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WEATHER TONIGHT T-storms early. Low of 68.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
“Men for the sake of getting a living forget to live.” MARGARET FULLER
www.thewestfieldnews.com TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2015
VOL. 84 NO. 169
Tsarnaev files motion for new trial BOSTON (AP) — Lawyers for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev filed a motion for a new trial Monday, less than two weeks after he was formally sentenced to death for the 2013 attack. The motion did not contain any details on Tsarnaev’s legal arguments, saying only that a new trial is “required in the interests of justice.” Tsarnaev, 21, was convicted of 30 federal charges in the bombing, which killed three people and injured more than 260. The same jury recommended the death penalty, and a federal judge on June 24 sentenced him to death. Tsarnaev’s lawyers call the motion a “placeholder” until they can file a more detailed motion next month. The defense also filed a request for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Both motions are routinely filed by defense lawyers asking a judge to toss out the jury’s verdict. A spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz did not immediately return a call seeking comment. During his trial, Tsarnaev’s lawyers admitted that he and his brother planted two pressure-cooker bombs near the finish line of the marathon. They argued that his older brother, Tamerlan, was the mastermind of the attack and asked the jury to sentence him to life in prison instead of to death. Tamerlan was killed during an escape attempt several days after the bombings.
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State House, Senate seek budget agreement
The Westfield River Watershed Association (WRWA) plans to label storm drains in Southwick this summer.
Watershed group tackles Southwick storm drains WESTFIELD – The Westfield River Watershed Association (WRWA) has labeled thousands of storm drains in Westfield and the Hilltowns and will now tackle Southwick this summer. Volunteers are needed on Saturday, July 11 and the following Saturday, July 18. You may have noticed colorful disks reading, “No Dumping – Drains to River,” that WRWA volunteers have applied on the curbing or pavement near storm drains in Westfield and some Hilltowns over the past several years. In towns abutting the Westfield River, any kind of waste that finds its way into the storm drains ends up in the river without undergoing any sanitary sewage treatment. In Southwick, located within the Westfield River watershed, the storm drains flow with-
out treatment into tributaries of the Westfield River. A new label design will read, “No Dumping. Drains to Waterways.” Volunteers should meet at 9 a.m. in the parking lot of the Gristmill shopping plaza on the corner of the Route 10/202 and Route 57 intersection for work assignments. Wear older clothes (the adhesive can be messy) and bring sunscreen and water. We’ll be working in different areas of town until about noon. The streets must be dry for the adhesive to work, so recent or ongoing rain will cause postponement. Contact Mike Young at 413562-8498 before 10:00 pm on the evening before for more information. You can learn more about WRWA and future events by visiting www.westfieldriver. org.
Southampton offers event for Hazard Mitigation Plan SOUTHAMPTON — Southampton residents, businesses, and surrounding community representatives are invited to provide comments on the update of the Town of Southampton Hazard Mitigation Plan on Tuesday, July 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Southampton Town Hall, 210 College Highway. The plan is being updated by the Town with assistance from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). All members of the public, business owners, and representatives from surrounding communities are welcome to attend the event.
The meeting will include an overview of the hazard mitigation planning process and a discussion of existing mitigation initiatives addressing natural hazards in Southampton. Municipal officials and PVPC staff will be available to answer questions and listen to comments on the draft plan. This planning effort is being undertaken to help the Town of Southampton assess the risks faced from natural hazards, identify action steps that can be taken to prevent damage to property and loss of life, and prioritize funding for mitigation efforts. A mitigation action is any action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from hazards.
Cosby said he got drugs to give women for sex By MARYCLAIRE DALE Associated Press PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bill Cosby testified in 2005 that he got Quaaludes with the intent of giving them to young women he wanted to have sex with, and he admitted giving the sedative to at least one woman and “other people,” according to documents obtained Monday by The Associated Press. The AP had gone to court to compel the release of the documents; Cosby’s lawyers had objected on the grounds that it would embarrass their client. The 77-year-old comedian was testifying under oath in a lawsuit filed by a former Temple University employee. He testified he gave her three half-pills of Benadryl. Cosby settled that sexual-abuse lawsuit for undisclosed terms in 2006. His lawyers in the Philadelphia case did not immediately return phone calls Monday. Cosby has been accused by more than two dozen women of sexual misconduct, including allegations by many that he
BILL COSBY drugged and raped them in incidents dating back more than four decades. Cosby, 77, has never been criminally charged, and most of the accusations are barred by statutes of limitations. Cosby resigned in December from the board of trustees at Temple, where he was the popular face of the Philadelphia school in advertisements, fundraising campaigns and commencement speeches. Bill Cosby controversy: A decade in the making
The Associated Press The sexual assault allegations that resurfaced against Bill Cosby first became public in 2005 after a former employee of his alma mater, Temple University, claimed he had drugged and abused her a year earlier at his suburban Philadelphia home. Testimony in that case was unsealed Monday after court action by The Associated Press. Here’s how the controversy over the allegations, some dating to the 1960s, has unfolded: ——— Andrea Constand tells police in her native Ontario on Jan. 13, 2005, that Cosby assaulted her a year earlier at his mansion in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania. She said he invited her home after a restaurant dinner, gave her pills for stress and tension, then helped her to a sofa when she became dizzy and sick. She recalled him touching her breast and placing her hand on his penis, and said
By STEVE LeBLANC Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Top Democratic leaders in the Massachusetts House and Senate said Monday negotiators from both chambers are continuing to hammer out a compromise state budget for the fiscal year that started last week. The six-member conference committee has been meeting behind closed doors for several weeks to resolve differences over the $38 billion spending plan. The state, meanwhile, has been operating since July 1 on a $5.5 billion stopgap budget that will remain in place until the end of the month or until Gov. Charlie Baker signs a final budget. House Speaker Robert DeLeo — speaking to reporters after a weekly leadership meeting with Baker and Senate President Stan Rosenberg — said that the negotiations are moving in the right direction. “Hopefully we’re progressing forward and not inching backward,” DeLeo said. Rosenberg said the committee is continuing to work hard to come up with a final comprise budget. “We want them to get it right and they are taking the time they need to get it right,” Rosenberg said. Once the committee releases the final budget plan, it must go back to each legislative chamber for a final up-or-down vote. The budget cannot be amended at this step in the process. After the budget is approved, it is sent along to Baker, who has ten days to review it and issue any vetoes to specific line items before signing the budget. Lawmakers can vote to override the vetoes. See State Budget, Page 3
American Legion installs officers WESTFIELD — Hampden County District 3 of The American Legion Auxiliary Installation of Officers for 2015-2016 took place at Amelia Ice Arena in Westfield on Saturday June 27. District 3 Director Ann Johnson from Southwick Unit 338 was the installing officers. Officers installed were: Sr. Vice Director Janice O’Connor from Indian Orchard Unit 277, Jr. Vice Director PDD Mary Magiera from Liberty Unit 430, Treasurer Past Department President Bonnie Sladeski from Charles C. Kennedy Unit 275, Historian Vivien Moulden from Harrison A. Wright American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 289, Sergeant-At-Arms Erna Jimmo from West Springfield Unit 207, Executive Committee Members PDD Bonnie Roberts from Indian Orchard Unit 277, Past Department President Donna Kmelius from Charles C. Kennedy Unit 275, Peg Smith from Southwick Unit 338 and Terri Balboni from Liberty Unit 430. Absent to be installed at our Sept Meeting – Sept 20th: Amelia Ice Arena Secretary Maureen Cragen from West Springfield Unit 207, Chaplain Past Department President Carolyn Baranowski from Charles C. Kennedy Unit 275, Executive Committee Members Past Department President Mary Ann Ventulett from West Springfield Unit 207, Gay Bronsord from West Springfield Unit 207 and Jen Hamre from Liberty Unit 430. The World’s Largest Women’s Patriotic Service Organization: For nearly a century, the American Legion Auxiliary has been serving, helping, and meeting the needs of our nation’s veterans, military, and their families—both here and abroad. We are the wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, grandmothers, granddaughters and great-granddaughters of veterans who served our great country during times of war. Some of us are veterans ourselves. If you would like to join us please contact your local American Legion Auxiliary or The American Legion Auxiliary Department of Massachusetts for contact information regarding a Unit close to you at Telephone: (617) 727-2958 FAX: (617) 727-0741 or E-mail: masslegion-aux@verizon.net.
See Cosby, Page 3
Baystate is proud to welcome Noble Hospital to our health-care family. For years, we have partnered in many areas including rehabilitation, lab services, heart & vascular care, women’s services, and neurology. We know that a closer relationship will only be better for patients and for our community. Together, we will keep the best care local. We will provide a well-coordinated, cost-effective and high-quality regional system of care. Together, we will deliver a higher state of caring…for you.
115 West Silver Street | Westfield, MA For a physician referral or appointment call 413-572-5070.
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