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www.thewestfieldnews.com www.thewestfieldnews.com TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017
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TUESDAY,OCTOBER JUNE 27, 2017 WEDNESDAY, 25, 2017
Southwick Police Lt. Kevin Bishop received an award this past weekend for his service to the community. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Bishop)
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New map for Noise Compatibility Program not expected to affect current grants
Southwick Police Lieutenant receives community service award By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – Last week, Southwick Police Lt. Kevin Bishop was one of three local police officers to be recognized at the 2017 WMass ASIS Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner held at the Sheraton Hotel in Springfield. ASIS, an organization that provides security professionals with a wide variety of services and programs, continually looks to build strong relationships between security professionals and law enforcement. As ASIS continues to seek out law enforcement individuals who are helping their community, the Western Mass Chapter of ASIS honored Bishop for his dedication to his local area. Most notably, Bishop received an award for his work towards Team Justice, a nonprofit organization founded by Bishop in 2004. Team Justice focuses on law enforcement working with youth by getting them involved in a motocross racing team and teaching them core values. Having received other awards in the past, Bishop was particularly proud to earn this award from ASIS, as it directly shined on his fellow members on Team Justice. “I would like to thank all the past and present Team Justice mentors and supporters for their continued support over the years,” said Bishop. “I accepted this award recognition on behalf of all of them.” Southwick Chief David Ricardi said this award was a wonderful opportunity for ASIS to recognize Bishop. “They felt like it was a good time to honor him for his commitment to the youth of the community,” said Ricardi. For more information on Team Justice or Bishop’s current involvement in the organization, visit their Facebook page.
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School of Rock. (London production photos by Tristram Kenton)
Review: ‘School of Rock’at The Bushnell By MARK G. AUERBACH Correspondent If you looking for a stage treatment of a popular movie with music, with an energetic production and some super-talented young people singing, dancing, and playing their own musical instruments, School of Rock is for you. There’s a loud untypical Andrew Lloyd Webber rock score and all the trappings of a rock concert, from outstanding lighting by Natasha Katz, fun sets and costumes by Anna Louizos, and frenetic choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. It’s also loud and full of strobe lights. Everything’s well staged by Laurence Connor, and there are two adult performances of note: Rob Colletti as Dewey, the role originated on screen by Jack Black, and Lexie Dorsett Sharp, as an uptight school principal who loosens up under the charms of Dewey. Broadway’s Andrew Lloyd Webber has been having a banner year. At Tony Awards time, last June, he had four hit musicals running on Broadway: a revival of Cats which runs through the holidays, and features Westfield native Joshua Burrage; the long-running The Phantom of The Opera, Glenn Close in Sunset
Boulevard, and his most recent hit School of Rock, still a big box-office draw. School of Rock just launched a North American tour, and its visit to Hartford’s Bushnell this week is one of the first stops on its journey. School of Rock is based on the 2003 film, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater, and book by Julian Fellowes, adapted rom Mike White’s screenplay, is still running on Broadway. The musical follows Dewey Finn, an out-of-work rock singer and guitarist who pretends to be a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. After identifying the musical talent in his students, Dewey forms a band of fifth-graders, in an attempt to win the upcoming Battle of the Bands contest. Lloyd Webber contributed 14 new songs to the 11 already in the movie. I’d not seen the movie, but my companion, who had, said that School of Rock is a faithful adaptation of the popular film. The audience, which included many younger people, was as ramped up as the performers onstage, and the cast received
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—In spite of a possible change to the map that is part of the Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) around Barnes Regional Airport, current homes up for acquisition are not expected to be affected, according to Jane Verbeck of Wyle Acoustical Engineering. Verbeck said that in spite of a possible change in the noise exposure map (NEM) proposed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over the summer, homes being acquired through the NCP with three grants currently being used for the program will not be affected. According to Verbeck, any change to the NEM would have an impact on grants moving forward, which must be applied for by May 2018. “If we want to apply for a new grant by May 1, 2018, we have to be in the process of creating a new map,” Verbeck said. “These three grants are good to go.” The NCP was designed by Wyle, in conjunction with FAA regulations and input from the city. The NCP called for the acquisition and demolition of certain homes found within contours of impact based on the NEM, while others can receive sound insulation. A third option, which Verbeck called a “last resort,” is what is known as “avigation easement,” and is used when those who do not want to move but also do not want sound insulation. The NEM currently used was designed through a military modeling program called Noise Map, Verbeck said previously. Verbeck also said previously that the FAA had requested the use of two computer modeling programs, a civilian and a military program, to potentially model the NEM going forward. Verbeck had notified the Westfield Airport Commission of this in early August, and it was uncertain the impact the new model could have. However, Verbeck said recently that the homes currently being acquired would not be impacted, and that the new NEM would most likely have impacts on homes that would require sound insulation, not acquisition. “I don’t think more homes would be up for acquisition even if the map changes,” she said. “Changes could be eligible for sound insulation.” The change, according to Verbeck, is being requested by the FAA for the New England region, which includes Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee.
See School of Rock Review, Page 8
Boys and Girls Club to have event for children in need of adoptive homes By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—The Greater Westfield Boys and Girls Club will be having the 10th annual Adoption Party Sunday, Nov. 5, to help address the need for adoptive families. The event, which is being hosted by the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE), is an effort to help find adoptive homes for the over 800 children in foster care in Massachusetts. The party will include events for children, as well as informational sessions for prospective adoptive families. “Our mission is to find adoptive homes,” Joseph Sandagato, Director of Communications and Public Relations, said. “To increase awareness for families and
Trial date set for man charged in heroin OD death of teen SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — The trial of a Massachusetts man charged with providing the heroin that led to a teenage girl's fatal overdose is now scheduled to start early next year. The Republican newspaper reports that a judge on Tuesday set a trial date of Jan. 5 for 22-year-old Seth Lombard-Hawthorne. The Westfield man is charged with involuntary manslaughter in the February 2016 death of 16-year-old high school junior Lillian Anderson. He has pleaded not guilty. The pair had worked together at a fast food restaurant. Lombard-Hawthorne's lawyer successfully argued that evidence seized from her client's car and cellphone, as well as his DNA sample, cannot be used at trial.
promote the need for adoption,” he added. The event, which is free, will be occurring on Sunday, Nov. 5, from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Boys and Girls Club on Broad Street in Westfield. Events will include birdhouse construction, games and a pizza party. In addition, Sandagato said that families interested in adopting are provided with information. “For families that want to learn more about the process, there’s resources to help facilitate that,” he said. The party, which has occurred for 10 years, has provided about 50 children with placement in homes, according to Sandagato, and See Homes, Page 8
Candidate ForumS
Hosted by The Westfield News, Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce and The Westfield Senior Center
Monday, oct. 26
6:30 City CounCilor - WArD 3 Jeffrey Gosselin, timothy o’Connor, Cindy Sullivan, Heather Sullivan
7:30 City CounCilor - WArD 5 robert A. Paul, Sr., leslie leFebvre
At the Westfield Senior Center, 45 Noble Street, Westfield. Doors open at 6:00 for Candidate Meet and Greet.
The control tower and a plane hangar at Barnes. (Photo credit: Dan Desrochers)
Toys, games, books sought for fundraiser By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD-Donations of “gently used, very clean” toys, games, puzzles, sporting goods and books are sought by the Friends of the Westfield Athenaeum for its fourth annual Children’s & Young Adult Toy & Book Sale. The annual fall fundraiser is slated Nov. 16-18 in the Lang Auditorium of the Athenaeum, with a preview night for Friends’ members on Nov. 15 from 4 to 8 p.m. “Although all donations of children’s toys and books are very much needed, we are particularly interested in books, See Fundraiser, Page 8
Correction to Woodland School story By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent The Westfield News published a story in Monday’s paper that said Southwick’s Woodland Elementary School principal Amy Fouracre had been placed on leave. This is incorrect and has been changed. The correct information is that Fouracre is on a leave. The Westfield News regrets this error.