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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
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www.thewestfieldnews.com
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2016
VOL. 85 NO. 117
“Never do anything you wouldn’t want to explain to the paramedics.”
Gateway Hilltowns and Lt. Governor sign Community Compacts By AMY PORTER Correspondent BLANDFORD — Representatives of town governments from Blandford, Russell, Montgomery, Huntington, Chester and Middlefield met with Lt. Governor Karyn Polito in the Blandford Town Hall on Tuesday to sign Commonwealth Community Compacts. Also in attendance were Sean Cronin, the administration’s senior deputy commissioner for local services, Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli (D-Lenox), and Nico Helms, representing Sen. Don Humason (R-Westfield), who was working on the budget in the Ways and Means Executive Session in Boston. The Community Compact is a voluntary, mutual agreement entered into
between the Baker-Polito Administration and individual cities and towns of the Commonwealth. By entering a Community Compact, a community agrees to implement self-selected best practices. As part of this partnership, the Commonwealth agrees to fulfill a set of commitments and works to provide assistance for a community based on their chosen best practice. Adam Dolby, chair of the Blandford Selectmen, welcomed everybody to the town. He said signing the Community Compacts is the next step in making sure that the hilltowns remain viable, despite declining tax revenues and shrinking populations. “For us, certainly, the town of Blandford has seen a need (for collabora-
tion) for quite some time,” Dolby said. He said two of the challenges that he is hoping will be addressed are attracting talented professionals for shared positions within the towns, which can individually only offer part-time work, and in upgrading technology, which he said is essential to attract new residents. “We all know being from small communities that if we work together as neighbors we can bring more services to our region. Being a school district, we all work together anyway,” said Donald Ellershaw, chair of the Chester Select Board. He said Chester already shares a tax collector with Middlefield, and different towns have shared police officers. See Community Compacts, Page 8
Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito looks on as Adam Dolby, chair of the Blandford Selectmen signs the Community Compact for his town. Waiting for their turn to sign are (left to right) Jane Thielen, administrative assistant and tax collector for Montgomery, Allan Vint, chair of the Middlefield Select Board, John McVeigh, selectman from Huntington, and Don Ellershaw, chair of the Chester Select Board. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Man held without right to bail after violent home invasion By CHRISTINE CHARNOSKY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A city man remains behind bars after being charged with a violent home invasion. William F. Matthews, 29, of 3 Jefferson St., was held without right to bail due to dangerousness after being arraigned in Westfield District Court Monday on charges of assault & battery on a person over age 60 with injury, assault with dangerous weapon and home invasion. Allegedly on May 13, Matthews entered the property and residence of the victim at 25 Hickory Avenue, according to court records. Matthews allegedly knew the victim was
The donors applaud and Cynthia Neary (right), president of the Citizens Scholarship Foundation of Westfield, gets a hug from co-vice president Cindy Gaylord as the other covice president, Nan Pease, announces during the annual CSF awards program Tuesday evening that Neary was honored by the national Dollars for Scholars organization as the Ralph “Cy” Seifert National Volunteer of the Year. (Photo © 2016 Carl E. Hartdegen)
Students celebrated at Dollars for Scholars ceremony By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD —The South Middle School auditorium was jam-packed on Tuesday night with parents, siblings, and community leaders who were celebrating “the best and the brightest” high school seniors who were awarded $131,600 in scholarships – a record for CSF Westfield Dollars for Scholars. “Tonight is a celebration,” said Cynthia Neary, president, CSF Westfield Dollars for Scholars, who provided the greetings for the evening. “Through the generosity of many donors and organizations, we are awarding 137 scholarships to very deserving Westfield students.” Neary noted that the scholarships were not an entitlement and not everyone who had applied for a scholarship received one. “The scholarships are a gift,” said Neary. “You are all very, very lucky. I want to
Robert McKean, director of Stanley Park, presented the Ozzie the Duck Memorial Scholarship to Kianaliz Roman who will attend Worcester State University in the fall. congratulate you on behalf of our board of directors. You have all done a great job.” Scholarships were given to students from Westfield High School, Westfield Technical Academy, St. Mary’s High School, and city residents from other schools or were homeschooled. A recurring theme through-
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out the program by guest speakers to the recipients was the importance of paying it forward. State Rep. John Velis said this was his third year at the event and it is a role he relishes. “At its very core Westfield See Students, Page 8
Free music event WESTFIELD — In an effort to continue the momentum of live, free entertainment in downtown Westfield, the Press Room cafe will bePress Room Sign 1 showcasing four musical performers on Thursday evening. The event is scheduled to start at 5pm and run until approximately 9pm. The musical performers are, in order of performing, Dave Houseman, Ed Bentley, Isabel Marcheselli and The Keepers. “Artists have continually expressed an interest in playing venues where people of all ages are welcome,” said Patrick Berry owner of both the Press Room cafe and The Westfield News Group. “This is just one of many similar places within the city that meets their need.” The Press Room is a coffee, bagel, pastry and hot dog cafe located within The Westfield News building at 62 School St. and will be offering a dinner special of two dogs with a bag of chips and a soda or water for $5.
home and had armed himself with a brick and a fixed blade knife, according to court records. Records indicate that Matthews allegedly injured the victim, a female in her 80s, by “physically grabbing her and dragging her on the floor, inducing multiple injuries.” “While carrying the brick, Matthews placed the victim in fear and told her to come with him because he didn’t want to have to hurt her,” according to the statement of facts. This same woman was reportedly victimized by her granddaughter on Christmas day. Shauna A. Morse, 29, of 23 Frederick St., See Home Invasion, Page 7
Rail Trail update presented By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD — The Friends of the Columbia Rail Trail met Tuesday evening at the Westfield Athenaeum Library with city officials, bicycle enthusiasts and others to discuss the Rail Trail’s latest developments. City engineer Mark Cressotti, who designed the 3.2 mile project from the Southwick town line north to the Westfield River, talked to those in attendance about the future plans and current status of construction efforts. Cressotti announced that construction will continue beyond 2019 with the esplanade projected to be finished by the end of 2016. See Rail Trail, Page 8
Driver hospitalized after dump truck crash on Mass Pike in Blandford BLANDFORD (WWLP) — An early morning truck crash on the Massachusetts Turnpike eastbound in Blandford closed the highway temporarily due to the landing of a medical helicopter. State Trooper Paul Cesan told 22News that around 4:30 A.M., a dump truck hit a bridge abutment and then turned on its side. The helicopter was called in to pick up the injured driver. The left lane of the highway is now open and the truck has been cleared away, but the right lane is closed as a MassDOT crew checks on the bridge abutment. Backups had extended for about three miles at one point during the morning commute, but have eased quite a bit since then. There is no immediate word on that driver’s condition.
Southwick residents address Community Preservation Act surcharge By AMY PORTER Correspondent SOUTHWICK – The Community Preservation Act will remain intact after voters rejected an article supported by the Finance Committee to reduce the surcharge on real property from 3% to 1% after the first $100,000 of valuation. Residents opposed to the reduction spoke about the value they have received from the program. “We’ve spent less than $2 million of the town’s money, and have spent $9 on projects,” said John Whalley. He said the reduction would result in the loss of 85% of the state’s matching money. “The state takes it much more seriously if you have
3%,” he added. Also rejected was the article to extend the first $100,000 exemption on the surcharge to all business and commercial properties for the supplemental tax. “The difference is $51.33,” said Whalley. “Most small businesses don’t pay this tax, because they don’t own their own property.” A lengthier discussion came earlier in the meeting on the request for $541,890 from the Community Preservation General Unreserved Fund for Whalley Park to install lights for the baseball and softball fields, electricity to the pavilion and stage area, and benches for the dugouts.
The 70-acre park, which includes 35 acres of recreational fields and 30 acres of conservation land, was donated to the town by John and Kathy Whalley. The park opened in June of 2015. Supporters of the article said the lights would bring paying teams to the park, due to the huge demand for lit ball fields. Residents opposed to the transfer said the park was under-utlized, and worried that it would take money from other projects. One resident asked if this would be the last large investment required to complete the park. See Surcharge, Page 8