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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
“History is something that never happened, written by someone who wasn’t there.” — AUTHOR UNKNOWN
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2016
VOL. 85 NO. 123
Two Westfield men charged in home invasion
The first dirt shoveled for construction. From left to right: Congressman John Olver, FTA program manager Kristin Wood, PVTA administrator Mary Macinnes, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, MassDOT’s Thomas Schiavone, Mayor Brian Sullivan and Mass. Senate chief of staff Drew Renfro.
New transportation building beginning construction downtown By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—The PVTA and local politicians broke ground for the construction of the new PVTA transportation pavilion today. The pavilion, which is being constructed in the Gas Light district, is set to cost $6.4 million. The opening of the pavilion is currently scheduled for March 2017. Those at the groundbreaking included Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan and former congressman John Olver, among others. “From Westfield’s perspective, it’s the first building going up for the redevelopment program,” PVTA Administrator Mary Macinnes said. “It’s a good location for redevelopment purposes and for us.” The pavilion is part of the larger Urban Renewal Plan that has been ongoing for the Elm St. area. This is reported to be the first of several buildings being constructed in the plan. Lt. Gov. Polito, who spoke at the event, said that she and the governor were aware of the importance of the construction of this building and the Urban Renewal Plan as a whole. “Our administration, because of our roots, is really interested in empowering communities,” Polito said. The pavilion is being partially sponsored by the Mass. government, in addition to local funds. According to Mayor Sullivan and Polito, the Mass. government provided $1.7 million in funding, which allowed the project to get under way. Macinnes said that the facility is going to be state-of-the-
art, featuring automated card systems, LED signs with up-to-date travel times for buses, as well as modified realtime customer services. “I believe we’ll be the first to have, via Skype, the ability to have customers who can communicate with customer service,” Macinnes said. Skype is a video chat service that can be used through computers, tablets and cell phones. Macinnes also said that the new pavilion will have storage for bicycles for those traveling via the Columbia Rail Trail, in addition to warmer and more comfortable environments for people to wait.
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—Two city men were arraigned in Westfield District Court after being arrested for home invasion. Derek Webb, 24, of 44 Mechanic St., and James Kosko, 36, of 123 Meadow St., were arraigned at Westfield District Court on May 23. The pair were charged with home invasion and assault and battery, and both are being held without bail. According to court records and police reports, Webb and Kosko were arrested around 11:30 p.m. on Friday. According to the report written by Westfield police, the two men were accused of breaking into a home on Southwick Road and “stated they had a gun and push[ed] their way in.” The report continued to say that Webb had struck a victim in the face with a blunt object, and showed an outline of a gun in his shirt. Prior to police arriving on scene, both men were said to have fled the scene. See Home Invasion, Page 8
Westfield woman arrested after fight CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – Three people were arrested following a fight outside a downtown Chicopee package store Sunday evening. Chicopee Police Officer Michael Wilk told 22News that two women, 36-year-old Tara Taft of Chicopee and 25-yearold Ashley Shaul of Westfield, were fighting outside of Cabot Liquors on Exchange Street when police got there. All three were arrested and taken to the police station. While at the police station, Wilk said Taft was found to have a pipe with burnt residue that was believed to be crack cocaine in her purse.Wilk said that police learned a man who was there, Tito Figueroa, had believed one of the women stole his money. Before the fight began, Wilk says that Figueroa walked up to her and took money from her pocket. The two women then began fighting. Taft was charged with the following: • Disorderly Conduct • Possession of a class B substance (cocaine) • Assault & Battery • Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon Shaul was charged with the following: • Disorderly Conduct Figueroa was charged with the following: • Unarmed Robbery
Mayor Sullivan speaking at groundbreaking ceremony.
Chief: Slain Massachusetts officer shot in the back
SPRINGFIELD (AP) – A long-time state legislator from Springfield is calling it quits – but there’s a chance his seat could remain in the family. Democratic Rep. Benjamin Swan said Tuesday that he would not seek another term in the House of Representatives in the November election. WWLP-TV reports that Swan was surrounded by supporters as he made the announcement at his district office. The 83-year-old former civil rights leader was first elected to the legislature in 1994. Swan’s son, Benjamin Swan Jr., took out nomination papers to run for the seat, apparently in advance of a likely decision by his father to retire. Three other Democrats, including City Councilor Bud Williams, and one Republican have also taken out papers.
AUBURN, Mass. (AP) — Officials say the Massachusetts police officer killed during a traffic stop last weekend was shot in the back. Auburn Police Officer Ronald Tarentino Jr. was killed early Sunday after stopping an SUV with a license plate not registered to the vehicle. Chief Andrew Sluckis Jr. said Tuesday the man who shot Tarentino, Jorge Zambrano, got off five shots and Tarentino did not return fire. Sluckis says one bullet struck Tarentino’s body armor, while one .45 caliber bullet entered the space between his gun belt and his bulletproof vest on the lower left of his back. Zambrano, who had a lengthy criminal record, was shot and killed later Sunday. Zambrano had several pending criminal JORGE ZAMBRAN cases against him at the time of the shooting, including two for violent encounters with police.
Ashley Shaul, and Tara Taft, Courtesy of Chicopee Police Dept.
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Veteran Springfield state Rep. Benjamin Swan to retire
Westfield Vietnam Veteran honored in Washington DC Washington, D.C. (WWLP) – 312 Vietnam Veterans will be inducted into the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund’s In Memory Program on June 18, 2016. According to a news release, Harvey Joseph Gagnon Jr. of Chicopee and Daniel Richard Gogol of Westfield, both from the U.S. Army, were named Memory Inductees. Also inducted, Richard Joseph Grenier of East Brookfield, who was in the U.S. Air Force. More than 2,000 people are expected to attend the ceremony on the East Knoll of the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The master of ceremonies will be Capt. Denis Faherty. In Memory Program honors veterans who died as a result of their service in Vietnam, but aren’t eligible for their names to be inscribed on The Wall under Department of Defense guidelines. Instead of an inscription, the names of all the honorees will be read and certificates with their names will be placed at The Wall, which will be collected afterwards by the National Park Service and stored in an archive. The news release notes that the In Memory
Program started in 1999 and more than 2,500 veterans have been honored since. A plaque honoring these veterans, which is part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, reads:
“In Memory of the men and women who served in the Vietnam War and later died as a result of their service. We honor and remember their sacrifice.” VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL