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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 210
See Cutting The Cord, Page 3
anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea. “
— ISAK DINESENL
75 cents
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2016
Low voter turnout expected in Thursday’s State Primary
Cutting the cord: Is it for you? By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–As alternative Internet sources continue to find their ways into Westfield homes, the question of “cutting the cord” is becoming more and more common. But just how beneficial, if at all, is cutting the cord? Unfortunately for the consumer, there is no easy answer. However, the options being presented mean that more and more choices are coming up as Internet and DAN HOWARD cable companies battle for customers. For many residents in Westfield, they have historically been tasked with choosing between Direct TV or Dish satellite television services and Comcast, who provides cable, Internet and phone. Now, Whip City Fiber is attempting to carve its way into the customer base that Comcast has by offering faster Internet potential that can allow for a better experience when streaming video. Whip City Fiber and Comcast are the primary competitors in Westfield for these services and The Westfield News is here to detail the options in order to help residents make their decision. It is important to note that Whip City Fiber is not providing phone, television or any other video streaming service. Whip City Fiber is the internet gateway to access new means for these services in a way Westfield residents have never been able to take advantage of before. To assist, representatives from Whip City Fiber are available to educate residents on the options. For more information visit www.whipcityfiber.com The most important concern for residents is getting TV, or video, content in the comfort of your home and the future of doing this is by streaming it through the internet. For those that do not know what streaming is, it is simply watching video– whether it is a television show, movie or funny cat video–over a device through an Internet connection. Whip City Fiber boasts one gigabit–or 1,000 megabits–per second of data over their connection, while Comcast provides 150 megabits-per-second on its highest XFINITY package. With the faster Internet
“The cure for
By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for the State Primary election this Thursday, September 8. There are few contested races on Westfield’s ballot. Congressman Richard E. Neal (D-MA) and Representative John C. Velis (D-Westfield) are running unopposed. State Senator Donald F. Humason (R-Westfield) has a Democratic challenger in Jerome Parker O’Grady of Southampton, but that race will be decided on November 8. The only races in the State Primary in Westfield are on the Democratic party ballot. Democrats Mary E. Hurley of Longmeadow and Jeffrey S. Morneau of East Longmeadow are competing to serve on the Governor’s Council Eighth District seat vacated by Michael J. Albano, with no Republican in the race. For Sheriff of Hampden County, Democrats Michael J. Albano of Longmeadow, Thomas Ashe of Springfield, Nick Cocchi of Ludlow and John F. (Jack) Griffin of Springfield are competing against each other in the State Primary, and the winner will face Republican John F. Comerford of Palmer in November. The Westfield ballots for the GreenRainbow Party and the United Independent Party for the State Primary are blank. Members of political parties may vote only in their own party’s primary elections, according to State Secretary William F. Galvin. Unenrolled voters (commonly referred to as “Independents”) and members of political designations or minor parties may vote in the party primary of their choice. Choosing to vote in a particular party’s primary does not enroll you as a member of that party. Westfield City Clerk Karen M. Fanion said she is anticipating a low voter turnout on Thursday.
Alan Sudentas is seen with Tina Gorman, director of the Westfield Council on Aging.
Last pancake fundraiser breakfast will have special visitor Dr. Alice Bonner of MA Executive Office of Elder Affairs Plans Visit During Last ‘2 for $2 Pancake Breakfast’ at the Westfield Senior Center By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD-Alan Sudentas is going to miss flipping pancakes at the Westfield Senior Center on the third Friday of every month. The “2 for $2 Pancake Breakfast” was the brainchild of Sudentas, along with Tina Gorman, director of the Westfield Council on Aging, and the kitchen crew more than three years ago. “We always had extra pancake batter left over from breakfast and decided one day to cook extra pancakes and leave a bucket for donations,” said Sudentas. As time passed the donations increased and Sudentas and Gorman came up with an idea – to use the money to purchase new furniture for the senior center that was being built on Noble Street. As the smell of pancakes (sometimes stuffed with blueberries, at other times with apples and cinnamon) wafted through exhaust fans into the downtown area for two years at the old senior center, Sudentas and the kitchen crew were flipping pancakes and soon business owners, Mayor Daniel Knapik, city councilors and others came through the doors to enjoy the tasty pancakes too. “I love to cook and over time I knew everyone’s first name and how they liked their pancakes,” said Sudentas, who has been volunteering in the kitchen for seven years. “When Mayor Knapik stopped in, we would conduct an extra fundraiser – guessing the mayor’s blood pressure,” said Gorman. “Our
DR. ALICE BONNER nurse was always at the center at the same time so we also encouraged patrons to also have their blood pressure taken as well.” During the past three years the “2 for $2” raised $3,229 for the new center’s furnishings and on Sept. 16 from 9 to 10 a.m., Sudentas will conduct his last fundraiser breakfast. “Since all of the furnishings are now in place at our new location, we knew the time had come to phase out this fundraiser,” said Gorman, adding that now Sudentas will be instrumental in helping plan gatherings including a special dinner as a fundraiser. “My hope is to do an event on a Sunday
See Primary, Page 3
See 2 for $2, Page 5
(WNG file photo)
WHS Band preps for Beatlemania By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – Westfield High School band students met all together for the first time at Bullens Field on Tuesday to begin practicing their new halftime show. “We doing a spy theme this year,” WHS band director Patrick Kennedy said. Before taking to the field, Kennedy introduced Paul Lococo, event organizer for “Help Keep Organizers Jay Pagluica and Paul Lococo and WHS Music Education Alive.” Lococo talked to the students about the band director Patrick Kennedy discuss plans to bring Beatlemania to WHS on November 10. (Photo by Amy Beatlemania Stage Show that is coming to the Westfield High School Auditorium on Porter)
Construction Advisory - I90 Bridge Work The MA DOT will begin bridge work on all bridges over I90, starting September 6. Work will begin West to East and will start at the West Road overpass, followed by Montgomery Road, the Westbound I90 on-ramp in Westfield and Southampton Road. Roadwork may be concurrent depending on nature of repairs. They will then proceed with I90 bridges over PVRR and Lockhouse Road. Please be aware of these possible traffic concerns.
Man injured in crash By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–A motorcyclist was injured after a crash Labor Day morning. A motorcycle collided with a car in the vicinity of Shortstop Bar and Grill on Springfield Road around 10:25 a.m. Monday. The crash was witnessed by multiple people, including an off-duty firefighter who tended to the injured motorcyclist until first responders arrived. Westfield Police said that a vehicle was turning left onto Springfield Road out of a parking lot in the area and across two lanes of traffic. The operator of the vehicle saw a 2015 Nissan Rogue com-
ing in the nearer lane but did not see the motorcycle in the farther lane due to it being obstructed by the Rogue. The vehicle turned left onto Springfield Road and the motorcyclist collided with the front end of the vehicle. Police requested Westfield Fire and two ambulances and a fire truck responded to the scene. Two tow trucks also came to tow away both the motorcycle and the Nissan Rogue. The motorcyclist was transported by Westfield firefighter-paramedics to Baystate Medical Center via ambulance. The motorcyclist has since been discharged from the hospital.
seats. (A limited number of VIP seats for the first five rows will also be available for $45.) Each student will get six tickets to sell to start, and the two students who sell the most will receive an iPod shuffle. The Beatlemania Stage Show will be performing the complete Beatles experience from the Ed Sullivan days right through to the Magical Mystery Tour, Sgt. Pepper and Abbey Road with original costume changes and authentic Beatles instruments. The Westfield High School See Beatlemania, Page 3
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November 10 at 7:30 p.m. to raise money to support music education in their school. This is the second time Beatlemania has come to Westfield High School. In September of 2012 the show sold out the auditorium, raising $5,000 for the music program. This year, proceeds from the show will help to defray the overhead and per student cost for the band’s trip to Universal Studios in May. Lococo asked the students to help sell tickets for the show, which cost $25 for upper level seats, and $35 for lower level