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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
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A man should never think that. My belief is that in life people will take you at your own reckoning.” — ISAAC ASIMOV 75 cents
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016
VOL. 85 NO. 82
25 patients sue Baystate Noble Hospital WESTFIELD (WWLP) – Patients who were potentially exposed to dangerous viruses while under the care of Baystate Noble Hospital are now suing. Between June 2012 and April 2013, new equipment was being used for colonoscopies at Noble Hospital. Following a recent Department of Public Health inspection, it was discovered that the disinfectant process of the new equipment was not adequate. In January, 2016, 293 patients who had colonoscopies during that window of time, three years earlier, were sent letters to inform them they had potentially exposed to Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, and HIV. It was at that time, the hospital said that the new equipment had a 4-pronged colonoscope, but the disinfectate equipment was 3-pronged. That meant the final solution in the disinfectant process was not getting into the fourth prong. Baystate Noble President Ronald Bryant said hospital workers had not been properly trained on the last phase of disinfection. Now, Robert DiTusa, one of the lawyers for 25 of those patients is arguing the issue with the disinfectant process was brought to the attention of leadership back in 2013, but that patients were not informed at that time. Those patients have now filed lawsuits against the hospital. “It’s interesting because later on, 3 years later, when the Department of Public Health gets involved, it’s determined to be a very serious event, a reportable event on behalf of the hospital and the patients at that point notified,” DiTusa said. “The real question I think that has to be asked is why didn’t the hospital, back in 2013 notify patients that they were potentially exposed to these life altering diseases?” In a report filed by the hospital’s Director of Clinical Safety and Risk Management with the Department of Public Health, it is stated that this incident was “preventable.” Also in that report, Noble Hospital identified the cause of the potential exposure as, in-part, due to a “failure to properly analyze and identify the risk to patients” back in April 2013. DiTusa said there are two routes for patients to take in this situation. They can file a claim for negligent infliction of emotional distress against the hospital, particularly if their test results for the potential exposure come back negative. If they test positive for any of the viruses, he said they could file a different kind of a claim. DiTusa could not speak on his clients’ medical history, therefore can not say if any of his patients have had positive test results. Baystate’s Noble Hospital is responding to the lawsuit by saying, “To date there is no evidence of any transmission of illness from the endoscopes. The safety and privacy of our patients remains our top priority as we move forward in this process.” They also said, 243 of the 293 patients involved have been tested and that they continue to try and get in touch with the remaining 50 patients potentially exposed. Baystate Health was not connected to Noble Hospital at the time the potential exposure took place.
Westfield Bank merges with Chicopee Savings
STANLEY PARK PAVILION
Stanley Park to debut $1.8M pavilion By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD – The new Beveridge Pavilion and Kitchen will make its formal debut to the public next month during an open house that will coincide with Stanley Park’s annual Mother’s Day Tea. “With the anticipated completion of all legal processes soon, we will be holding our first event May 8 from 2-4 p.m.,” said Bob McKean, managing director, Stanley Park, noting plans include an open house, informational presentation, and official ribbon cutting ceremony. “The open house is in conjunction with our Mother’s Day Tea as they will be our honored guests at this event,” said McKean. “We will be offering tours during the afternoon so that our patrons will be able to see what is available here in the new Beveridge Pavilion.” With the recent snowfall, the
park crew hit a bit of a snag but McKean knows they will hit their target of last-minute logistics to complete. The “punch list phase” includes new staging with handicapped ramp, upgrading the grass seating areas, completing the operational areas of the kitchen, improving the roadways, traffic pattern, and widening the parking areas, and finalizing all the security features. The cost for the construction project is close to $1.8 million and McKean credits the generosity of the Frank Stanley Beveridge Family Foundation, several area businesses, organizations and many individual donors, for making the project become a reality. “We are truly grateful to everyone who assisted us in this longawaited endeavor,” said McKean. Tours of the Beveridge Pavilion & Kitchen can be arranged by calling (413) 568-9312, ext. 100.
By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Westfield Bank is now the largest locally managed bank in the county. Westfield Bank CEO James Hagan announced yesterday a merger with Chicopee Savings Bank, and the creation of a new joint holding company named Western New England Bancorp. The merger creates the second largest bank in terms of deposit market share in Hampden County. The combined company will have total assets of $2.1 billion, tangible equity of over $215 million and 21 branch locations serving customers throughout western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut. “We are excited to combine with such a strong partner as Chicopee,” said Hagan. “As we have gotten to know Bill Wagner and his team over time, we have been pleased at the commonality of our cultures, operating models and the customer service focus of our two institutions.” Although headquartered in the same county, Westfield Bank and Chicopee Savings currently two distinct customer bases, which, when combined, Hagan said would “complement each other tremendously.” “A merger of our two banks will be extremely favorable for the shareholders, customers, employees and communities of both institutions, Hagan said. Under the terms of the agreement, Chicopee shareholders will be entitled to receive 2.425 shares of Westfield common stock for each share of Chicopee common stock, equal to $20.42 per share, based on the closing price for Westfield common stock on April 4, 2016. The common stock options of Chicopee will be converted into Westfield options with the same relative economic value and expiration date. Upon closing, Westfield shareholders will own approximately 59 percent of stock in the combined company, and Chicopee shareholders will own approximately 41 percent. The transaction is valued at approximately $110 million in the aggregate, based on the closing price for Westfield common stock on April 4, 2016. Hagan will be president and CEO of the combined company and Donald A. Williams will be chairman of the board. William J. Wagner, chairman, president and CEO of Chicopee, will join the executive management team of Westfield, and will become vice chairman of the Westfield Bank Board of Directors.
See Stanley Park, Page 3
See Westfield, Chicopee, Page 3
Police, DA investigate student threat made on Instagram By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Police this morning assured parents and the public that the threat made by a student towards other students at South Middle School has been investigated and resolved. Facebook lit up last night after the Westfield Detective Bureau posted the following statement on its Facebook page around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday night: “The Westfield Police Department is aware of the Instagram message sent by someone naming middle school students on a list. We are investigating the matter and hope to bring it to a conclusion shortly. If you have any further information please contact Det. Sgt. Stephan K.K. Dickinson
at 572-6400. Capt. McCabe” The post pertains to South Middle School in Westfield. This morning Westfield Police Capt. Michael McCabe said the post received more than 10,580 hits. Parents and others posted hundreds of messages on the detective bureau’s page, on the We Love Westfield Community Forum page and elsewhere on Facebook trying to figure out what was going on. The following update was posted at 11:15 p.m. Tuesday night: “Update, 11:15 PM…. With absolute certainty, we have identified the source of the message on Instagram. We are absolutely confident that this person poses no threat to any of the students at the South
high-rise apartment building managed by the WHA. Kelly said the WHA spent $12,000 to $15,000 in the last fiscal year (April 1 to March 31) on bed bugs alone. There are two ways to treat for bed bugs, according to Kelly. The first is to use a powder residue, which is a cheaper
solution at $500 a treatment, but must be applied three times at two week intervals. “This seems to work better for us,” Kelly said. The other way to treat for the bugs is to heat the apartment up to 150 degrees, which also kills them, and costs $1,000 a treatment. The problem with the heat is they seem to come back, he said. Kelly explained that the biggest problem they have is in educating the residents. “They find some stuff at a tag sale, or on the street, and bring it into their apartments. When they find they have them (bed bugs), they drag them through the See Bed Bugs, Page 3
Middle School or to anyone else. No further details are available at this time.” “No child was ever in danger. We have spoken with the person responsible, this person has taken complete responsibility, understands the ramifications of (his/her) actions and is very sorry it happened,” McCabe said this morning. Last night, a parent speaking on the condition of anonymity said: “The parents of those listed did get a call from Mr. Baker. He reassured us that the kids felt safe. He said it is their primary concern to make sure the kids felt safe. He said he truly believed they were safe. He said the WPD is looking for resolution to the matter.” See Instagram, Page 3
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Bed bugs an ongoing battle for Westfield Housing Authority By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – A resident at Robert McGinn Apartments on 12 Alice Burke Way reported that exterminators had recently come to treat an apartment for bed bugs. The resident, who did not wish to reveal his name, said his concern was that it seemed to be happening more often, and he was fearful that the pests were spreading in the building. “We are trying to alleviate the problem,” said Daniel Kelly, director of the Westfield Housing Authority,(WHA) located at the same address. He said they have been dealing with them for about a year at the McGinn Apartments, and five years in the Washington House, the other
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