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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns

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my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me.”

— DUDLEY FIELD MALONEA

www.thewestfieldnews.com TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2015

VOL. 84 NO. 151

75 cents

Police probe Sunday’s fatal North Road car accident

WHS announces logo concept contest winner WESTFIELD — This week the Westfield High School ParentTe a c h e r - S t u d e n t Organization (PTSO) announced the winner of the school’s logo concept contest that began earlier this spring. After receiving over 60 logo concept submissions from students, alumni, educators, and other members of the Westfield community, the PTSO – sponsors of the contest – recently narrowed down the contenders to six finalists. Here are the names of the finalists: A. Designed by: Unknown; Submitted by: Jonathan Huntley (Grade 10) & Gabe Piepergerdes (Grade 10) B. Designed and Submitted by: Bogdan Znakharchuk (Grade 11) C. Designed and Submitted by: Madison Atkocaitis (Class of 2014) D. Designed and Submitted by: Anthony St. Pierre (Grade 10) & Bob St. Pierre (Class of 1993) E. Designed and Submitted by: Anthony St. Pierre (Grade 10) & Bob St. Pierre (Class of 1993) F. Designed and Submitted by: Alyssa Lewis (Grade 11) After tallying almost 1,000 votes, the winner of the Logo Concept Contest is Submission A, submitted by Jonathan Huntley and Gabe Piepergerdes. Huntley and Piepergerdes will work with school administration and a graphic designer to publish a final digital design that meets the wishes of the school community and professional publishing standards. Earlier this year Westfield High School administration approached the new PTSO about sponsoring the logo contest. Explaining the need to find a new logo due to the University of Wisconsin’s copyright concerns with the WHS “W” logo currently in use, Principal Jonathan Carter asked See Design, Page 3

“I have never in

award. “You provide such a wonderful and supportive environment,” Dunkley said to Bradley. Protective Service Case Manager Patti Spirito said that the work of Domestic Violence Advocate Suckau, “reduces the risk to elders in the community.” Highland Valley Elder Services Protective Services Director Dean Lagrotteria also commended the three members of the police department in a press release for their services to Westfield’s senior citizen population which includes more than 8,000 residents, substantially larger than the population of fewer than 6,000 school children in the city. “Detective Bradley has always taken time out of her busy schedule to discuss complex cases and to follow up on crimes perpetrated against elders,” Lagrotteria said. “Her skill, insight and perseverance have helped to increase the safety and well being of elders in our community. In one case, her efforts lead to the prosecution,

By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A 21-year-old Chicopee resident died Sunday night after his vehicle glanced off another vehicle and then struck a tree on the north shoulder of North Road (Route 202). Westfield Police identified the victim of the 8:48 p.m. accident as Emmanuel Almonte. Two passengers in Almonte’s vehicle were transported to area hospitals. One victim was taken to the Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and the other to Noble Hospital. Westfield, Holyoke, and state police responded to the accident scene. The Westfield Fire Department dispatched three ambulances, and engine and the rescue truck to assist with extricating victims of the accident and with transport to the hospitals. The 8:48 p.m. accident is being investigated by the Westfield Police Department Traffic Bureau and the State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Team. The Holyoke Police Department also dispatched an officer to detour traffic at the intersection of North Road with East Mountain and Old County roads while North Road was closed during the rescue effort. A Westfield Auxiliary Police Officer was dispatched to close North Road at Old Stage Road. Westfield Police report that Almonte, who was driving a 2008 Infinity, was traveling eastbound behind several friends’ vehicles, returning from a social gathering in Huntington, when the line of vehicles slowed because the front vehicle, a 2000 Nissan operated by Alison R. Crawford, was attempting to make a left turn onto Jaeger Drive. Almonte was passing the line of traffic when his vehicle struck the vehicle turning onto Jaeger Drive. Almonte’s vehicle ricocheted off the turning vehicle and slammed into a tree, causing significant damage to Almonte’s vehicle. Almonte, of 180 Chapel St., Chicopee, was declared dead by the medical examiner at the scene. A passenger in his vehicle, Fabian Almonte, was transported to the Baystate Medical Center. The operator of the vehicle turning onto Jaeger Drive, Crawford, and the passenger in her vehicle, Jacob R. Collins, were both taken to Noble Hospital for treatment. Westfield Police Captain Michael McCabe

See HVES, Page 3

See Probe, Page 3

The Highland Valley Elder Service recognized three members of the Westfield Police Department for their contributions to senior citizens in Westfield. The awards were presented Monday as part of the 10th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. From Left are: Det. RoxannBradley, Domestic Violence Advocate Donna Suckau, Patricia Spiroto and Emilia Dunkley, both with the HVES Protective Services, Det. Todd Edwards, and Julie Pearce, also of the PBES Protective Services. (Photo courtsey of the Westfield Police Department/Det. Brian Fanion)

Elder abuse prevention work recognized By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Highland Valley Elder Services commemorated the 10th Annual World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Monday by honoring members of the community whose actions reduce the risk of elders being victimized. Highland Valley Protection Services caseworkers presented certificates of recognition to three members of the Westfield Police Department, Detectives Roxanne Bradley and Todd Edwards and Domestic Violence Advocate Donna Suckau Monday at the Westfield police headquarters. Protective Services Case Manager Julie Pearce said the Westfield Police Department is one of the most proactive in the HVES service area. Pearce also noted that Westfield has one of the largest senior citizen populations in the region “Whenever we call, you respond,” Pearce, who presented Edwards with his award, said. “Thank you for working with us in the Protective Services program.” Emilia Dunkley, also a Protective Service Case Manager, presented Bradley with here

Owner says ‘dangerous dog’ never bit anybody By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – The Board of Selectmen deemed a dog dangerous last night following a hearing. Stella, a labrador-pitbull mix owned by Laura Foster, now has to be microchipped, sent to obedience training, must remain in the house or inside her outdoor pen but not tethered, and may leave the home in the owner’s vehicle while on leash. A complaint against the dog was filed by neighbors Larry and Jennifer Gates following an incident that occurred April 28. Foster said the complaint is false beause she was not in the area that day, and neither was Stella. “I was in Connecticut and she was with me,” said Foster. “My dog goes with me everywhere.” Larry Gates recounted the events of April 28 and said he noticed a dog he identified as Stella got loose while he was outside with his wife and mother-in-law. His mother-in-law left and asked him to walk her to her car and he noticed a young boy on a bike.

Gates said he yelled for the boy to go home because of the dog, and the dog then charged after Gates. He said he was able to run to his fenced yard and the dog “barked and snarled” at him, then ran off in the direction of the boy. Gates said he made sure the boy made it to his own house then called the police to report the incident. Southwick Police Officer David Massai testified Monday that he was the responding officer and he took Gates’ statement that day and the events told by Gates during the hearing were the same given April 28. Foster said Gates’ story was not the same. “His story varies from the police report,” she said. Stella was involved in another incident Jan. 19 involving another neighbor’s dog, and was reported loose again May 8. Foster agreed there were January and May incidents, but maintained that Stella was not the dog in question April 28 and she had not been loose since May 8. Foster said Police Chief David Ricardi lied about the Jan. 19 incident and stated

that Stella bit an animal control officer. Ricardi later stated in a letter to Foster that he made a mistake. Foster believes this action is part of retaliation against her for filing a complaint against Ricardi about unrelated incidents. Stella did bite another dog Jan. 19, and Foster said her dog was also bitten by that dog, however, she has never bitten a human. “I cant see what’s dangerous,” Foster said, pleading with the board to talk to her neighbor who is a former dog officer. “He has no problems with my dog,” she said. “Please talk to my neighbor – he sees no aggression in her.” Foster said she spends her entire day with Stella, often in the fenced play area in her yard, and admitted that she had been loose a few times. Foster said her dog was well-trained and not dangerous and she did not intend to send her to training. Animal Control Officer Tracy Root made the recommendations approved by See Dog, Page 3

Stella, a lab-pitbull mix dog, was deemed dangerous by the Southwick Board of Selectmen June 15. Her owner said she was not the dog accused of charging a neighbor. (Photo submitted)

Noble Medical Group and The Noble Health Network | NobleHealthNetwork.com

Expanding to Meet the Needs of Our Community

Noble Primary Care

Arthur King, MD

Elizaveta House, NP

Ira Nathanson, MD

Gary Jacobson, DO

Ramachandran Kuppuswamy, MD

Laura Gioiella, MD

Noble Medical Group is pleased to welcome nine new Physicians and Practitioners, formerly of Hampden County Physician Associates.

Viktoria Madden, PA-C

Serving patients from the following location:

Serving patients from the following location:

800 College Hwy. Southwick, MA (413) 569-2257

57 Union Street, Westfield, MA (413) 572-6050 Michelle Barnett, MD Roger Beneitone, MD


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