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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
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Oktoberfest plans in place at brewery By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The owners of the Westfield River Brewery are hoping to bring a bit of Germany to town this fall. Brewery owner Sergio Bonavita submitted an application for two one-day liquor licenses for Oct. 17-18. Bonavita spoke during the public comment portion of the Southwick Board of Selectmen meeting Monday night and outlined his plans. “We want to have an Oktoberfest behind the brewery in our hops farm,” he said. “We will have a band and serve our beer and would like the public to come.” Bonavita has met with police and said he encourages police presence at the event. Bonavita applied for another one-day license for Oct. 18 for a disc golf tournament, also to be held behind the brewery. A disc golf group out of Amherst would host an amateur tournament on Oct. 17 and a professional tournament with 90 players from around the East Coast would take place on Oct. 18. Bonavita said that on both days alcohol would be limited to a fenced area that would also include the live music performance. “The Log Cabin will be there serving food from their Rolling Log food truck,” Bonavita said. Plans also include having a cigar roller on site to roll fresh cigars. The WRB is currently open from noon to 10 p.m. on weekends, but Bonavita said he would have no problem closing at 9 p.m. for the Oktoberfest, or whatever time the board agrees would serve the event the best. “We will have a tent, porta-pottys and whatever else is necessary,” he said. Because Bonavita spoke during public comment, the board did not interact or take a vote, but chairman Joseph Deedy did ask Bonavita about the number of parking spaces available. “We have 109 parking spaces and we are planning to use the space across the street and we can park up on top of the hill,” he said. The request will be on the board’s agenda at its next meeting.
it’s the mother of all the deadly sins.”
— EDITH WHARTON
TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015
VOL. 84 NO. 188
“Beware of monotony;
Domestic Violence Advocate selected Marine pallbearers carry the casket of Marine Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan into a funeral service at Holy Cross Church in Springfield yesterday. Sullivan was one of five service members shot to death in the July 16 attack in Chattanooga. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Springfield Marine called ‘exemplary’
Brewmaster of the Westfield River Brewing Company, Sergio Bonavita, pours one of the newest homemade beers at their location at 707 College Highway in Southwick. The business is located inside the former Chucks Steak House. (WNG file photo)
SPRINGFIELD (AP) — A Massachusetts Marine killed by a gunman in Tennessee this month was remembered Monday by the Roman Catholic Bishop of Springfield as “exemplary” and “a leader and a man of true courage.” Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan, a 40-year-old Springfield native, was one of five service members killed by
a gunman in Chattanooga on July 16. The gunman was killed by police. “His deep love for his family, his selfless dedication to being a Marine and his solid faith in God helped Tommy through the many challenges that he faced in training for service, in his deployments to Iraq, in being a See Marine, Page 5
Mourners arrive at Holy Cross Church for a funeral service for Marine Gunnery Sgt. Thomas Sullivan in Springfield yesterday. Sullivan was one of five service members shot to death in the July 16 attack in Chattanooga.
By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Police Commission interviewed three finalists for the Domestic Violence Advocate/Principal Clerk position at the Westfield Police Department, and then, following a short executive session discussion, selected a police dispatcher. Police Chief John Camerota said that 25 people applied for the post and that the Human Resource Department selected five candidates whose applications were reviewed by police officials who selected the three to be interviewed Monday night. The interviews were conducted by Human Resource Director Karin Decker who asked the three candidates the same questions, with See Advocate, Page 3
SJC to hear appeal in Rintala case, defense attorney says
By DAN CROWLEY Staff Writer Daily Hampshire Gazette NORTHAMPTON — The state’s full Supreme Judicial Court will hear an appeal by defense attorney David Hoose on whether there is insufficient evidence to conduct a third trial for Cara Rintala, who is accused of strangling her wife, Annamarie Rintala, in their Granby home in March 2010. Hoose, of Northampton, had asked the SJC to dismiss the case on those grounds last year, which a single justice of the court denied. He told Hampshire Superior Court Judge Richard Carey that he was informed Thursday that the full SJC bench will now hear his appeal of that earlier decision. Prosecutors are seeking a third trial for Rintala after juries deadlocked in 2013 and 2014. She has pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder, maintaining she was running errands with her daughter when her
(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Autism community gearing up for September walk in Stanley Park
After Olympic dreams fizzle, Bostonians wonder: Now what? By PHILIP MARCELO Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Opponents are cheering the unceremonious demise of Boston's bid for the 2024 Summer Olympics, but some are wistfully wondering what might have been. The U.S. Olympic Committee officially BOSTON OLYMPICS — Page 8 severed ties with Boston on Monday, saying it was exploring other options amid lackluster public support and concerns from elected leaders and organized opposition about the impact to taxpayers. For some supporters, the announcement dashed hopes for billions of dollars in new investments that would have dramatically remade New England's largest city and further tarnished Boston's image as a city of cynics and curmudgeons with a "can't do" spirit. "I'm sad for Boston. I don't think there are any winners here," said Ed Lyons, a Boston resident who has been among the most active on social media defending the proposal. "I think a lot of people had a lot of hope and civic energy that they were willing to put into Boston 2024...That's going to be a wound that hurts for a while."" But Rafael Mares, an attorney for the Conservation Law Foundation, See Olympic Dreams, Page 3
See SJC, Page 3
Becca Matthew and her daughter Carleigh take a turn around the skating rink during the Walk Now For Autism Speaks Western New England kick-off July 23 at Interskate 91. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay)
By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Western New England Walk Now For Autism Speaks Committee kicked-off its fundraising season this week and participants are gearing up for the walk Sept. 26 at Stanley Park. The kick-off took place at Interskate 91 South in Wilbraham, where more than 100 families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder, and supporters of those families, were able to roller skate in a sensory-friendly environment. “It was wonderful to see so many families trying skating for the first time,” said Kate O’Neill, Autism Speaks senior field director. “Too often venues like a skating rink can be overwhelming to someone with a sensitivity to sound or light. We are very grateful to Interskate 91S for giving this opportunity to our families.” In this rink, on this night, accommodation was key. Music volume was kept low, lighting was subtle and consistent, and the rules were bent to allow parents in
Together we will deliver a higher state of caring... for you. 115 West Silver Street • Westfield, MA • baystatenoblehospital.org For a physician referral or appointment call 413-572-5070.
See Autism Speaks, Page 3