Arson Suspect Arrested
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tONiGHt: Mostly Clear. Low of 62. Search for The Westfield News The Westfield Search for The Westfield News News SURE WAY TO “A Westfield350.com The Westfield News LOSE HAPPINESS , Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TI FOUNDIME IS THE, IS ONLY TO WANT IT WEATHER CRITIC WITHOUT A T THE EXPENSE TONIGHT OF EVERYTHINGAMBITION.” ELSE.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK — Bette DaVis Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.comWestfield350.org The WestfieldNews VOL. 86 NO. 151 Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHER TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents VOL. 88 NO. 165 MONDAY, JULY 15, 2019 CRITIC75 WITHOUTCents TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com Public hearing VOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 Arson suspect 75 cents Tuesday for proposed arrested By CARL E. HARTDEGEN Correspondent warehouse WESTFIELD – A homeless man accused of capriciously burning another homeless man’s tent is in custody after he was found, arrested and arraigned. and truck The underlying incident occurred in the very early hours of the morn- ing July 9 when police were sum- repair shop on moned at midnight to the wooded area behind the Westfield Shops on East Main Street for a report of two Medeiros Way men fighting. By AMY PORTER The responding police found a Correspondent King Kountry will perform July 18 at 7 p.m. at Park Square Green. (Photo homeless man who said that he had WESTFIELD – A public hearing is kingkountry.com) shared a campsite in the brush with scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16 another homeless man who had during the Planning Board meeting in returned to their encampment drunk City Council Chambers for a special per- and had started to yell at him. The mit, site plan approval and stormwater WOW’s MusicFest victim told the officers that that the GREGORY permit for a proposed warehouse and other man had said “watch this” as E. HEFTY truck repair shop on Medeiros Way. the man set his tent afire. According to the application, prepared The suspect was identified as by Project Engineer Kimberly M. Masiuk kicks-off Thursday, Gregory E. Hefty, 38, of no fixed address in Westfield, but of Associated Builders, Inc. of South had fled, leaving his tent and belongings at the campsite Hadley; the applicant, Brockway where the victim’s tent and belongings had been completely Transport, Inc., is a family owned and burned. operated trucking company and semi- rain or shine, Police obtained a warrant for Hefty’s arrest which truck repair shop, currently located on Community Policing Officer Steven Nacewicz (who knew Cottage Street in Springfield. Typical Hefty from past dealings) was aware of when he saw Hefty hours of operation for the company are sitting on a bench at Park Square Thursday evening. between 4-6 a.m. through 3-5 p.m. with King Kountry Nacewicz approached Hefty and reports that the suspect, Monday through Friday, and through who said that he had been expecting the warrant, was coop- noon on Saturdays. The entire application By HOPE E. TREMBLAY vocals); and John Miller (guitar/vocals). erative when he was arrested. is available on the city website under Correspondent Guillemette is a 10-time International Hefty’s record includes more than a dozen arraignments pending applications in the Planning WESTFIELD – King Kountry will Elvis Tribute Artist winner and has since 2004 on charges ranging from disorderly conduct Department., which is the permitting take the stage for the first MusicFest performed his inspiring “A-Ray-of- through malicious destruction of property to assault and bat- authority. concert of the summer Thursday, rain or Elvis” show throughout the United tery with a dangerous weapon. Brockway Transport is proposing to shine. States, Canada and Japan for over He was arraigned on Friday in Westfield District Court on develop a vacant lot on the south side of Westfield On Weekends is hosting the twenty years. a charge of burning personal property valued more than $25 Medeiros Way in order to relocate their free event July 18 at 7 p.m. at Park Danahey said The Tavern will pro- before Judge William O’Grady but a bail hearing was not facility to Westfield in a larger building Square Green as part of its seventh sea- vide beer and wine for sale on the possible because there was no bar advocate available to rep- that can also accommodate warehousing. son of MusicFest. However, WOW Green and a raffle to benefit WOW resent Hefty. The proposed site is zoned Industrial President Amber Danahey said in case features a 10-pound lobster donated by O’Grady set bail at $200, without prejudice, pending a bail A, and described as a 6.262 acre, vacant, of rain, there is a Plan B. North Elm Butcher Block. The winner hearing Monday when a public defender is expected to be undeveloped lot with frontage on “In case of rain, Shaker Farms Country will arrange to pick up the lobster at available. Hefty did not post the bail and was held in custody Medeiros Way. The site is bounded by Club will host us under their pavilion,” another time. Vendors will offer food to await the hearing. Fastenal located at 121 Medeiros Way to she said. for sale Thursday evening. the east, an electrical substation to the MusicFest was supposed to kick-off “Come early and have dinner on the west, Medeiros Way to the north, and last month with Allman Brothers tribute green,” said Tomasko. “For this con- Home Depot Distribution to the south. band Hittin’ the Note, but a pending cert, WOW will showcase Moolicious storm postponed that show. Ice Cream, Peppermill Catering, The The application states that most of the “We have rescheduled Hittin’ the Note Tavern Restaurant and Commercial site is an open field with a few trees, and to Sept. 12,” said Danahey. “So, we are Distributing as well as The North End the remaining land is covered by forest. extending the summer concert series.” Butcher Block.” Work for the proposed new facility Kelsey Veillette of the Screaming Because the Westfield 350th anni- includes construction of a 15,675 square Hearts Band will open Thursday’s show versary cake is located in front of the foot warehouse, office and truck repair with an acoustic soul-rock set at 6 p.m. stage at Park Square Green, Danahey facility with associated earthwork, paved King Country is the first of three free said local vendors helped WOW create parking and driveway, utility connec- concerts on the Green. a stage at the opposite end of the Green tions, a stormwater management system, “The Green is the perfect venue for for the series this year. site lighting and landscaping for Phase I outdoor concerts and we again anticipate “We appreciate all our sponsors and of the project. Phase 2 includes construc- huge audiences as in past years,” Jerry everyone who helps support tion of a 26,600 sf warehouse addition Tomasko, WOW’s MusicFest chairper- MusicFest,” said Danahey. son said. “Our focus this season will be WOW encourages concert-goers to See Public Hearing, Page 3 on three talented professional ensembles bring their own lawn chairs and blan- that have huge followings in the region kets. and beyond.” MusicFest 2019 is produced by WOW’s Wolf Pit Big Band with inter- Westfield on Weekends with the assis- nationally known vocalist Samirah tance of the City of Westfield and Evans will perform Aug. 15. sponsorship of Westfield G & E and Local 104 volunteers attach old strainer, which they said King Kountry performs a range of Whip City Fiber, Tavern Restaurant, was in good condition to the new piping. Strainer goes in popular country songs by artists from Commercial Distributing, Co., ESBank the pond. (Photo by Amy Porter) Brad Paisley and Trace Adkins to the and Westfield Electroplating. In-kind Zac Brown Band, George Strait and assistance has been provided by Kenny Chesney. Band members include Westfield State University and The Springfield Plumbers lead vocalist Ray Guillemette Jr; Joe Westfield News. For more information Pereira (keyboards and vocals; Mike on the performers and the series visit WESTFIELD CITY HALL Sedan (bass); Rod Squier (drums/ www.westfieldonweekends.com Union donates dry hydrant system to Montgomery FD By AMY PORTER Correspondent MONTGOMERY – Early Saturday morning, volunteers from the Montgomery Fire Department and the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 104 out of Springfield gathered on Old House Road in Montgomery to replace and install a dry hydrant system to one of the primary water sources for fire protection and extinguishment in town. According to Montgomery Fire Capt. Mark Chretien, the dry hydrant system pulls water from a stream or pond through a six-inch diameter pipe in the center of the pool of water. It goes underground and up an embankment towards the road, and becomes a hydrant through a series of fittings, allowing the fire truck to pull alongside and make a connec- tion. In this case, the pond is formed by a brook that drains down from the swamp at the top of the mountain on Montgomery Road down to the Old Westfield Reservoir. Chretien said the pond is one of the main reliable sources of water in town, and never dries up. It is also located near the largest concentration of homes in Montgomery, and is a pri- Westfield Post 124 vs. Longmeadow mary drafting site for the town. Colby Gazda (17) tries to stop Longmeadow from advancing to third. See additional photos Page 10. (Photo by Kellie Adam) Chretien said that during one of their trainings with the See Hydrant System, Page 3 PAGE 2 - MONDAY, JULY 15, 2019 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS July Events at the Southwick Public Library SOUTHWICK — Living in Space – Outer space is full of danger.