TONIGHT Mainly Clear. Low of 61. Search for The Westfield News The WestfieldNews Search for The Westfield“A PESSIMIST News Westfield350.com The Westfield News AND AN OPTIMIST , “TIME IS THE ONLY Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns SO MUCH THE WORSE; WEATHER CRITIC WITHOUT SO MUCH THE BETTER .” TONIGHT AMBITION — JEAN DE LA FON.” TAINE Partly Cloudy. SearchJOHN for STEINBECK The Westfield News LowWestfield350.comWestfield350.org of 55. Thewww.thewestfieldnews.com WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHER VOL.VOL. 86 87 NO. NO. 151 121 TUESDAY,TUESDAY, JUNE MAY 29,27, 20182017 CRITIC75 cents75 CentsWITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK DPWLow of 55. looking www.thewestfieldnews.com forVOL. assistance86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 Home invasion 75 cents with stormwater suspects charged permit program By CARL E. HARTDEGEN By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent Correspondent WESTFIELD – Two men accused of a Dubois Street armed home SOUTHWICK – DPW invasion have been tracked down and arrested. Director Randy Brown discussed On May 16 city police were the stormwater permit program alerted to a disturbance at 13 with the Select Board during their Dubois St. by a neighbor and meeting last week. responded to find a botched The NPDES (National home invasion and larceny Pollutant Discharge Elimination attempt. System) Stormwater Permit is Det. Sgt. Stephan Dickenson mandated through the federal reports in a court document that government but administered by the victim of the invasion was a the Massachusetts DEP resident who “has a store on the (Department of Environmental first floor of this residence and Protection) and EPA sells high-priced CBD edibles, (Environmental Protection Left to right are Daniel Shea, Wendy McCaul, Maureen Kaminski, Patricia oils and concentrate extracts. Agency). The permit gives com- Diefendorf, Debra Robbins, Denae Kessel Dostal, Tom Burns and Stephanie Fisk, CBD products contain canna- binol extracted from marijuana munities requirements to follow all recognized at the Gateway Regional School Committee’s Annual Staff Honors and complete with their stormwa- plants but has no THC (tetrahy- ter plan. Reception. (Photo by Kilee Holmes) drocannabinol) content, the psy- Southwick has had a storm choactive ingredient in marijua- water permit since 2003 and the na that produces a recreational next permit will go into effect ‘high’. They are used medically A low profile medical mari- July 1, 2018. The difference is GRSD retiree recognition to treat conditions such as epi- juana dispensary on Dubois that the upcoming permit has HUNTINGTON – Under clear, sunny the Middle School for nearly ten years. lepsy, oxidative injury, vomiting Street, above, was the scene more extensive and demanding skies in the beautifully restored court- Her success at Gateway goes beyond and nausea, anxiety and schizo- of a recent botched home requirements. yard at Gateway, members of the teaching; outside of the classroom (or phrenia. invasion and armed robbery “The intent of the permit is to Gateway Regional School Committee gym), she coaches the high school girls’ Dickinson reports that video attempt. (Photo by Carl E. require communities to look at all and Gateway administrators celebrated cross country team. She holds a Master evidence shows two men, later Hartdegen) aspects of their stormwater sys- staff accomplishments and honored over of Science degree in Exercise Science, is identified as Lamar A. Evans Jr. tems,” said Brown. “This new 219 years of combined service from 10 currently a PhD. candidate in Health and Willie A. Duke, approach the permit takes it to the next level.” retirees who are leaving or have left this Sciences (both through California front door of the house shortly before 10 p.m. Besides making sure both year. University of Pennsylvania) and has Evans entered first, Dickinson wrote, and then Duke, carrying a streets and catch basins are swept, In a recognition ceremony led by been a personal training/group fitness pistol, pushed past him. The victim told Dickinson that the man “pointed the gun at him this new permit also includes School Committee Chairwoman Michele instructor in the Pioneer Valley for 12 educational outreach, doing map- and stated ‘This isn’t a joke. I’m (obscene gerund deleted) robbing Crane and Superintendent David Hopson, years. you!” ping for stormwater in town, and the Annual Staff Honors Reception Moving onto retirees, Crane then doing comprehensive field work. Then, the video shows, “both suspects exit the house with the opened with a guest presenter: Margaret announced the retiring paraprofessionals, victim grabbing the gun and wrestling with the second male (Duke)”. Stormwater permits are a five- Driscoll, Executive Director of the starting with Maureen Kaminski. A resi- year program and there are cer- The pistol was not discharged, Dickinson said, and the suspects Massachusetts Association of School dent of Worthington, Maureen has been a fled. tain requirements that have to be Business Officials (MASBO). Driscoll paraprofessional at Gateway for the past met each year. Brown is project- It was apparently at this point that a neighbor heard the disturbance announced the Donald J. Johnson 27 years. She holds a Bachelor of Science and someone yelling “call the cops”. The woman called police. ing that the program could cost Operational & Cost Efficiency Award to degree in Education, K-8. During this Dickinson reports that video images of the suspects were circu- approximately $1 million over the Gateway Regional School District time she has been able to work with lated among law enforcement personnel and a Hampden County the entire five years and he “in recognition of your extraordinary many different grade levels and help stu- House of Corrections officer recognized Evans as a former inmate he requested $120,000 of funding efforts to improve operational efficiency dents with academics and social pieces had worked with. for the first year of the program. and achieve significant cost savings for as they grow. Maureen says she will At the meeting last week, the See Charged, Page 5 Select Board decided that they the betterment of education.” Accepting definitely miss all of the staff at every wouldn’t accept Brown’s request on behalf of Gateway was Stephanie level, from teachers and paras to custodi- for $120,000 for the program. Fisk, Business Manager, who led numer- ans and administrators, saying “They are Instead, the town has put in ous efforts in utilities, busing, and other all wonderful people, caring and respect- $25,000 as well as allow a part- measures to save operational costs and ful of each other and the students! time position for the summer. mprove efficiency, leaving more funding Maureen also worked in the After-School Select Board Clerk Russ Fox for education. Fisk accepted on behalf of Program run by HEC for 8 years, and the explained why the board has all Gateway staff members, who she said summer camp program for 3 years. “I decided not to fund $120,000, did their part to reduce power usage in always felt I wanted to make the world a pointing out the high expense of the schools. The award included a check better place when I leave by what I do,” the program. for $2,000, which Fisk said would be Maureen said. “I can honestly say that “It’s not like we’re ignoring used for scholarships to graduating working these years at Gateway has this,” said Fox. “We’re taking seniors. enabled me to do that in so many ways. actions, but we’re taking actions Crane and Hopson also recognized It has been a very personally fulfilling that we can afford to take.” Denae Kessel Dostal, who was this job!” Fox added that the board will year’s recipient of the Pioneer Valley Also retiring, but unable to attend the A .357 caliber Colt revolver, above, believed to have been used look at any grant opportunities or Excellence in Teaching Award. Dostal reception, was Cheryl Meskevich (para- in a recent botched home invasion on Dubois Street, was seized other options that could help has been a member of the Gateway professional at Gateway for 21 years); Friday when Westfield and Chicopee police arrested the sec- Brown with completing the pro- teaching community as a physical educa- ond of two men charged with the crime. (Photo by Carl E. gram. tion teacher at Littleville Elementary and See GRSD, Page 3 Hartdegen) Free class to Review: ‘A Lesson from learn fly-fishing Aloes’ at Hartford Stage By MARK G. AUERBACH By AMY PORTER Correspondent Correspondent A Lesson from Aloes, Athol CHESTER – The Southern Hilltowns Adult Fugard’s portrait of three people Education Center (SHAEC) is hosting a free intro- caught up in the pain of the duction to fly and spin casting on Thursday, May Apartheid movement, is a power- 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. The program will focus on house of a play that portrays the techniques, skill/accuracy, safety and first-aid, and torment and torture of the South will include casting target games for kids. All African people. It’s difficult to equipment will be provided for this family friendly watch, despite its handsome pro- workshop taught by Tim Vogel of Tekoa Mountain duction, thoughtful direction by Outdoors. Hartford Stage Artistic Director Vogel is a professional outdoor-adventure recre- Darko Tresnjak, and fine perfor- ation educator, backcountry wilderness guide and mances. It’s hard to feel hope for the owner of Tekoa Mountain Outdoors, located in three characters that they might rise Williamsburg. Vogel is an avid hunter, fisherman, above their circumstances, and the See Fly-Fishing, Page 3 Learn fly fishing techniques at a free class on See Review, Page 2 Ariyon Bakare in A Lesson from Aloes at Thursday. (Photo submitted) Hartford Stage.