Search for The Westfield News
WEATHER TONIGHT Mainly Clear. Low of 62.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 199
“Show me a man who
cannot bother to do little things and I’ll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big things.” — LAWRENCE D. BELL
75 cents
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2016
Local musicians take the acoustic stage at Food Fest Al Liptak of Kirby Productions and Mike Freedman of Riverside Productions, LLC, both based in Westfield, have joined forces to sponsor an acoustic stage at this week’s Westfield FoodFest. All scheduled performers reside in the Greater Westfield area.
By LORI SZEPELAK Corresondent WESTFIELD – Two entrepreneurs who are bullish on the city will put their talents together to showcase local musicians on the acoustic stage at this week’s Westfield Food Fest. During a Monday checklist session, Mike Freedman of Riverside Productions, LLC, and Al Liptak of Kirby Productions, both based at the Mill at Crane Pond on Mill Street, said the schedule of performers has been
finalized and they are eager to introduce Food Fest attendees to the musicians who call the Greater Westfield area home. “All of the musicians will be performing original music,” said Liptak, noting both he and Freedman were encouraged when they presented the idea of the acoustic stage to Westfield Rotary members last month. “Having been involved in the musical scene in the city for years, I knew the crowds would enjoy hearing these
musicians play,” he added. Freedman echoed those sentiments. “The musicians will present kidfriendly music,” said Freedman. “Throughout the weekend attendees will hear folk, jazz, blues, pop and rock mixed in.” The Westfield Food Fest is slated along Elm Street this Friday from 5 to 9 p.m., on Saturday from noon to 9 p.m., and on Sunday from noon to 6 See Musicians, Page 6
South Loomis Road projects ready to get underway
Front row: senior vice commander Martin Christian, historian Sharon Ambrose, commander Cindy Lacoste, junior vice commander Ted Gage, sergeant-at-arms Joe Delaney.Back row: Paul Nimchick chaplain, Gary Fontaine adjutant, Todd Gannon finance officer, state rep. John Velis Front row: Martin Christian senior vice commander, Sharon Ambrose historian, Cindy Lacoste commander, Ted Gage junior vice commander, Joe Delaney sergeant at arms. Back row: chaplain Paul Nimchick, adjutant Gary Fontaine, finance officer Todd Gannon, state rep. John Velis.
Westfield American Legion gets new leadership By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—The city’s American Legion post named a woman to its top spot for the first time in its 97-year history last week. Post 124, which is Westfield’s American Legion post, named Cindy Lacoste post commander Aug. 14. As commander, Lacoste will oversee the day-to-day functions of Westfield’s Legion, as well as plan and coordinate functions and fundraisers. Lacoste was one of eight individuals appointed to new positions within Post 124, which changes those in power annually every August. The others appointed were vice commander Martin Christian, second vice commander Ted Gage, adjutant Gary Fontaine, finance officer Todd Gannon, sergeant-at-arms Joseph Delaney, chaplain Reverend Paul Nimchick, Jr. and historian Sharon Ambrose. “I am really excited to do my year as commander and being the first female is nice, but that’s not why I’m doing it,” Lacoste said. “I’m doing it because I’m a veteran and I want to serve my country and my brothers and sisters in-arms.” Prior to becoming post commander, Lacoste served in the US Navy for 22 years, on-and-off since 1975. “My father was in the service–he was in the sub service a long time ago–and I wanted to be
like my dad,” she said. “I signed up as a senior in high school and left in June right after my graduation. “I never knew I was going to make a career out of it and it was the best thing I ever did,” Lacoste said. Lacoste eventually made it to the rank of chief petty officer, which she said is rare for those in the Navy to achieve. Lacoste said that she was not going to make any significant changes as post commander, but said that she wants to increase membership for the American Legion overall. “I want to bring in new members so I can continue this tradition well into the future, both male and female,” she said. “I’ve been seeing more female veterans coming back who want to add to something, as well as males.” To Bill Spradlin, public relations officer and past commander of Post 124, the decision to choose Lacoste was an obvious one and also helped their post catch up with the times. “It was time for our post to finally get a female commander,” Spradlin said. “I thought she was an excellent choice and she will do an excellent job.” Post 124 is one of the oldest in the nation. It started when the American Legion formed in July 1919, following World War I. It is the third largest Legion group in Massachusetts, boasting approximately 600 members.
This Thursday... Thursday... This
RADIO FOR THE WESTFIELD MASSES
The Westfield News Radio Show Thursday Line-Up 6am-8am
6am-8am: BOB McKEAN Brent Bean City Council Executive Director Stanley Park and Andrew Surprise Mark Boardman & Jennifer Gruzska Ward 3 Councilor Westfield Rotary Club
Download WSKB from your Tune In Radio App or watch on Comcast Cable CH. 15
As a whole, American Legion reportedly has 2.5 million members, or Legionnaires. In order to join, you must be a veteran that has served in the military during a time of conflict. Spradlin said that the group focuses on providing for the community through charity and fundraising, in order to give back and help youth, veterans and families of veterans, as well. “We like to take care of the veterans, the youth and promote Americanism,” he said. Lacoste will be overseeing many of the group’s functions, including casino nights with veterans at the Holyoke Soldiers Home, scholarship fundraising and community outreach. Additionally, she will be in charge of the 70th anniversary of the relationship between March of Dimes and Post 124. Every year they have a spaghetti supper to help raise funds for the charity. “We don’t want to have this tradition end because this was set up by our forefathers,” Lacoste said of the March of Dimes spaghetti supper. “It’s pretty amazing that it’s been going on for 70 years,” she said. According to Spradlin, the relationship is one of the longest between anyone and the March of Dimes. Over the 70 years, he said that post 124 has donated over $75,000 to the charity.
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Department of Public Works is set to have two projects underway shortly on South Loomis St. The first project involves a 9 inch culvert being replaced right near 196 South Loomis St., just north of Kline Road. Crestview Construction, located right in Southwick, is the company who was hired by the DPW for this project. Crestview will be replacing the 9 in. culvert with a completely new concrete structure as the current culvert has been deteriorating. Crestview will be on site this week doing tree work. DPW Director Randy Brown said that Crestview is scheduled to begin the project on Aug 29. Once the project is started, detour signs will be set up. “The detours will be set up to be going down Kline Road. and Granville Rd.” said Brown. Traffic heading North will go down Kline Road., Granville Road., and then to South Loomis. The detour for traffic going South will go to Granville Road., to Kline Road., and then back over to South Loomis. No one will be allowed to pass by the culvert near 196 South Loomis, but will still be able to go down South Loomis by using the proper detours. The total cost of the project is $279, 250. The DPW was able to get money from a combination of local funds and Chapter 90 funds. “We were able to secure funding this year to make the construction improvement,” said Brown. As the culvert replacement project is expected to run through the end of September, a second project will then shortly begin on South Loomis. Road paving work will be occurring on Kline Road, reaching out to as far as 93 South Loomis St. Lane Construction Corporation from Granby, Mass. will be the contractors for the project. They will be putting down 2 in. of road bed as well as 2 in. of new pavement. “We’re going to pave as far as we can with our available funds,” said Brown. Police officers will be on site and directing traffic as one lane will be open. The total cost for the road paving is $220,000 and is also from Chapter 90 funds.
Woman arrested, charged with drug possession By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–A hit-and-run accident that happened in front of an off-duty Westfield police officer led to the arrest of a Westfield woman on multiple drug possession charges. Elizabeth L. Darling, 34, of Westfield, was arrested on Saturday, around 4 p.m., after she allegedly hit a parked car in a driveway, then drove off. An off-duty officer witnessed the accident and proceeded to follow the vehicle Darling was driving, which the officer said was “all over the place,” according to police. Police stopped Darling at JJ’s Variety Store on Montgomery Rd. and found that Darling had several pills, as well as heroin, in her possession that were allegedly in an ibuprofen
bottle. Among the pills in the bottle were reportedly Klonipin, Flexeril, morphine, oxycodone and amphetamine which are only obtained with a prescription. Police were able to ID the pills through Baystate Noble Hospital with a drug identification guide at the hospital. While at the variety store, a good Samaritan attempted to assist Darling, the police report said. At one point, Darling was reportedly in the back seat of the person’s car who was attempting to help her and had allegedly left 28 bags of heroin, seven of which were empty, a bloody alcohol wipe and a capped hypodermic needle in the vehicle. Police were informed of this by the person and police confiscated the material. See Arrest, Page 3
ELIZABETH L. DARLING