Templeton, Irene Riga, Marcia Sanford. See additional photos Page 3. (Photo by Lynn F. Boscher)
See Police Chief, Page 3
Westfield State names Distinguished Alumna Award winner WESTFIELD – Westfield State University will honor Dr. Sylvia Abar of Westfield with the Distinguished Alumna Award on Saturday, October 17 at 10:30 a.m. in the Horace Mann Center lobby. “As an educator, Dr. Abar embodies the founding mission of Westfield State University,” said Kathi Bradford, director of Alumni Relations. “Her tireless dedication and commitment to public service serves as example for students, faculty, and alumni.” Abar earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Westfield State and was inspired by her professors to continue her studies. “The enthusiasm and passion that the professors held for their subject matter was displayed in their teaching and influenced me to do post graduate work,” Dr. Abar said. Abar earned her M.Ed. in school psychology at Westfield State University and her Ed.D. at UMass Amherst. After graduating from Westfield State, Abar began teaching within the Palmer Public School District where she remained
for 29 years. She began as a teacher of grades four through six and was promoted to Teaching Assistant Principal of the Old Mill Pond School in 1997. During her time there, she developed and administered the After School Activities Program and served on the District/Schools Professional Development Committees. She also was chair of the Beginning Teachers Mentor Development Program and the Positive Reinforcement Committee. In 2000, Abar was appointed principal of Litwin Elementary School in Chicopee where she remained until her retirement in 2007. In addition to her teaching career, Abar is a dedicated member of the community with various volunteering experiences. She has been a member of Kiwanis Club of Westfield since 2007 and established eight new youth service clubs for the city. She is chair of the Good Citizens Awards and founded the Edwin J. Abar-Kiwanis Communication Scholarship with husband Edwin and the Kiwanis Club of Westfield. She currently serves as a volunteer docent at the Storrowton Village Museum and the
Springfield Science Museum. Abar said her strive for volunteerism stems from her desire to better her community. “We can improve our schools and communities if we all step forward to help in whatever way we can,” Dr. Abar said. “Throughout my life, I have tried to step forward whenever there was a need.” Abar has remained connected to the university. She served on the Westfield State Alumni Council and on the Westfield State University Board of Trustees from 20072012. “Serving on both of these boards gave me the opportunity to be involved with positive changes for the university and the alumni,” Abar said. The Distinguished Alumnus Award kicks off Homecoming weekend. Open to the public, the all-day Homecoming event features athletic games, music, food, beverages, reunions, and the companionship of old and new friends. The Alumni Association is offering free See Alumna Award, Page 3
2015 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA AWARD WINNER DR. SYLVIA ABAR