Police Raid Yields Drugs, Guns and Cash by CARL E
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The Westfield NewsSearch for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHER CRITIC WITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 151 $1.00 WEDNESDAY,TUESDAY, JUNE APRIL 27, 14,2017 2021 VOL.75 cents 90 NO. 87 Police raid yields drugs, guns and cash By CARL E. HARTDEGEN Correspondent WESTFIELD – Pounds of marijuana, hallucinogenic mushrooms, thousands of dollars, firearms, ammunition and assorted marijuana products were seized Friday when city detectives executed a warrant at a Clark Street address. Det. Brian Freeman reports in a court docu- ment that he was able to secure an ‘anticipatory warrant’ April 9 which City and State officials, along with three business owners, gathered Friday for ribbon cutting ceremonies at Hilltown Chic, was executed that day Be Bella, and Boho Hair Studio. (MARC ST.ONGE/THE WESTFIELD NEWS) after officers of the Detective Bureau observed a trigger event, resulting SHAKYE GASKINS in an arrest and seizure of Three businesses celebrate opening contraband. By PETER CURRIER downtown in spring time and a post-COVID era,” said A team of detectives set up surveillance of the target of an Staff Writer Humason. ongoing investigation, Shakye Gaskins, 27, and his residence WESTFIELD – Three locally owned neighboring business- Humason said it was brave of the new business owners to on the second floor of 11 Clark Street. es on School Street had a ribbon cutting ceremony April 9 to open their stores during the pandemic, and congratulated them Officers watched him leave his apartment, apparently to celebrate each of their recent grand openings. on their endeavors. meet a customer who parked nearby. After the apparent cus- The three businesses, Hilltown Chic, Be Bella Boutique, and “Our community is open for business,” said Humason. tomer drove away, Det. Lt. Steve Dickinson coordinated with Boho Hair Studio, each opened their doors within the last four Be Bella Boutique owner Bethany Liquori said that her other officers to stop the man’s pickup truck on Union Street. months, even as the economic impact of the COVID-19 pan- business started as a mobile clothing boutique about 18 Freeman reports that the customer, in a brief interview, demic brings struggles to local businesses. months ago, just before the COVID-19 pandemic began. Her told officers that he had just purchased a small amount of The ceremony drew a crowd of dozens on School Street and physical store on School Street opened in February. marijuana “from a person he knew to be named Shakye and was led by Mayor Donald F. Humason Jr. State Sen. John C. “When the pandemic hit I really focused on my online and described him as a tall black male.” Velis and state Rep. Kelly W. Pease offered remarks. Dickinson later explained that the customer’s admission “I think we can all agree this is a great reawakening of our See Businesses, Page 3 served as the “trigger event” which allowed Freeman, back at Clark Street, to take the next step and execute the warrant at the suspect’s apartment with his part of the team. Freeman reports the officers approached the suspect’s door Early plans for new skate park move forward where they “announced who we were and why we were there.” When there was no immediate response, the officers By AMY PORTER opened the unlocked door and entered the apartment where Staff Writer they encountered the suspect and a female resident. WESTFIELD – The Parks & Gaskins was arrested and taken to the police station. A Recreation Commission voted April 12 search revealed a wide array of contraband. to investigate the feasibility of bringing the Westfield Skate Park in Amelia Park See Police Raid, Page 5 to “usability,” after a presentation by former Westfield resident and skate- boarder Jeff Burke and Westfield resi- dent Dan Dziuban, owner of Theory Skate and Snow in Northampton and Giraffe returned, Holyoke. Burke, who previously appeared before the commission in February, said but ‘Berry the Bear’ he would like to see the city replace the existing skate park with a new park. He said the original park was built in 2000 is still missing and is outdated By AMY PORTER “It’s a rough park for beginners. Staff Writer There’s nothing approachable if it’s the WESTFIELD – Golf first day on a skateboard, and it is not a Acres’ iconic “Geoffrey” the safe place to learn. If you’re not getting Giraffe was returned this beginners there, you’re not getting any Zachary Stratton takes advantage of the early spring sun April 13, 2021 at the week, but “Berry” the Bear is legacy users, and attendance is low,” Westfield skate park. (HOPE E. TREMBLAY/THE WESTFIELD NEWS) still missing, and new owner Anthony Witman hopes that Burke said. He said people in the area go he will be found. to the Westfield park only out of neces- Witman said a good samar- sity, because that’s all they have. itan, Mark from West Burke argued that Westfield should Springfield, rescued Geoffrey redo its skate park, because anybody can from the wilderness of a be involved in skateboarding, which he quad trail in Holyoke and said has exploded in the last 20 years, “Berry” the Bear is still miss- brought the giraffe to his ing from Golf Acres at 317 “and is arguably more popular than base- backyard to meet his kids. ball and hockey, which are super expen- Union St. (PHOTO When Mark saw the post on SUBMITTED) sive (to participate in).” social media searching for “Teens are a generation left behind. A him, he contacted Golf Acres and the 12-foot statue returned skate park provides a safe place for teens home. to congregate and socialize together,” There have been no sightings of the life-sized 6 to 8 foot Burke said, adding that it also supports bear yet. local business when families travel to a Witman, who expects to close on Golf Acres at the end of skate park and spend more time in town. the month with financing from Greenfield Cooperative Bank, Dziuban of Westfield said he ran a says the fiberglass resin figures are a nostalgic part of the skateboard camp in Westfield for years, miniature golf in the recreational destination at 317 Union but moved it from the skate park to a St., which also contains a driving range, batting range and municipal playground three years ago, miniature “Indy-style” go-kart track. bringing portable ramps with him, Jonathan Houston stands with his skateboard at the Westfield skate park April 13, See Missing, Page 5 2021. (HOPE E. TREMBLAY/THE WESTFIELD NEWS) See Skate Park, Page 5 WG&E to resume shutoffs after moratorium is lifted March, but residents and commercial ratepay- help alleviate some of the financial stress rate- 1, otherwise a termination notice will be sent. Westfield residents ers who struggled to pay their bills because of payers may be facing. If they do not reply to that notice within 10 the COVID-19 pandemic will be given a “Hopefully the timing of this stimulus will days, the utility can shut off their gas and with overdue utility chance to set up a payment plan to slowly pay further stimulate bills to be paid,” said electricity. off their overdue bills. Flaherty. Gov. Charlie D. Baker’s administration bills have until May 1 Two thousand letters were sent out, 100 of He urged residents to contact WG&E even extended a moratorium on power shutoffs for which were sent to commercial ratepayers, if they know they cannot afford to pay the bill investor-owned utilities to July 1. WG&E is a to contact the company while the rest were sent to residential ratepay- right now. public utility, so that extension does not apply. By PETER CURRIER ers. “We understand the special circumstances,” The Department of Public Utilities lifted the Staff Writer “The customers need to contact us,” said said Flaherty, “We will work with you to fig- moratorium on shutoffs for public utilities on WESTFIELD — Westfield Gas and Electric Flaherty, “They were protected from shutoffs ure out how to get part of the bill paid.” March 15. has begun sending letters to residents inform- last year, but now they need to call us to He said he hopes that most ratepayers will Customers who may have difficulties pay- ing them that the moratorium on municipal address those issues.” be able to have their bills paid in full in ing their overdue bills are encouraged to go to During the April 7 Municipal Light Board September. gas and electric shutoffs has been lifted. www.wgeld.org/pages/residential/assistance- meeting, Flaherty said that he hoped the Anyone who received a letter from WG&E, New WG&E General Manager Thomas P. programs to see what assistance programs recent round of federal stimulus checks would must reach out to the municipal utility by May Flaherty said that the moratorium was lifted in may be available to them. PAGE 2 - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14, 2021 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS WG+E supports Barnes Air National Guard Base with energy efficiency funding WESTFIELD — Westfield the base for years to come. ety of programs to help busi- Gas + Electric General “We are proud to support nesses save on your energy Manager Tom Flaherty and the 104th Air Fighter Wing expenses. These include other staff visited the Barnes and Barnes Air National Heating and Hot Water, Air National Guard Base Guard Base as they make Industrial Retrofit, Express (ANGB) in Westfield, MA to these important energy and LED Lighting Programs.