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WEATHER TONIGHT Clear skies. Low of 28.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
— WILLIAM G.T. SHEDD
www.thewestfieldnews.com
75 cents
TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2016
VOL. 85 NO. 75
“A ship is safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.”
One-year-old treated for heroin overdose
Rick Gaylord assembles the eco-friendly cleaning supplies Eco-friendly cleaning supplies will be used during a cleanthat are used each year during a clean-up day at The Old up day at The Old Burying Ground off Mechanic Street. Burying Ground.
Many hands needed to preserve city’s history By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD – For individuals of all ages who have patience and a gentle touch, the Westfield Historical Commission is asking for your assistance on June 4. A clean-up day at The Old Burying Ground on Mechanic Street is planned June 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and area residents are invited to join the commission members in this yearly endeavor. “Our mission is to restore and preserve this historic city landmark and one day soon, open it up full-time as a public park to be enjoyed by everyone,” said Cindy Gaylord, commission chairperson. Gaylord noted that all cleaning supplies will be provided but volunteers may want to bring gloves and rakes. “We use only special eco-friendly cleaning supplies for the stones,” she said. “If anyone has a hand-held large pump water sprayer to bring that would be very much appreciated.” The Old Burying Ground is guarded by a wrought iron fence and gate, but vandalism is still an ongoing occurrence. “We would like the community’s help to get more people invested in caring for this site,” she said. “If more people are watching over it, hopefully it will lead to a decrease in vandalism.” Gaylord said that over the years many stones have disappeared, have been broken or knocked over. “I don’t think these people who take
The Scott family, William, Andrew, Sarah and Nora, were on hand last year at the annual clean-up day at The Old Burying Ground. the stones have any idea how historic and irreplaceable they are,” she said. What sets the historic cemetery apart from others in the city is its age, said Gaylord. “The cemetery is believed to be among, if not the oldest, historic cemetery in Massachusetts still located in its original location,” she said. An “open gate day” is planned June 11 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. with commission members on hand to answer questions about the site. “People visit the cemetery for various reasons,” said Gaylord. “Some have ancestors buried there, some
have an interest in Westfield’s history, and some are interested in the beautifully carved stones which are no longer seen in present day cemeteries. We also have veterans buried at the cemetery from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.” Several of Gaylord’s fifth grade students from Munger Hill Elementary School are also planning to dress in colonial costume portraying some of the people buried there on open gate day. “We did this about five years ago and it was very well received,” she said.
By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Police were called to Baystate Noble Hospital Friday night where a one-year-old was being treated for a heroin overdose. A call came in at 8:42 p.m. Friday night for “officer wanted,” according to police logs. The logs state: “Baystate Nobler ER is reporting a oneyear-old male child overdose victim of heroin. The patient was brought in by (his) mother.” The Westfield Detective Bureau responded to the call, reporting to the hospital and to the home address to “secure the scene,” according to police logs. “It appears to be an accidental opioid overdose,” Westfield Police Captain Mike McCabe said. When asked whether the mother or any adults would be charged, he said he could provide no further information at this time. Westfield District Court didn’t have any record of arrests related to this incident. Staff Writer Christine Charnosky can be reached at christinec@thewestfieldnewsgroup.com
Man who attacked neighbors, dog, with hammer has long criminal record By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A man charged with attacking his neighbors and their dog with a hammer is being held without right to bail at least until Wednesday. Adrian B. Hinds, 25, of 342 Southwick Road, who so brutally assaulted the victims that witnesses could hear the victims screaming and hear the hammer striking the victims’ heads, will have a pretrial dangerousness hearing on Wednesday in Westfield District Court to determine whether he is eligible for release while awaiting trial. Hinds was arraigned in Westfield District Court on Friday, a day after being arrested by Springfield Police, two days after the assault. He is charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon with serious bodily injury, two counts of armed assault to murder and one charge of animal cruelty, according to court logs. Hinds has eleven entries in his Massachusetts Criminal History record including assault with a dangerous weapon, assault, threatening, resisting arrest, malicious destruction of property and four charges of assault and battery on a police officer, according to Westfield Det. Anthony Tsatsos’ Statement of Facts. The assault occurred just past 10 a.m. Wednesday morning at Southwood Acres, located at 342 Southwick Road where Hinds and the victims live. Westfield Police Capt. Michael McCabe said the victims suffered severe lacerations to their skulls during the unprovoked attack. The first victim, a woman in her 20s, had just exited the apartment building when Hinds came up behind her and grabbed the backpack she was wearing causing her to fall and strike her face, according to Tsatsos’ report. While she was on the ground, “Hinds began hitting her with See Record, Page 3
Southwick wants to restrict who can run for political office By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – Selectman Douglas Moglin told the Board of Selectman Monday he plans to submit an article for the May 17 Annual Town Meeting this week. The article would restrict town employees from being an elected member of the Southwick Board of Selectmen. Moglin said in the recent past, problems plagued the town when a town employee was elected. “It’s a detriment to the department in which the
employee works,” said Moglin. “It’s a detriment to the Board, and it creates issues in town because the selectmen wear so many hats.” Moglin said when a town employee is elected to the board, he or she becomes “a two-tailed dog.” “As a selectman, that person has authority over the CAO (chief administrative officer), but the CAO is that person’s boss,” Moglin said. Moglin was elected last year to the seat vacated by former Selectwoman Tracy Cesan, who chose not to run for re-election. Moglin referenced her time on the
board as an example of why he believes the article is needed. Cesan is the Southwick Fire Department administrative assistant and was previously the assistant to the Southwick Parks and Recreation Commission. Cesan’s term on the Board of Selectman was marked by concerns related to her employment by the town and her position as an elected official. Moglin said he was drafting the article with the town attorney and would have it submitted by the April 1 deadline. The Annual Town Meeting is set for May 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Southwick Regional School.
DOUGLAS MOGLIN