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WEATHER TONIGHT Mainly clear. Low of 21.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2016
VOL. 85 NO. 41
Students’ international experience ‘builds’ on annual commitment WESTFIELD – Sixteen Westfield State University students travelled to Granada, Nicaragua during winter break to engage in international volunteer work. This is the sixth consecutive year that Westfield State students and faculty have traveled to Nicaragua. Each year, they assist La Esperanza Granada, a local nonprofit that focuses on bettering children’s education. The organization aids more than 2,000 children in poverty-stricken areas. The course was led by Kathi Bradford, director of Alumni Relations and Kelli Nielsen ’04. Since the course’s inception Westfield State students have raised nearly $40,000 for the organization, $8,500 of which was collected for the January course. In past years, the groups were able to lay the foundation for three different classrooms and build an entire technology classroom in a new high school (which was fully funded by Westfield State fundraising), build an entire community center, and a technology classroom for the elementary school with an updated water system and new latrines. This year, the group built an entire kindergarten classroom. Bradford, who has taught the course each year, said she is amazed by how the city has progressed since the university’s first course. “It is incredible to see growth each year in the kinds of houses they are living in, the addition of better roadways, running water and classrooms,” Bradford said. “For me, the legacy that Westfield State has in Nueva Esperanza is strong, present and part of that community.” Perhaps the biggest change Bradford has seen is the Nicaraguan people. “I have watched children grow, move to high school and now, even graduate from college,” Bradford said. “We are making a difference in their lives and ours.” Bradford said that the group of students who participated in the course this year stood out. “This year’s students were incredible,” Bradford said. “They are truly passionate future teachers and others who brought language skills, music, a
“Words are
less needed for sorruw than to joy.” — HELEN HUNT JACKSON
75 cents
Springfield man arraigned for stealing car, fleeing police
Julie Cowell and barred owl at the Montgomery Town Library on Monday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
See Arraigned, Page 3
Live owls fascinate at Montgomery library By AMY PORTER Correspondent MONTGOMERY – Wingmaster Julie Cowell brought five live owls to the Montgomery Town Library to present “The World of Owls” to a packed audience of schoolchildren on vacation, their parents and other interested adults on Monday afternoon. Cowell, who is part Creek and Chickasaw, is a licensed raptor rehabilitator and falconer, who along with her Wingmasters partner Jim Parks has given over 5000 presentations in schools, libraries and museums around New England. With her on Monday were a screech owl, saw-whet owl, barred owl, great horned owl and barn owl. Cowell said that none of the owls she brought to the program will live in the wild again, due to injuries. She said that most owls that come to her for rehabilitation have collided with cars, or were found as babies. Baby owls that are found on the ground if left alone and protected from pets may climb back to their nests. Cowell said that currently she is caring for a baby owl that has to be fed every two hours overnight with minced microwaved mice. Cowell said that she does not want an owl as a baby imprinting on her as Mom, so she wears an owl mask. ”If things go right, by the end of the summer, they’re released,” she said. She has released hundreds of birds after rehabilitation, and “never been thanked,” she said. Cowell said that owls, despite their intelligent faces, have very small brains. “They look smart, because their eyes are in front like yours and mine,” Cowell said. On the intelligence scale, she rates them as a one, compared to a red-tailed hawk at a ten, and a raven, one of which she is currently caring for, at a 13. Owls are also good ventriloquists, Cowell said. Before she brought out each owl, she imitated its call. If you hear the call, the owl is almost never in the direction it’s coming from. She also said that people will rarely see a screech or sawwhet owl, the smallest birds that she brought, because of their ability to camouflage in trees. Most of the people in the audience, when asked, had seen a barred owl. Cowell
See Westfield State, Page 3
See World of Owls, Page 3
Southwick school sewer project drafted By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – The school sewer project is moving forward, but whether area residents will be able to connect remains to be seen. Last week Board of Selectmen Chairman Joseph Deedy and Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart updated the Board following a meeting with members of the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School Committee and Superintendent John Barry. “It looks like there is enough money left from the school renovation project, and it looks like we can use it for school sewers only,” Deedy said. Deedy said the school department does not want to run the project and it would be a town project funded by the committee. However, nothing is officially in writing yet. Stinehart said there is a draft proposal to connect the school campus on Powdermill Road to the sewer. “There’s a lot to look at from a legal point of view,” said Stinehart. “Randy (Brown, Department of Public Works director) has to look at it from a project point of view.”
By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A driver who had allegedly stolen a vehicle, failed to stop for police and escaped into the woods in September was finally arraigned in court last week. Saul J. Santiago-McLeod, 21, of Springfield, was arraigned in Westfield District Court on eight counts: two counts of marked lanes violation (unsafe lane change), negligent operation of motor vehicle/operating to endanger, leaving the scene of property damage, speeding, unlicensed operation of motor vehicle, failing to stop for police and receiving stolen motor vehicle. He was held in lieu of $3,000 cash bail. At approximately 9:30 p.m. on September 22, a Westfield police officer witnessed a 2012 Toyota Prius exit McDonald’s and make an unsafe lane change which caused the driver of the other vehicle to slam on its brakes and honk its horn, Westfield Police Capt. Michael McCabe said. When the officer tried to pull the car over, the driver failed to stop. Meanwhile, police ran the plate and found it was coming back as stolen out of Springfield, according to police logs. The chase continued for approximately eight miles across
Stinehart said he would suggest the funds be transferred to the town and if there are any funds left, they would be transferred back to the school department. “Public Works would run the project just like any other sewer project,” he said. Deedy and Stinehart said the schools stressed they only want to do the campus. “They don’t want to be part of a bigger project,” said Deedy. Selectman Douglas Moglin wondered about the nonprofits on Powdermill Road and their ability to connect to the sewer line. ‘They’re right there and it wouldn’t change the cost,” said Moglin. “Why wouldn’t you entertain that? We need to flesh that out.” Stinehart and Deedy agreed. “It’s unfortunate because it doesn’t make sense to do it that way,” Stinehart said. Deedy said for now, the town is checking with legal counsel on the draft proposal and will consider its options and go forward to the voters. “Until we have an agreement, we cannot do anything on the warrant,” he said.
Resident speaks out about reporting of overdose victim deaths By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Last week, the city of Westfield saw three residents die within six days from heroin-related overdoses. The first death occurred on February 4, two days before a 16-year-old Westfield High School student died, which was the second death, and a third unconfirmed death occurred on February 10. The media has been trying to keep up with reporting these deaths because its news, because the public needs to know about this crisis and because there is hope that these deaths will act as a warning for those still struggling with addiction. What can get lost in the reporting is that each of these people who have died has loved ones who may or may not be anticipating reading about their losses on the front page of the newspaper. Reporters rush to find information about the victim, which starts by searching online and through social media. Reporters try to reach family members. Reporters want to personalize the accounts. Reporters don’t always succeed at showing the victim in a positive light. This happened when a story ran in the February 8 edition of The Westfield News regarding the death of Adam Cotugno See Reporting, Page 3
Adult coloring group debuts at Athenaeum By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD – The Friends of the Westfield Athenaeum is launching a new program – Adult Coloring Groups – to help patrons connect with their inner artist and relieve stress. “Come in from the cold to de-stress and relax, said Joyce Peregrin, public services librarian, who is coordinating the logistics of the six-week program. Peregrin noted that all art supplies will be provided and will be located in the main reading room on Thursdays from 4-6 p.m. through the end of March. Light refreshments will be provided. Patrons will have a choice of colored pencils, markers, sharpies and adult coloring books to choose from at each session, according to Peregrin. “Not everyone reads a book to relax,” said Peregrin. “A new trend shows that adults enjoy going back to their childhood roots and are rediscovering the joy and fun there is in coloring.” Peregrin added that studies have shown that coloring has therapeutic potential to help an individual reduce anxiety while bringing about more mindfulness. Additionally, like See Athenaeum, Page 3