Search for The Westfield News Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews The Westfield “TIME IS THE ONLY Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surroundingNews Hilltowns Search for TheHEN WestfieldYOU NewsHAVE WEATHER “WCRITIC WITHOUT Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews EXHAUSTED ALL WEATHERTONIGHT AMBITION.” Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME ISPOSSIBILITIES THE ONLY , WEATHERTONIGHTPartly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com CRITICREMEMBER WITHOUT THIS TONIGHTClear. Low of 28. — YOUAMBITION HAVEN.”’T .” Partly Cloudy. —JOHN THO STEINBECKMAS EDISON LowVOL. of 55. 86 NO. 151 www.thewestfieldnews.comTUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents VOL.VOL. 86 86 NO. NO. 151 291 WEDNESDAY,TUESDAY, DECEMBERJUNE 27, 2017 6, 2017 75 75 cents cents Graduation ceremony MONTGOMERY held for 22nd Citizens Firefighter collapses, dies battling house fire Police Academy MONTGOMERY, Mass. (AP) - A Massachusetts firefighter By GREG FITZPATRICK has died while battling an overnight house fire. Correspondent The fire in a home in Montgomery was called in just after SOUTHWICK – The 22nd Southwick Citizens Police 11 p.m. Tuesday. Academy Graduation took place at the Southwick Town Hall A spokeswoman for the state Fire Marshal says the fire- on Tuesday evening. With 25 participants in this fall’s class, it Frank DiMarinis talks before the Westfield Planning fighter was a member of the department in Montgomery, a is the second largest group since the program started in 2001. Board Tuesday night, with Luke Showalter of Sage town of fewer than 1,000 residents west of Springfield. The Citizens Police Academy is an eight-week program that Engineering standing behind him and Brian Balicki of The spokeswoman says the firefighter collapsed at the gives Southwick residents a first-hand experience on what it’s Sage Engineering seated behind him. scene and was pronounced dead at the hospital. The fire- like to be a police officer in their community. Held once a fighter’s name was not immediately made public. week at the town hall, Southwick Police officers taught the The cause of death remains under investigation. classes and helped train the residents in a number of policing Residents of the home escaped the flames, but western- areas, including crime scene investigations, use of force, Proposed school massnews.com reports that they were taken to the hospital. going to the shooting range, the role of the court system, the Several surrounding departments also responded to the emergency dispatch center, and the “You’re the Cop” scenar- scene. io. on Root Road before To begin the graduation, Select Board Chairman Doug Moglin spoke briefly about the positive effect the Citizen’s Police Academy has had on the town. Planning Board “The board has been very supportive of the police academy City Council preview, as it has been a successful community outreach,” said Moglin. By DAN DESROCHERS Chief David Ricardi, who oversees the program, was proud Correspondent to once again have more graduates but also hopes the new WESTFIELD—The city’s Planning Board had determined Dec. 7, 2017 graduates will spread the word to their friends and family on that more information was needed before they could act upon a special permit for a parking lot and school to be constructed By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent See Police Academy, Page 5 on Root Road. The proposal, from Sage Engineering and Frank DiMarinis WESTFIELD—Several items from Mayor Brian Sullivan from Roots, is for a three-story school capable of housing are on this week’s City Council agenda. about 600 students and a 112-space parking lot, with the park- The City Council will meet Thursday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m., ing lot also acting as parking during off-hours for nearby with communications from Mayor Brian Sullivan beginning facilities. The Planning Board requested additional informa- at 6:30 p.m. in City Council chambers at City Hall. Featured tion about the project and continued the hearing until Dec. 19. on the agenda are several requests coming from Sullivan According to Luke Showalter of Sage Engineering, who related to Community Preservation Act funds. was one of the representatives of the plan, the school could First, in “Communications from the Mayor,” Sullivan is have a capability of being from grades kindergarten through expected to request three appropriations of CPA funds 12th grade. The request was initially for a two-story building toward projects within the city. One is for renovations to to be constructed, but Showalter said due to potential tenant’s Hangar Two at Barnes Regional Airport, which is used by needs a third story was requested. students from Westfield Technical Academy, another is for Which school would actually occupy the building however, handicap accessibility improvements at the Westfield was not divulged at the meeting. Women’s Club and the final one is for funds going toward Select Board Chairman Doug Moglin speaks at the 22nd “We are in talks with some schools but its confidential at façade improvements at the former Hotel Bismark on Union Citizens Police Academy Graduation. (Photo courtesy of Greg Fitzpatrick) See School, Page 8 See City Council Preview, Page 8 Senators Hinds and Humason issue statements following Monday’s turbulent Senate session By AMY PORTER on Ethics: Correspondent Relative to the recusal of Senator Stanley C. Rosenberg and his WESTFIELD – On Monday, Dec. 4, several actions were voted staff from all decisions relating to investigations of the Senator by the State Senate following receipt of a letter from Massachusetts Rosenberg’s conduct or that of his spouse: Ordered, that, Senator Senate President Stanley C. Rosenberg requesting a leave of Stanley C. Rosenberg and his staff shall be recused from all deci- absence as Senate President while an investigation takes place sions relating to investigations of the Senator Rosenberg’s conduct regarding alleged sexual harassment and assault by his husband, or that of his spouse. Bryon Hefner. Following the session, Senators Adam G. Hinds Relative to the question of the conduct of President Stanley C. (D-Pittsfield) and Donald F. Humason, Jr. (R-Westfield) issued Rosenberg: Ordered, that, the question of the conduct of Senator public statements regarding the chain of events. Stanley C. Rosenberg and whether he violated the rules of the Senate be referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics for its con- The letter from Rosenberg read: sideration in accordance with Senate Rule 12A. The Senate Sen. Don Humason Committee on Ethics is authorized and directed to retain a special Sen. Adam G. Hinds (R-Westfield) (D-Pittsfield) To my colleagues in the Senate, I would like to take a leave investigator, who shall investigate the question and submit a report course of the investigation. of absence as your President, effective immediately, for the and recommendations as soon as practicable to the Committee. Rosenberg is the first Senate President from Western duration of the investigation that I expect you will authorize The special investigator’s report shall be subject to Senate Rule Massachusetts in four decades. today. I believe this is in the best interests of the Senate. I want 12A and shall maintain as confidential the identity of any individ- Hinds issued a public statement on Monday following the to ensure that the investigation is fully independent and cred- ual providing information to the investigator, unless the individual Senate actions. “The allegations of sexual misconduct by the hus- ible, and that anyone who wishes to come forward will feel specifically consents to being identified. The special investigator band of Senate President Stan Rosenberg are deeply disturbing. confident that there will be no retaliation. I ask that you elect shall have full access to the President’s office and the full coopera- That is why I supported our actions today. Our focus was first with an Acting President for the period of my absence as President. tion of his staff. The Senate Committee on Ethics is authorized to the victims. Their courage is admirable. No one who serves, works, Thank you for your consideration of this request. require by summons the attendance and testimony of witnesses and or does business in the Legislature should feel unsafe, coerced, or Stan Rosenberg the production of books and papers and such other records as the unsupported,” Hinds wrote. Committee may deem relevant. Hinds said along with the votes to accept Rosenberg’s letter and The Senate took unanimous (37-0) action, accepting the letter The Senate also voted to elect Democratic Majority Leader and orderingProf. a review ofGeorge the question byMichael the Senate Commnittee Harriette Chandler (D-Worcester) as Acting President through the See Rosenberg, Page 3 WSU Terrorism Expert RADIO FOR THE WESTFIELD MASSES THE WESTFIELD FOR RADIO The Westfield News Radio Westfield State Student Athletes continue Secret Santa tradition Show By AMY PORTER Westfield State Thursday Correspondent WESTFIELD – For the 13th consecutive year, student ath- Line-Up Westfield State University’s Student-Athlete Advisory letes wrap 6am-8am Committee (SAAC) has sponsored local economically Secret Santa disadvantaged children in Westfield Public Schools to gifts for local provide gifts from “Santa” through their Secret Santa children on This Thursday... program. This year, 29 children from Abner Gibbs, Monday. Franklin Avenue and Highland Elementary School (Photo submitted) 6am-8am:6am-8am: have been identified through the Volunteers in Public BOB McKEAN Schools (VIPS), said Volunteer Coordinator Tina Executive Director Stanley Park Macy. John Beltrandi WSU student athletes donated $1,300 this year, “the Mark BoardmanCity Councilor & Jennifer Gruzska best ever,” said Nancy Bals, Associate Athletic schools this week and then given to the started by Betty Dely, Women’s Westfield Rotary Club Director at Westfield State. Bals said they were able to parents to provide a special Christmas for Basketball Class of 2008, as the result of Download WSKB from your Tune In Radio App purchase almost 100 gifts, which the students gift the children.