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WEATHER TONIGHT
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
Overcast. Low of 36.
— DYLAN THOMAS
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 272
“When one burns one’s bridges, what a very nice fire it makes.”
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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2016
Westfield and hilltowns went red when the state went blue By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–Surprisingly, Westfield and other local towns voted for Donald Trump in an interesting and well-attended Election day. Voters came to the polls in spite of Massachusetts being a predominantly blue state, looking to make their voices heard through their choices and to answer four pivotal questions on this year’s ballot. Also up for grabs were two state senator spots, a US representative seat and a sheriff position. And in the end, Trump won several
municipalities in the Commonwealth, including Westfield, Southwick, Tolland and Blandford. “If you don’t vote you can’t complain,” Rose Salzer said. “You may as well participate so you can complain,” Rebecca Salzer said. Rebecca Salzer was with her mother Rose, as they voted at the Franklin Avenue School. Joe Hutchinson, who voted at Westfield Technical Academy, knew why he came out to vote but was unsure if he made the right decision. “I want to see something better for the
country,” Hutchinson said. “I just hope I made the right choice.” Westfield city clerk Karen Fanion said that the voter turnout was on par with the levels that they normally experience, but did not set any records. Fanion reported a 74.98 percent voter turnout. Other local voter turnouts were Southwick at 75.53 percent, Blandford at 80 percent and Tolland at 79.75 percent. Each town followed suit with Westfield regarding voting, going in favor of Trump and Pence over Clinton and Kaine; voting
International Observers speak with Huntington election clerk during voting By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – At 1 p.m., about the halfway point during voting on Tuesday, two international observers came into Stanton Hall in Huntington to introduce themselves. Jorg Lehnert of Germany and Evelyn HutsonHartmann of Switzerland said they were part of a team of 300 observers from 43 countries deployed from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to observe the U.S. presidential election. Directed to Kathy Thomas, Huntington’s election clerk, they sat down and spoke to Thomas about the election and the process in Huntington. See Observers, Page 6
International observers Jorg Lehnert of Germany and Evelyn Hutson-Hartmann of Switzerland. (Photo by Amy Porter)
This Thursday... This 6am-8am: 6am-8am:
BOB McKEAN Executive Director Stanley Park Col. James Keefe Mark Boardman & JenniferGuard Gruzska 104th Air National Westfield Rotary Club
Download WSKB from your Tune In Radio App or watch on Comcast Cable CH. 15
RADIO FOR THE WESTFIELD MASSES
The Westfield News Radio Show Thursday Line-Up 6am-8am
Voters cast their early ballot in Westfield City Hall chambers. (WNG file photo)
See Red, Blue, Page 6
BEATLEMANIA
Beatlemania just a day away By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–There may be no better way to get rid of those postelection blues than to watch Beatlemania this Thursday. Beatlemania, the stage show that features live musicians performing hit songs from the entire Beatles music catalog, is coming this Thursday to Westfield High School, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds from the show will go toward the Westfield High School band. “It’s the complete Beatles experience pretty much from start to finish,” concert promoter Paul Lococo said about the show. “We have the best sound and lighting available and the visual effects are going to be incredible this year.”
Lococo said that the concert will be two and a half hours, which includes a half hour intermission. The musicians will start in “black and white days,” as Lococo called them. This era of the Beatles is when they first arrived in the US, performing on the Ed Sullivan Show. Songs from this era will include “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You.” They will then move into the second portion of the act that Lococo called “the growing and changing” of the band. This portion will cover the albums Rubber Soul and Revolver. Then, in act three fans can expect the psychedelic era of the Beatles, which includes music from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, as well as music from two Beatles
films–Yellow Submarine and Magical Mystery Tour. From there, fans will be taken through the studio era of the band, where the Beatles truly opened their sound and became even more experimental. This era includes Abbey Road and the Beatles “White Album.” In addition to the music and the visual experience, Lococo said that they will also be giving away a fender Squire Stratocaster signed from the band members. There are still a limited amount of tickets available. These can be purchased online a twww.purplepass. com, at Rocky’s Ace Hardware on Main Street, The Press Room on School Street, or by calling 800-3168559.
Two women looking to give back to local police departments By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent WESTFIELD – Police officers throughout the country have faced violence this year. As recent as last week, two officers were killed in Iowa as well as two other officers being shot in New York. Two local women in Western Massachusetts now want to get their respective communities to come together and support their police departments. Audrey Herbert and Katie Kopczynski are making it their goal to bring care packages to every officer for both the Southwick and Westfield Police Departments as part of what they call the “Adopt A Cop” program. “It’s a thank you for all that they do,” said Herbert. In order to fulfill their plan, Herbert and Kopczynski are asking for people in both communities to give a $20 donation. The donations will be going towards the care packages which would include a coffee mug, soap, lip balm, hot chocolate, and candy.
Adopt a Cop flyer for the communities of Southwick and Westfield. (Photo from Andrea Hebert) This idea all started since both women are individual consultants for Perfectly Posh, a pampering products company. Being naturally based, the soap and the lip balm are Perfectly See Adopt a Cop, Page 7