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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 52
TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2016
— E.B. WHITE
75 cents
Mother pays tribute to 22-year-old son killed in motorcycle accident
New grassroots group seeks artists By LORI SZEPELAK Correspodent WESTFIELD – A new grassroots group seeks to address “an arts and cultural desert” in the city. “We’ve hatched from an incubation of ideas to a fledgling grassroots organization,” noted Bill Westerlind on the group’s Facebook page – Westfield Arts and Cultural Forum – upon announcing an executive operating committee who will be taking the reins for a major event slated April 30. Cheryl Crowe will serve as creative director, Yasmin Hernandez, assistant creative director, and Westerlind as marketing and communications director. A treasurer and secretary are still sought by the group. During “Calling All Artists” organizational meetings since December, the group has attracted close to 30 artists each time, a mix of mostly performing artists, some visual artists, and a small representation of literary artists. The next planning meeting is Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at the Westfield Woman’s Club on Court Street and all interested area residents are invited to attend. “Although we are based in Westfield, our group is open to any and all artists in the surrounding communities in western Massachusetts,” said Westerlind. “We’ve encouraged all local artists to get involved and join our group – performing artists, visual artists, literary artists – we want to represent a diverse mix of artistic expression.” Westerlind noted that having lived in Westfield since 1979, he has noticed over the years “well intentioned, well researched and studied top down efforts” to bring vibrancy back to the city. “My experience with top down efforts is that on paper they may appear to be the perfect solution when in fact on the ground they can badly miss the mark,” he said. Westerlind said the new group will use a “bottom up approach” as they start growing their organization. “The buy-in and engagement is far greater when folks are asked for their input and opinions,” he said. “We’ve held three informational and discovery meetings to determine exactly what folks would like to see in Westfield in terms of the arts.” Westerlind said the arts on a consistent basis “are absent” in the city. “Westfield on Weekends executes some wonderfully successful, large-scale events which draw thousands of people in the city center,” said Westerlind. “But in between those events there is something of an arts and cultural desert in the city.” Westerlind said that after soliciting feedback from residents, artists and using real time market research, the group is giving artists what they want the most – “a place to play.” “If we can find places for the artists to ply their trade, people will come to watch them play,” he said. “If people are attracted to these events, the economic benefit is the incremental economic activity created by the event attendance.” Westerlind believes that this grassroots approach has “staying power” and is “very different” than previous efforts. “Our efforts are focused on marketing all arts and cultural events via our Facebook page and organizing and executing specific events for the benefit of our local artists,” he said. As planning for the April 30 event gets underway in earnest Wednesday night, the group is considering a “mixed arts and cultural event” which might include a day of musical stage performances, a gallery of visual art such as paintings, photography, or sculpture, literary events such as poetry readings or writing workshops, or book sales by local authors. “The size and scope is what will be determined at the March 2 organizational meeting,” he said. “This is our very first event so we want to execute very well so folks have a good time at the event and we create a very favorable impression of the Forum and our objectives.” Westerlind encourages all area artists to consider attending Wednesday night’s meeting which will be facilitated by local musician Tom Sawyer. “We can walk the facility, get a feel for the potential, and plan an awesome event,” he said. “This meeting is open to anyone interested in organizing and executing a unique and compelling event designed by and for our local artists to showcase their extraordinary talent and entertain the citizens of our community.” If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to get involved, email the executive committee at westfieldartsandculture@gmail.com.
“The only sense that is common in the long run, is the sense of change — and we all instinctively avoid it.”
STEVE DONNELLY “I took a Democratic ballot because I believe in Bernie Sanders more than Hillary”
JACQUELINE SEVIGNE “The presidential candidates”
SUPER TUESDAY! What issue was most important to you?
STEVEN OLEKSAK “Voting so that Hillary dosen’t get elected”
JOSEPH FLAHIVE “The amount of money in politics, which makes me uncomfortable”
By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A bereaved mother, trying to make sense of another recent family tragedy, wants to pay tribute to her son and remind everyone to watch out for motorcycles. Kenneth J. Dejordy, 22, was killed on February 20 after a truck collided with his motorcycle on Route 20 in Huntington. Tanya Cyr Wheeler expressed how infuriated she is by Facebook posts left on her son’s friends’ pages saying Bumper sticker seen on a Dejordy was speeding vehicle in Westfield last week. and caused the crash. (Photo by Christine Charnosky) Massachusetts State Police and troopers assigned to the State Police Detective Unit attached to the Hampshire County District Attorney’s Office have been investigating the crash, but the DA’s office has not yet released a cause for the deadly collision. According to Wheeler, charges may be filed against the driver who struck her son. Wheeler said her son had been riding dirt bikes since he was four years old and was an accomplished motorcyclist. “People need to check twice,” she said, “It doesn’t matter what the season.” She wants her son to be remembered as a “kind, compassionate, well-rounded young man.” He started volunteering at Unified Sports in Westfield when he was 11 years old, he volunteered at a soup kitchen, shoveled neighbors out after snowstorms and provided electrical work for members of their church, according to Wheeler. Dejordy graduated in 2011 with high honors from the electrical wiring program at Westfield Vocational High School, and at the time of his death was working as an electrician for Elm Electric. He was a licensed electrician in Massachusetts and Connecticut, according to Wheeler. “At the age of 22 he was getting ready to buy his first house!” she said, “That is the kind of human being this world has lost.” “Ken worked so hard his whole life. He was building a future to take care of his brother,” Garrett Dejordy, 19, who has Down Syndrome. See Tribute, Page 3
GLORIA “Save the children””
GEORGE MARTIN “The most important thing is to save the country”
Sewer rates to rise By HOPE E. could do sewer Phase I TREMBLAY over, would they include Staff Writer the interceptor. SOUTHWICK – Chief Administrative Residents will see an Officer Karl Stinehart increase in sewer rates as said when Phase I took of July 1, but how much place, much of the work of an increase is the quesfor the interceptor pipe to tion. Westfield was done. The Department of Public last segment, which the Works Director Randy town completed last Brown told the Southwick year, was not recomRANDY Board of Selectmen mended for construction BROWN Monday night that due to at the time of Phase I. the remaining cost of the Selectmen are still trysewer interceptor project, plus other ing to find a way to extend the in-town needs, rates are guaranteed sewer system down Powdermill to rise in incremental steps. Road since the school’s must have “Our sewer rates will be probably sewers per a mandate from the 35-percent higher in six years,” said Department of Environmental Brown, adding that Southwick’s Protection. Since the road will rates are already “on the high end already be torn up, board members compared to other communities.” believe it is the ideal time to extend Brown called the increase a the system so businesses and resinecessity and said operational costs dents can hook up in the future. in the department have actually “There’s a huge opportunity,” decreased over the past two years. said Selectman Douglas Moglin. “Only two things have gone up – As far as the rate increase, Brown salaries, dus to contract negotia- said it needs to be in place by July 1 tions, and debt,” Brown said. and bills will go out in the fall. Selectmen Chairman Joseph The board agreed to continue disDeedy asked Brown if the town cussions before voting on a rate.
Ken Dejordy (left) with his brother, Garrett, and sister, Katelyn Wheeler. (Submitted photo)
Area drug use forums on WSKB this week WESTFIELD – There are two opportunities this week for area residents to get informed about the opioid issue in our area. Today at 7 p.m. at Westfield High School Mayor Brian Sullivan is hosting a forum, which is open to parents, students and members of the community. This will include an informational movie and a question and answer segment. The second informational event is Thursday’s Westfield News Radio Show which will broadcast live from the Press Room cafe on School St. from 6-8am on WSKB 89.5FM, www.wskb.org or watch on atomicradio.us. Westfield News President and radio show host, Patrick Berry, will host a roundtable discussion with members of the medical and first responder communities along with a recovering addict and a drug counselor. To ask questions during the show, post them to https://www.facebook.com/The-Westfield-News115060631934881/?ref=hl