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WEATHER TONIGHT Clear and cold. Low of 19.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
— LORD ACTON
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 81
“Liberty is not the power of doing what we like, but the right to do what we ought.“
75 cents
TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016
Hammer wielder too dangerous
Teens will conduct a fundraiser April 16 to help raise funds to refurbish furniture in the Teen Loft at the Westfield Athenaeum.
Group wants to make Westfield Athenaeum go-to place for teens By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD – A flourishing group of teens have ambitious plans to make the teen loft at the Westfield Athenaeum a go-to place for city youth. Just one year old, the Teen Advisory Board (TAB) has “come a long way,” according to Heather Boettcher, teen services librarian. “I have fond memories of the three teens that came to me and told me they wanted a committee formed so they could have a say in the library and the things that happen there,” said Boettcher. “At our first meeting last March 11, we had four members and the group has grown to 13 members.” Boettcher noted since that initial meeting that TAB members have worked together on programming ideas and suggestions for items
Teens will conduct a fundraiser April 16 to help raise funds to refurbish furniture in the Teen Loft at the Westfield Athenaeum.
to order. “We have come a long way already in just this first year,” said Boettcher, adding, “Learning as we go.” For three current TAB members, the opportunity to provide input for the teen loft was “exciting.” “I wanted to get involved with the board because I am a frequent visitor of the library,” said Alexis Ayala, 16, who attends Westfield Technical Academy. “I go there mostly every day after school. I want to make the library a more comfortable and convenient place for the new teens coming in the future.” Ellie Trotto, 16, is the TAB president and echoed Ayala’s sentiments. She is a sophomore at Westfield High School. “I spent a lot of time at the library and realized that they had a lot of really fun free activities geared towards teens,” said Trotto. “I was excited to be part of planning new events and creating new programs for teens my age at the library.” Erin Drumm, 15, who attends Westfield High School, agreed with her friends. “Our first order of business was and always has been to create a safe and convenient place where teens can come to study as well as have some leisurely fun with their friends,” said Drumm, who is currently serving as TAB’s secretary. “I joined this teen advisory board in order to help my friends with this goal as well as to be able to create some new bonding experiences for us and other teens.” See Teen Loft, Page 3
By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – An hour after a 90-minute dangerousness hearing was held Monday morning for a city man who assaulted his neighbors with a hammer, Westfield District Judge Philip Contant ruled, “there is clear and convincing evidence that there are no conditions of release to reasonably assure the safety of the victims and also of the community.” Adrian B. Hinds, 25, will be held for a term not to exceed 120 days while awaiting trial on charges of two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon with serious bodily injury, two counts of armed assault to murder and one charge of animal cruelty for an assault that occurred shortly past 10 a.m. March 23. Hinds, who lived in the apartment below the victims at Southwood Acres, located at 342 Southwick Road where the assault took place, allegedly assaulted the first victim (a woman in her 20s), striking her several times on and about the head with a hammer before her roommate (a man in his 20s) and their dog came out to assist her. Hinds allegedly struck him and the dog on the head with the hammer, too. The victims were taken to Baystate Noble Hospital where they were treated and released. Assistant District Attorney Magali Montes
entered approximately 20 photographs of the victims’ injuries into evidence at Monday’s hearing. Three witnesses – a Westfield police officer, a Westfield police detective and a civilian – testified on behalf of the Commonwealth. A neighbor who allegedly witnessed the assault was not in court Monday. Hinds’ attorney, Jiacheng Yu, who asked Monday for her client to be released with a GPS monitoring device, had filed a motion Thursday demanding that the Commonwealth produce witnesses for the dangerousness hearing. Contant later denied that motion, so Monday’s witnesses testified voluntarily. The defense didn’t call any witnesses, but did thoroughly cross-examine all three witnesses. Adrian Hinds stands for Judge Philip Contant’s ruling to keep him behind bars until trial at his dangerousness hearing Monday, April 4, 2016 in Westfield District Court. (Photo by Christine Charnosky) The main point of contention between the Commonwealth and defense was a motive for the vicious assault. The defendant’s mother, Shirley Hinds, told The Westfield News that the victims allegedly slashed all four tires on their Porsche that morning, which is allegedly See Hearing, Page 3
Southwick recognizes the gift of life By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – Paul Hood is very grateful to a 70-year-old woman he has never met. Because of her, Hood is alive today. Hood, a Southwick resident, received the Kansas City woman’s liver in January and showed his gratitude last night during a celebration of Donate Life Month at Southwick Town Hall. The event is organized
annually by Susan Sanders, a Southwick woman who received a heart transplant in 2008. “I’ve learned do not take anything for granted . . . one person, one rainbow, one breath,” she said Monday night. After receiving her heart, Sanders became an advocate for Donate Life, and its organ, eye and tissue donation program. “In Massachusetts alone, over 3,300 people are waiting for a transplant,” she said. “Across America,
122,000 men, women, and children await lifesaving transplants. To put that in perspective, that is more people than could fill Fenway Park three times.” Sanders said she often finds ways to “start that conversation” about becoming an organ/tissue donor. “I tell them how one person can affect over 50 lives . . . How no one is too old,” she said. Hood learned that lesson himself. See Donate Life, Page 3
Snow day Matt Gomes and his daughter Kaitlyn age 2 enjoy the early April snow at the Westfield Vocational Technical Academy where he works as the carpentry teacher.
Nicholas Lacomb age 8 and Natalie Lacomb age 6 enjoy the sledding at East Mountain Country Club. (Photos by Kellie Adam)