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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 84 NO. 229
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015
See Girl Scouts, Page 3
JACOB A. LISHENESS
City man called a danger to the community, denied bail By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A city man was led out of Westfield District Court in handcuffs Monday on a probation violation after being arrested over the weekend on new charges of trafficking cocaine. Judge Philip A. Contant said that Jacob A. Lisheness, 32, is a danger to the community and is being held without the right to bail pending the outcome of a case that dates back to May. At a July 10 arraignment, Lisheness was released on his personal recognizance after being charged with two counts of threat to commit a crime for allegedly arranging for three men to go to the Sky Box Sports Bar, located at 25 Point Grove Road, on May 10 to beat up a patron. He also allegedly threatened to rape and kill an 18-year-old bartender if she interfered with his plan. Lisheness was due back in Westfield District Court last week for a pretrial hearing on that case, but his attorney didn’t appear, so the case was continued till September 29. On Monday, Lisheness’ private attorney, Donald Stolgitis, said he’ll be looking to file a
ANGELINA G. PAGANO
— DAME AGATHA CHRISTIE
75 cents
Girls Scouts gear up for new school year By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD – Pat O’Connor has seen firsthand how the Girl Scouts has evolved since she was a Brownie growing up in Ludlow. “When I was young we spent a lot of time on earning badges,” she said. “Today all of the programs are simplified and have a global perspective.” On Oct. 6 at 6:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church on 127 Holyoke Road, O’Connor will be on hand with other troop leaders in the city to register girls for the new school year. National studies from the Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI) show it’s not just what girls do, but how they do it that makes Girl Scouts so beneficial, according to Dana Carnegie, communications manager, Girl Scouts of Central & Western Massachusetts, based in Holyoke. “Girl Scouts is unique because girls get to learn by doing, and they do so in a girl-led environment,” said Carnegie. “This means that, in addition to girls learning in a hands-on and active way, they are encouraged to choose their activities, decide which topics they want to explore, and determine how they want to go about exploring them.” O’Connor, now entering her 11th year as a troop leader, encourages others in the community to consider being a Girl Scout volunteer. O’Connor and co-leader Lisa Stawasz oversee Troop #40230, and O’Connor and Cindy Waite are co-leaders for Troop #40222. Both troops meet every other week at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Church. Girl Scout volunteers come from all walks of life; they are women, men, young professionals, retirees, and college students,
“It is a curious thought, but it is only when you see people looking ridiculous that you realise just how much you love them.”
SELINA M. HINE motion to dismiss the threat to commit a crime charges due to a procedural error. Now Lisheness will be held until at least September 29 when all the charges will be heard, including the most recent charges of cocaine trafficking in 36-100 grams and conspiracy to violate drug law with two co-defendants. At 10:30 p.m. Friday night, police stopped a vehicle, in which Lisheness was a passenger, near the Evangelical Free Church, located at 568 Southwick Road, for probable cause of drug trafficking. Police, including detectives and officers from a number of communities, had reason to believe the group had gone to Hartford to pick up cocaine, which they intended to distribute in the Westfield/Southwick area, Westfield Police Capt. Michael McCabe said Monday morning. The driver, Angelina G. Pagano, 22, of Westfield, and Lisheness’ girlfriend, Selina M. Hine, 21, of Westfield were also charged with cocaine trafficking in 36-100 grams and conspiracy to violate drug law. Another male occupant of the car wasn’t arrested nor charged. See City Man, Page 3
Council’s L&O to discuss pending issues tonight By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Legislative & Ordinance Committee will discuss two motions tonight dealing with regulating E-cigarettes and with access to fire hydrants, both of which are poised to become curve balls when the City Council meets Thursday. L&O Chairman RALPH FIGY Ralph Figy, the Ward 2 council representative, said this morning that he had planned to refer a motion of At-large Councilor David A. Flaherty to regulate nicotine delivering devices “the same a regular smoking products, to the council’s Public Health & Safety Committee and to the Law Department. “I was told by Shanna Reed of the Law Department that the Board of Health is already dealing with this issue,” Figy said. “So I may recommend that the City Council take no action at this time and that we wait and see what action is taken by the Health Department, which may also include raising the minimum age to21 to purchase tobacco and related products.” Health Boards across the Commonwealth, under state law, have the authority to establish policies to protect the health of the public. Those policies have the same legal weight as local ordinances and by-laws. Local health boards often frequently adopt policies which eventually are adopted by the state Legislature as state law. An example is the smoking ban, which is now a state law, but was initially adopted piecemeal by local health boards. More than 50 health boards have already adopted policies either regulating e-nicotine products or raising the legal age to 21 years to purchase those products, which could lead to legislative action. “My thought is to wait to see what happens rather than having to amend the ordinance several times,” Figy said this morning. See L&O Tonight, Page 3
License board approves two applications By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The License Commission voted Monday night to approve two license to serve alcoholic beverages needed to operate businesses on Elm Street, but with conditions that the applicants submit a security plan as part of their applications. Both of the proposed establishments will be located in at formerly licensed business sites. The Pahk at 285-287 Elm Street was formerly the location of the Fired Up bar, while Ebenezer’s, located at 110 Elm Street, will occupy the building where Paddy’s was located. Richard Dowling said the Pahk (Park pronounced with a Boston accent) will be operated as a sports bar and will serve pre-packaged food typical of sports venues. Dowling, which has worked in both
the food and alcohol service industries, said he is aware that a sports bar may attract a younger clientele because Westfield is a college town. The commission members questioned Dowling on the measures he plans to implement to prevent underaged drinking and for security, which includes the public sidewalk outside the building. The commission members noted problems at the former Fired Up, especially on public property at closing. Dowling said that he plans to train all staff members and to have security personnel, with communication equipment, posted at doors and outside at closing. Dowling said that he will also acquire technology, such as identification scanners, to check patron identification because many university students are from other states.
The commission voted to approve an all-alcoholic general on premises (GOP) license, but also included the condition that Dowling submit a security plan before that license is issued. Dave Ebenezer petitioned the commission to a restaurant license that he will use to operate Ebenezer’s Bar & Grill at 110 Elm Street, the former location of Paddy’s. Ebenezer, a Hadley police officer, said he has operated Ebenezer’s Pub in South Hadley for the past three years and will bring some of his current experienced employees to Westfield. All staff members will be TIP (Training and Intervention Procedures for Servers of alcohol) certified. Ebenezer said that the facility will See License Board, Page 3
The Westfield License Commission voted to send a letter of reprimand to the owner of the Fired Up bar after conducting a review of an altercation, witnessed by a police officer, which occurred at closing time on the sidewalk in front of the establishment in April of 2013. (File photo by Frederick Gore)