Serving the city HOLYOKE since 1995 FREE the October 2, 2020 Local news. Local stories. Local advertisers. A TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.com [email protected] www.sun.turley.com Hispanic Heritage art on display Two facing Major heroin seizure HOLYOKE – El Corazón / The Heart of neglect Holyoke Placemaking results in multiple arrests announced two early fall virtual events today. One charges occurred on Tuesday, Sept. 29 with a virtual event By Gregory A. Scibelli titled “¡Comenzamos!”. [email protected] The event will present the selected local artists HOLYOKE – The Holyoke which will be doing large Soldiers Home is back in scale photos on four build- the limelight again since ings facing Main Street Massachusetts Attorney General and a panel mural project Maura Healey announced on the corner of Sargeant Superintendent Bennett Walsh & Main St. and the former medical direc- tor of the facility David Clinton ART, 3 were indicted by a grand jury More than 94,000 bags of heroin were seized in a drug bust that occurred on Monday night. Several for criminal neglect. locations in Holyoke were part of the search and seizure of the illegal substances. Submitted photo That was just one headline during the past week as a judge By Gregory A. Scibelli that involved many agencies enforcement and search war- also ruled that Walsh’s oust- [email protected] and assistant district attorneys rants were granted for sev- er by Gov. Charlie Baker was from the Hampden District eral locations in Springfield improper. HOLYOKE – The Attorney’s Office, investiga- and Holyoke,” Leydon stat- The judge ruled Baker did Hampden County District tors with the Massachusetts ed. “Locations included in the not have the authority to dis- Attorney’s office announced State Police’s Commonwealth search warrants were: 1978 miss Walsh from his position, Tuesday it had made multiple Interstate Narcotics Page Boulevard, 140 Michon and that task must be completed arrests in a major heroin sei- Reduction Enforcement Street, 61 Acushnet Avenue, by the Board of Trustees of the zure on Monday night. Team (CINRET), Homeland 23 Ashley Street, 79 Central Soldiers’ Home. District Attorney Security Investigations Street, all in Springfield, 249 That board was set to meet Anthony Gulluni secured war- (HSI-Springfield, along Oak Street in Holyoke and a on Wednesday night, but Board rants for sites in Springfield with the detectives from the 2000 Ford Ranger.” Wistariahurst to Chairman Kevin Jourdain, the and Holyoke, and charge five Springfield, Holyoke, and Leydon stated 94,274 host virtual visit former president of the Holyoke people. They are: Miguel Westfield Police Departments bags of heroin, $120,000 City Council, said Walsh’s sit- Martinez Pinto, 40, of and Hampden County of U.S. Currency, and three to Mural Project uation would be discussed in Springfield; David Vazquez- Sheriff’s Department were firearms were seized by offi- executive session, and there no granted search and arrest cials. The estimated amount HOLYOKE – On Roman, 34, of Springfield; plans to reveal any type of deci- warrants in connection with of heroin in the seized bags of Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 2 Natividad Pagan, 58, of sion on Wednesday night. a large scale heroin traffick- heroin is 1.885 kilograms of p.m., Wistariahurst will Chicopee; Carlos Leon, 52, No further news was made ing operation in and around heroin. host a virtual visit to the of Springfield, all charged available as of press time. Springfield.” Gulluni expressed pride American Mural Project with trafficking in heroin; Walsh was originally on the Leydon stated the arrests in the investigation. as part of an ongoing live, and Santiago Ruiz, 41, of hot seat when a COVID-19 out- were the culmination of great “Despite challenging cir- virtual program series. Springfield, charged with her- break occurred in the facility in teamwork and a lengthy cumstances,” Gulluni said. The tour will be given by oin possession. April. The outbreak resulted in investigation by all the depart- “We continue to focus our American Mural Project’s According to a press the death 76 veteran residents ments in volved. resources on the most harm- executive director, Amy release from spokesper- of the facility, as well as numer- “Intelligence was devel- ful offenders in order to keep Wynn. son James Leydon, “after a oped by members of law See NEGLECT, page 3 months-long investigation See SEIZURE, page 6 MURAL, 5 HCC launches cannabis careers Recall election proposal gaining momentum training program By Gregory A. Scibelli engaged with any students he The proposal states 250 McGiverin made the first major [email protected] was directly teaching. voters could file an affidavit suggestion for the recall elec- HOLYOKE – Holyoke Holyoke councilors filed and a statement of grounds to tion proposal, saying a resi- Community College and HOLYOKE – A recall several orders, among them recall the official. The proposal dent should need at least 500 its new community part- election proposal making its seeking the results of the inves- includes an opportunity for a signatures to initiate a recall ner, Elevate Northeast, are way to the city council floor tigation by UMass to see if fur- recalled official to resign or an election. He claimed the 250 launching a revitalized can- has overcome one more hurdle. ther action is needed. election would be held. signatures in the original pro- nabis careers training pro- Last week, the Charter and In association with In a recall election, the posal would lead to abuse of gram in October for those Rules Committee recommend- the order, Councilors official being recalled the process. who want to work in the ed the passage of the city seek- Michael Sullivan, has the ability to Morse has one more year industry. ing a Home Rule Petition from Linda Vacon, run for the same remaining in his four-year The program, offered the state legislature to adopt a David Bartley, office, but term as mayor. Morse has through the Cannabis procedure for recalling elected and Howard would face been mayor for nine years, Education Center, begins officials. Greaney, Jr., competition in but attempted to unseat long the weekend of Oct. 17-18 The order seeking such a have filed an all likelihood. time U.S. Rep. Richard Neal with two days of required process was done in conjunc- order ask- The situa- in the Democratic primary last core curriculum training tion with an investigation being ing for the tion occurred month. He was unsuccessful in over Zoom. conducted by the University Massachusetts when citizens that attempt. Each day will be bro- of Massachusetts for behav- General Court attempted to Other thoughts from the ken down into two ses- ior allegedly by Mayor Alex to enact legislation remove the mayor subcommittee hearing included sions, 9 a.m. to noon, and 1 Morse. to have a process of of Fall River due to having petition signatures from to 4 p.m. Each session will Morse is being looked into recalling elected officials in criminal activity. every ward so it is represen- include presentations from for potentially having rela- the city. Morse has vowed to veto a tative of the population in the cannabis industry experts tionships with students while Currently, there is no pro- charter change if it is approved. city. followed by a question and teaching as a part-time lecturer vision for holding recall elec- He was invited to join last In order to move the pro- answer period. at the school. Morse admitted tions in Holyoke, which means Thursday’s meeting of the posal forward, a two-thirds to having relationships with a mayor or other elected offi- Charter and Rules Committee majority of the council must CANNABIS, 5 college students and using a cial cannot be removed from and declined. approve it, which is nine of the dating app, but said he never office by that process. Councilor Joseph 13 councilors. ◗ In The News REMOTE Scouting is alive and well LEARNING GOES ON and accepting members REGION – Scouting is alive and active, and stay safe while also partic- The Holyoke Public well in Western Massachusetts, just ipating in classic events with health, Schools are doing all- adapted to follow the restrictions need- safety, and compliance with health reg- remote learning for ed to keep families safe during the ulations strictly complied with. Like the time being. Below, pandemic. Traditional camporees and schools, many units are using a hybrid Ashley Schneider, summer camp became virtual, as Packs approach a Pre-K teacher at and Troops also moved their meetings Designed for children of all gen- Kelly School, works virtually with her to the now common Zoom, Google ders between kindergarten through 5th class. We would love Meet, and Microsoft Teams video sys- grade, Cub Scouting combines team to hear from you. tems. Scouts have discovered they can and confidence building, outdoor Email us your thought continue to earn merit badges, camp, adventures, practical learning, and so on remote learning learn, and stay part of their Cub Scout much more. and any photos to Pack or Troop. The respected and well known [email protected]. It’s time to join, and there’s noth- Boy Scout program for youth 11 to Submitted photos ing to keep a family from joining and 18 is now called Scouts BSA. The beginning their adventure! Scouting goal continues to prepare youth for has something for youth from kinder- life using the outdoors and advance- garten to 21 years old, and leadership ment to teach ethics, citizenship and opportunities for their parents. life skills. Scouts BSA Troops are Normally as schools open in either Boy Troops or Girl Troops and September in-person signups would are not co-ed.