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The Westfield News
“The truth is lived, not taught.” — Hermann Hesse
Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 186
75 cents
TUESDAY, AUGUST 9, 2016
Man falls from Great River bridge By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD — A local man fell from a bridge over the weekend, authorities said. Westfield Police and Fire Departments were originally called around 8 p.m. Saturday evening, for a man that had fallen from the Great River Bridge.
The man fell from the bridge–which officials say is roughly 30 feet high–after leaning over a rail near a set of stairs that led to the railroad trestle. Police said that alcohol may have played a factor. The fall was witnessed by the man’s son, who called 911 along with a bystander. The man was originally reported in and out of
consciousness, according to Westfield Police. The victim was transported to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield by Westfield Fire paramedics, where he is currently listed in fair condition. No names and ages of the involved parties have been released.
Road rage leads to arrest By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–Police said a road rage incident turned violent and resulted in one man behind bars. The incident occurred on Saturday after John M. FerrerHernandez, 28, of Westfield, reportedly took a left turn onto a street and a vehicle drove up to him and nearly hit his car. Ferrer-Hernandez reportedly followed the other driver to his home, where he tried to confront him over the issue. Police could not release the identity of the other driver. Police said that FerrerHernandez confronted the unnamed motorist in his driveway. The unnamed driver allegedly proceeded to strike FerrerHernandez’s car with a golf club. Police said this prompted FerrerHernandez to allegedly brandish a firearm toward the unnamed driver, which was also witnessed by another person who called 911. No injuries or gunshots were JOHN M. FERRERreported. HERNANDEZ Police questioned the two drivers and said that the two stories largely matched. Police arrested Ferrer-Hernandez and charged him with assault with a deadly weapon–a firearm–but elected to not arrest the unnamed driver. Police had no comment on why the second driver was not arrested.
New law will increase state’s reliance on renewable energy By STEVE LeBLANC Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — The state will ramp up its reliance on renewable and alternative sources of energy under a bill signed into law by Republican Gov. Charlie Baker. The new law requires utilities to solicit long-term contracts with offshore wind farm developers to bring at least 1,600 megawatts of wind energy, enough to power about 240,000 homes, to Massachusetts in the next decade. It also encourages the delivery of larger supplies of Canadian hydropower and other renewables, provides incentives for utilities to develop energy storage technology and sets new requirements for the repair of natural gas leaks. Baker signed the bill Monday on the lawn of the Statehouse, saying it represents one of the largest commitments of any state to renewable energy. Supporters called the law a critical step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which are blamed for contributing to climate change, but they said it doesn't go far enough. Baker and others also have pointed to the need to replace energy sources that are leaving the New England electrical grid, including the Pilgrim nuclear plant in Plymouth, scheduled to shut down in 2019. Baker described the new law as a "very important and very big milestone for not just the Commonwealth of Massachusetts but for New England," by helping ensure that the state's future energy needs are met while also reducing its carbon footprint. Part of that goal is met by the law's requirement that utilities contract for about 1,200 megawatts of renewable energy See Renewable, Page 3
Select Board members are discussing the details of the work session. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Marijuana dispensary discussed in Southwick By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Select Board held a work session on Monday night before their regular meeting. Several town officials were present at the session including Chairperson of the Planning Board Roz Terry, Board of Health Agent Tom Fitzgerald, and Sgts. Sanders and Landis of the Southwick Police Department. The work session was on behalf of a proposal from HealthWise Foundation Inc. A non-profit collective from Pittsfield, Mass. represented by James McMahon and Christopher Acosta. McMahon and Acosta were present to pitch their intended proposal to the Select Board. The proposal is to have a medical marijuana retail store at 185 College Hwy in Southwick. McMahon started off the session by giving his idea of why the proposal would work with the Town of Southwick. The last business to operate on 185 College Hwy was Berkshire Bank. Knowing that the bank already had the proper safety and security precautions in place, it is an important aspect towards the site plan for HealthWise. “If we’re not secure, we won’t have the ability to be transparent,” said McMahon during the work session. HealthWise Foundation Inc. already has a 153,000 square foot facility in North Brookfield, Mass. where all of the production and processing for the medical marijuana is done. For this particular location on 185 College Hwy, McMahon mentioned that the process for this proposal started in Aug. 2015. HealthWise has already gone through the first two
Weld: Interest in Libertarian ticket picking up By STEVE LeBLANC Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Libertarian vice presidential nominee William Weld says he's seen interest and fundraising pick up as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's campaign has struggled recently. Weld said he's spoken with a handful of Republican members of Congress who are considering reassessing their endorsements for the fall election. "The ice is cracking a little bit," he said Monday. Weld is running with Libertarian
Party presidential nominee and former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson. Weld made his comments as he delivered a final batch of signatures to guarantee the two former Republicans a spot on the November ballot in Massachusetts. The former Massachusetts governor said momentum is growing for the Libertarian ticket. The immediate goal, he said, is to reach the 15 percent threshold needed in polls to secure a spot on the debate stage with Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.
"That step alone would probably carry us past 15 percent, closer to 20 percent, and work on getting another 5 percent, which I think is a modest goal in the month of September," he said. Weld said he's known Johnson for 20 years. He said they get along so well, even enjoying playing backgammon or pool together on the campaign trail, that they would work closely together if elected. "I'm not going to even have my personal staff as vice president, because we See Weld, Page 3
steps with the state of Massachusetts. They are now in the process of working on the siting profile, which directly focuses on working with the Town of Southwick. As there has been no challenge by Mass. law regarding medical marijuana, the focus for HealthWise still is to ensure that they want to be an active part of the community of Southwick and not seen in a negative light. “Our main goal is to have zero effect on the town,” said McMahon. As this proposal for the retail store at 185 College Hwy is still in the early stages, further details about the proposed store were discussed. Town officials were curious about some basic information about the plan of the store. McMahon and Acosta said that the legal minimum age requirement for customers at the retail store would be 21 years old. As far as the cost for the medical marijuana patients, $350 an ounce would be the set price. Further information will continue to be revealed once the process goes further. HealthWise has a deadline to submit their siting profiles by December 15 to the state. Although this was a work session in front of the Select Board and several other town officials, a decision on the proposal was not an option. The work session was a more informal way for the two representatives of HealthWise to voice their passion for the plan to the Town of Southwick and answer any questions that people may have had. The field of medical marijuana is a passion for both McMahon and Acosta as they have seen the way medical marijuana can help a patient in a time of need. “It’s a personal connection for us,” said McMahon. “We feel there’s a need for it.”