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WEATHER TONIGHT Partly cloudy. Low of 46.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
“Life resembles
a novel more often than novels resemble life.” — GEORGE SAND
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 84 NO. 235
Gateway towns seek state grant By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – The Gateway Towns Advisory Committee (GTAC) will meet this Saturday from 9:3011:30 a.m. in Stanton Hall to give an update and presentation on the progress of the Gateway Collaborative Task Force. The presentation is being prepared for a public forum tentatively scheduled for October 15 in Stanton Hall to launch the Task Force. A working group met last week to strategize on future steps, and how to get support for their efforts. Derrick Mason, GTAC co-moderator, said the group is working on setting up a meeting with the Governor’s staff in Springfield to discuss the task force, and to ask for support in the form of a grant. The group is interested in hiring the services of a consultant to help look at short- and long-term solutions to allow the school district and towns to continue to provide a quality education, to improve the economic infrastructure in the towns, and to attain financial stability for the district. Mason said that Southern and Northern Berkshire counties have both formed task forces, but they are focused solely on education. “We’re looking for that, plus trying to resolve some of the economic infrastructure issues,” he said. “We look at it more holistically.” Mason also said that Gateway and the School Committee are working on a visioning process of their own. He said the task force needs to incorporate what they’re doing, and end up on the same page. “Not necessarily on the same page,” Joseph Kearns of Middlefield. “But in the same direction.” Several members of the working group will be sharing the presentation with their select boards in hopes of getting them on board before the public launch. State officials will also be invited to the public forum. Other topics for discussion at this Saturday’s GTAC meeting will include updates on the current school budget crisis, including Gateway’s budget and state funding for FY 2016, Wired West progress in the hilltowns, and GTAC priorities for the next few months. Concerned residents of the seven Gateway District towns, members of Select Boards and Finance Committees, Gateway teachers, staff and leadership are urged to participate in this monthly conference which addresses regional issues. For more information, contact GTAC co-moderators, Darlene McVeigh 413-667-3049 or Derrick Mason 413-364-3453.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2015
75 cents
Drowning victim leaves behind 10 siblings By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The teen who drowned in the Westfield River on Sunday has been identified as David Shovgan of Chicopee, who leaves behind 10 older siblings and his parents, Sergy and Lidiya Shovgan. Westfield police said the 14-year-old was swimming with friends Sunday afternoon near the Great River Bridge when he went under the water. Rescuers found the boy about 20 to 30 minutes later and rushed him to Baystate Noble Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Aleksandr Ptselnikov set up a David Shovgan Memorial Page on the crowdsourcing website, youcaring.com “on Behalf of Mom and Dad.” Ptselnikov said that the whole family, which includes four brothers and six sisters, was there and prayed together around David in his hospital room at 4 p.m. Sunday. “On November 13, 2000, God gave us a precious gift, a baby boy, David. On Sunday, September 20th God called David back home,” according to www.youcaring.com/david-shovgan-437234. Shovgan became out of breath when he was swimming with friends on Sunday, his brother-in-law Ptselnikov said. “The guys with him tried to help, but they couldn’t hold him, and he had passed out already in the water,” said Ptselnikov. “They were trying to grab him, but he slipped from their hands.” Police received a 911 call at 2:24 p.m. Sunday regarding a reported drowning, said Westfield Police Sgt. Michael Chechile. Westfield Police and Fire departments, and State Police helicopters, searched the river north of Hanover Street for the victim, Chechile said. Ptselnikov said that Shovgan didn’t have any known medical conditions that would have caused to him to drown. “We didn’t expect nothing like this to happen,” he said. Shovgan, who was homeschooled, was “very social,” said Ptselnikov. The youcaring site states: “David was truly a blessing to our family. He is remembered as a smart, friendly teenager who enjoyed spend-
DAVID SHOVGAN ing time in church, with his friends and family (especially the nephews and nieces). He also liked playing sports and reading.” Ptselnikov said that David prayed every night and enjoyed reading the Bible. Shovgan’s mother is taking comfort in believing that her youngest child is with God, he added. This is the second drowning in the Westfield River in less than two months. In July, 18-year-old Roberto Martinez of Springfield died while saving a friend who nearly drowned. “It’s a weird river because it’s a winding river,” Westfield Police Capt. Michael McCabe said in July. “Elbows create deep pools and that’s where the swiftest currents are.” A wake will be held for Shovgan at the Southwick Baptist Church, located at 261 College Highway in Southwick, from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday and funeral services will be held at the church at 10 a.m. Saturday. Donations to help with Shovgan’s funeral expenses can be made at www.youcaring.com/david-shovgan-437234. As of early Tuesday morning, nearly $11,000 had been raised by 104 supporters surpassing the $10,000 goal. ——— Staff Writer Christine Charnosky can be reached at christinec@thewestfieldnewsgroup.com
Three new members appointed to Park & Rec By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Park and Recreation Commission has three new members. The Board of Selectmen held a joint meeting with the Commission last night and approved the appointment of Patrick Roche, David DeiDolori and Michael Massarelli. The Board approved the members unanimously but Commissioners Jeanne Reed Waldron and John Whalley voted against the three candidates proposed by Selectman Russell Fox. Following the vote, Waldron and Whalley said they had hoped to
appoint John Westcott, current maintenance director for the town. The Commission interviewed five candidates for two seats last
month after longtime commissioners Kelly Magni and Susan Grabowski resigned. Since then, commissioner Daniel Call resigned because he is moving out of town. Two weeks ago the Board was supposed to appoint two members but delayed the vote because one member was out of town for a family emergency. At that meeting, the commissioners said they wanted to appoint members not entrenched in sports and wanted at least one member who would focus on the Swamp Trail Park and Prifti Park. DeiDolori and Massarelli are
Massachusetts natural gas prices expected to drop for winter BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts residents who heat their homes with natural gas are expected to see lower bills this winter after two of the state’s major utilities filed for lower winter rates on Monday. Eversource Energy submitted a gas supply rate that’s 31 percent lower than last year. That could save a typical customer who uses natural gas for heating, cooking and hot water about $30 per month
to an average of about $140, the company said. Bill Akley, president of Gas Operations for Eversource, said customers will be paying less for natural gas this year thanks to a
drop in regional supply prices. National Grid, meanwhile, has proposed rates that would save the typical residential natural gas customer up to $7 per month. The utility said an anticipated drop in the cost of natural gas along with a credit that reconciles the cost difference between gas purchased last year and what customers were billed are both contributing to the lower price proposal.
The National Grid proposals are offset by an increase in the cost of some services, including energy efficiency programs and gas system enhancements. If approved by the state Department of Public Utilities, the new rates would take effect on Nov. 1. National Grid has about 900,000 natural gas customers in Massachusetts, while Eversource has about 300,000.
both umpires but both new commissioners said they would serve the commission in any capacity. DeiDolori was a member of the Board of Appeals for 12 years and was an active coach for the Southwick Recreation Center for many years. He told commissioners last week that he was looking for a new way to serve the town and had time to devote to the position. “There’s no limit on my time,” he said, noting that he is self-employed. Roche has also served the town previously as a Park and Recreation Commissioner but he was not re-elected in the spring due to an oversight. Roche said he has continued helping the Commission as a volunteer at Whalley Park and would like to be a member again. Massarelli does not have a background in municipal service but he said he has a desire to serve and a flexible schedule. “This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said. “I want to do something for the town as a volunteer.” The three new commissioners must be sworn-in with the town clerk. Waldron and Whalley said although they had hoped Westcott would join them, they were happy to have a full commission. “Now we can meet again and get some work done,” said Whalley. Waldron agreed. “I am happy to have a full board and we will all work together,” she said.