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JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL.Community 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 Local domestic 75 cents Breakfast to violence victims include 10,000 remembered pancakes and more during solemn By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Correspondent WESTFIELD – Feeding breakfast to 4,000 candlelight vigil people is no easy task, but the city’s two Boy By AMY PORTER Scout troops are tackling it, one pancake at a Correspondent time. HUNTINGTON – Faith leaders and community members The Community Pancake from throughout the hilltowns gathered on the Huntington town Breakfast May 18 is a Boy green on Thursday evening, for the third annual Interfaith Scout fundraiser in celebra- Candlelight Vigil, “bringing light to the issue of domestic vio- tion of Westfield’s 350th lence.” birthday. Pancakes and sau- The event was sponsored by the Hilltown Domestic Violence sage are on the menu, and Interfaith Initiative. organizer Dave Flaherty said Initiative member Amy Williams greeted those gathered, say- the scouts are ready to serve, Bombers vs. Spartans ing that faith leaders understand that people turn to God in times but they still need donations to make it all hap- of difficulty, looking for a safe space. pen. Westfield softball pitcher Ava Cichonski fires a pitch Faith leaders, including Fr. Ron Sadlowski of Holy Family “We are trying to cover the cost of every- Thursday against visiting East Longmeadow. See story, addi- Parish in Russell, Pastor Carol Smith of the First Congregational thing we need for the breakfast, but also to tional photos in today’s Sports Section. (Photo by Chris Putz) Church in Huntington, Pastor Stephen Philbrick of West provide Westfield school children with a free Cummington Congregational Church and Pastor Charles Cinelli ticket,” Flaherty said. of Huntington Evangelical Church then joined others in a group reading, that began with “Why are we here,” and went on to See Community Breakfast, Page 5 recite the names of area women killed or injured in acts of domestic violence: “Because today, many people of faith stay silent about abuse Fired bank employee – often with tragic or fatal results – due to misconceptions based Flag sales open doors on scripture taken out of context. “Because in March of this year, Luke Karpinski of Sheffield, charged for larceny killed himself, his wife Justine Wilbur, and their 3 children. for summer camp “Because in February of this year, Igor Kachur of Chester, By LORI SZEPELAK By CARL E. HARTDEGEN stabbed his wife, and then killed himself. Correspondent Correspondent “Because in January of this year, Blake Scanlon of Westfield, WESTFIELD – Summer is a special time WESTFIELD – A former bank employee fatally stabbed his girlfriend Alexis Avery – in the Westfield for families – getaways for a day or longer – who allegedly used his position to fraudu- apartment the couple shared with their young child. and for children, summer camp can be another lently use customers’ debit cards to steal “Because in January of this year – Nelson Cardova of outlet for adventure. almost $13,000 has been arraigned on a lar- Northampton killed his wife, Karina Nieves, and himself, leav- Starting May 10, the Westfield Kiwanis ceny charge. ing their three young daughters without a living parent. Club is offering children in the Greater Southwick Police Sgt.Thomas Krutka “Because in 2018, Christa Light Steele-Knudsen of North Westfield area, ages 5 to 14, the chance to reports in a court document that he was Adams was murdered. attend a summer camp of their choice through advised of an internal investigation by “Because in 2018, Kassedi Klark of Hinsdale was murdered. its Park of Honor Scholarship Program. Berkshire Bank officers which was initiated “Because in 2017, Joanna Ringer of Clarksburg was murdered. “The purpose of the scholarship is to assist in response to reports by bank customers of fraudulent activity on “Because Jessica Dana from Huntington was killed in 2012. families who have a veteran, active military their debit cards. The customers had all recently received service “Because Karen Hart from Blandford was killed in 2002.” member, police officer, firefighter or first from a specific employee at the Southwick branch of the bank. The pastors also acknowledged that victims of domestic abuse responder as a parent/guardian or grandpar- Krutka reports that a bank officer told him that she had discovered and survivors draw on their faith for strength in living with or ent,” said Kellie Brown, president, Westfield video evidence showing that employee, Ras M. Morgan, 26, of 304 Kiwanis. Allen Park Drive, Springfield, “changing the pin number for a cus- See Vigil, Page 5 Brown noted the decisions regarding appli- tomer without the customer being present … a direct violation of cations will not be based on financial need. company policy”. “We will award up to $200 per child until Krutka was told that Morgan was interviewed by bank officers including his branch manager and asked about changing the cus- See Flag Sales, Page 3 tomer’s PIN. That meeting ended, Krutka was told, after Morgan “asked the bank manager if he should be reporting for work tomor- row” and then immediately gave his keys to the branch manager. Krutka was told that Morgan’s employment at the bank was was officially terminated the next day. Senior health the Krutka alleges that “Ras Morgan, after waiting on the eight cus- focus of Southwick tomers involved, obtained the debit cards that were being replaced Council on Aging fair See Larceny, Page 5 By GREG FITZpaTRICK Correspondent Rev. Carol Smith, left, who gave a message of God’s love, SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Council on participated in the candlelight ceremony. (Photo by Amy Porter) Aging hosted a health fair at the Senior Center Interested in a fire service career? on Thursday. A free event open to the public, the health fair The WFD has information for you featured more than 30 vendors and was located By PETER CURRIER throughout the dining area and activities room. Correspondent Strathmore Mill #2 sells at auction Council on Aging Director Cindy Sullivan WESTFIELD- The Westfield Fire Department will host a career has organized this event in the past and once information night for people who may be interested in a career in fire- By AMY PORTER again saw it as a benefit for the community, fighting on Sunday, May 12 at 4 p.m. at the Little River Fire Station. Correspondent especially senior citizens. The information session, which will be led by Fire Captain Chris RUSSELL – The town of Russell sold at auction Strathmore Mill “There’s a variety of people,” said Sullivan. King, is being done for the first time because the Westfield Fire #2 at 34 Valley View Ave. in the Woronoco section on Thursday. “It’s really resources for them (the public). Department is beginning the process of having everyone who becomes According to the auction packet from Sullivan & Sullivan auction- Information is power.” eers, the 233,000 square-foot. mill building on 7.5 acres owned by the The variety of vendors included large organi- a firefighter with them to be a paramedic. King said that they want to town through foreclosure, appraised at $477,000, was being sold “as zations such as AARP, the American Red Cross, start getting that information out there as soon as possible to as many is,” and the high bidder would not be responsible for back taxes owed and the Alzheimer’s Association. There were people as possible. to the town of Russell. also smaller organizations, including Elder “We will probably go through a brief transitional period where we Wendy Brunet, Russell’s Collector/Treasurer said only one bidder Companion Services of Agawam LLC. will begin to hire people as firefighter EMTs,” said King, “But then came to the auction. She said although there was a minimum bid set Deborah Sullivan, the Founder of Elder they will be required to become a paramedic within a certain amount by the town of $50,000, the property sold for $15,000. Companion Services of Agawam LLC, provides of time of getting the job.” Brunet said the buyer was an individual from Pittsfield, who indi- cated that he wasn’t sure what he was going to do with the property. See Senior Health, Page 3 See Fire Service Career, Page 3 Plaque dedicating Pavilion to WTA students installed By AMY PORTER cation with their teachers. degree weather. “It’s a great testament Correspondent Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski to the work and skill of the electrical WESTFIELD – On Thursday, a said the project was proposed to the and construction students. What your short ceremony dedicating the pavilion school in 2011 by then-Mayor Daniel shops did, everyone can be proud of. on Park Square Green to the Westfield Knapik when he was principal of It’s very special for me, as superinten- Technical Academy’s Construction Westfield Technical Academy, and was dent and principal,” Czaporowski said.