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WEATHER TONIGHT Some clearing. Low of 36.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com
— Eugene Ionesco
FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014
VOL. 83 NO. 73
“It isn’t what people think that’s important, but the reason they think what they think.”
75 cents
Younger clerks targets of scam By Carl E. Hartdegen Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Younger workers at stores which offer money transfer services or gift cards seem to be the targets of a recent scam involving callers who ask them to ‘test’ their machines. Det. Todd Edwards of the financial crimes unit of the Detective Bureau reports that at least two local stores have encountered a scam in which a caller purports to be calling from Western Union or a similar company and reports a problem with the equipment which is used for money transfers. Edwards said that the caller will ask the clerk to make a ‘test transaction’ to check the equipment and a helpful clerk will often comply with the apparently legitimate request, little realizing that they are actually effecting a money transfer when they follow the caller’s instructions. “The clerk thinks it’s Western Union (calling) and it doesn’t count but it’s an actual transaction,” Edwards said, and actual money is transferred to the caller. He said that the callers “know how the machine works and they spoof the caller ID,” so the call appears to See Scam, Page 3
City matriarch to be recognized By Hannah Y. Meader WHS intern WESTFIELD – Carmen Nunez, the matriarch of a prominent city family, will be honored tonight at an event sponsored by the Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce to celebrate International Women’s History month. The event at Nadim’s Mediterranean Restaurant in Springfield will be recognize local women, including Nunez, who have made a difference in their communities by playing leadership roles in fields such as entrepreneurship, government, education, communications, technology and innovation. “We like to honor women who have set a trend for their peers,” said LCC Business Development Director Wil Rodriguez. “We like to recognize everyone who has given back to the community”. Nunez, originally from Puerto Rico, came to Westfield with her husband, Hipolito, in See Nunez, Page 3
More than 70 residents watch a debate between candidates for State Rep. , John Velis and Dan Allie, at the Lang Auditorium last night. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Candidates for State Rep. Republican Dan Allie, left, and Democrat John Velis, right participated in a debate sponsored by The Westfield News and the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce at the Lang Auditorium where an estimated 70 residents gathered. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Candidates spar as election looms By PETER FRANCIS Staff Writer WESTFIELD — The two candidates seeking to replace State Rep. Don Humason (R-Westfield) sparred last night over taxes and tactics in a final debate ahead of Tuesday’s special election to represent the 4th Hampden District. The debate was sponsored by The Westfield News and the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce. Before an audience of about 70 people at the Lang Auditorium at the Westfield Athenaeum, Democrat John Velis and Republican Dan Allie Both candidates used the opportunity to make their cases to the voters before Tuesday’s special election to fill the 4th Hampden District seat vacated when Humason became the new State Senator for the 2nd Hampden District. The event’s format slated both men three minutes with which to give an opening statement, which was followed by a question and answer segment between the two candidates. After their Q & A, Allie and Velis would then be asked several questions by debate moderator Patrick Barry, president of The Westfield News Group, and would be given two minutes apiece to respond. Barry’s questions would then be followed by three minutes apiece during which to give their closing remarks. During the hour-long debate, the two House of Representatives hopefuls stuck to their guns, with Allie hailing his anti-tax platform and a pledge to work in unison with
DAN ALLIE
JOHN VELIS
Humason, and Velis pledging never to sign any special interest group pledges, and to vote in the best interest of Westfield alone. “I’m disgusted by the political process in this country and that’s why I’m in this race,” Velis said in his opening statement while also speaking of his time as a Captain in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. “This seat is made up entirely of the City of Westfield. I would have a singular focus of what is in the best interest for this city. If a Republican, a Democrat, an Independent comes up with an idea, I don’t care. If it’s good for Westfield, I’ll support it.” Allie began his opening statement with a moment of silence for Boston
firefighters Edward Walsh and Michael Kennedy, who passed away in a nine-alarm blaze in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood Wednesday, before stating his own consistent talking points. “I’m a father of three, a grandfather of three, a small business owner, an Army veteran, a homeowner, a concerned taxpayer, and a Westfield City Councilor,” Allie stated, adding that he “is the only candidate in this race to sign pledges to stop automatic gasoline tax hikes and the No New Tax Pledge.” “Massachusetts doesn’t have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem. Voters can trust me to protect their wallets,” Allie said.
Town officials discuss community preservation By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – A working session on the town’s Community Preservation Act expenditures was an eyeopener for some in attendance. The meeting was held at Town Hall this week with members of the Board of Selectmen, Conservation Commission, Community Preservation Commission,
Planning Board, Finance Committee, Cultural Council, Historic Commission, and more. Conservation Coordinator Dennis Clark gave a presentation on the use of funds. “We were pleased that the selectmen gave us the opportunity to bring the facts and figures of the CPA to See Preservation, Page 3
The two candidates then began a verbal sparring match that lasted for much of the debate, with Allie attacking Velis for not signing the gas tax petition, and for endorsements by organizations such as the Massachusetts Teachers Association, and accusing him of a lack of clarity on his positions. “Up until 11 days ago, there were no issues listed on your website,” Allie said of Velis. “This is a tactic right out of the handbook of liberal groups like MoveOn.org.” Velis then called his Republican opponent out for a series of attack pamphlets and robo-calls that have circulated around the district. “A constant refrain I hear from these robo-calls is that ‘I’ll raise taxes.’ What evidence do you have that I’ll raise taxes?” Velis asked. “I have no record at all. Why are you telling people that that’s not the truth?” Allie then asked whether a small business owner better understands how to help small businesses, Velis replied “no.” “Do I think experience helps? Absolutely.” Velis said. “I’m going to rely heavily on small business owners in Westfield to tell me the issues that affect them. But just the fact that, having been a small business owner, you’re more equipped to help business and create jobs, no, I don’t agree with that.” Allie spoke of his own extensive small business acumen, and bragged that “every pro-jobs group in the state” endorses him. Velis then brought forward a questionnaire from the Mass. Teachers Association in which he showed he disagreed with two questions regarding increased taxation. Allie stated that the MTA’s support of Velis is due to his status as a Democrat. “If Abraham Lincoln was running against Mr. Magoo, and Mr. Magoo was a Democrat, they (the MTA) would support Mr. Magoo.” he said. While Allie spent most of the night See Candidates, Page 3
Worthington withdrawal discussed with DESE rep By Peter Francis Staff Writer HUNTINGTON – Representatives from six of the seven member communities of the Gateway Regional School District convened in the library of Gateway Regional High School Wednesday afternoon to meet with Jeff Wulfson, deputy commissioner of the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
The purpose for Wulfson’s visit was to discuss DESE’s take on the ongoing withdrawal effort of the Town of Worthington from the district. Speaking on behalf of the representatives of the six communities, Blandford, Chester, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery, and Russell, Dan Jacques of the Montgomery Select Board began the discussion
by asking Wulfson what the district’s options are. “Where this is heading, in terms of the bill being a home rule petition, we understand that it’s almost certain to pass, which means it’ll ultimately end up on the Commissioner’s desk,” Jacques said. “How can we work with the DESE and what kinds of things can we ask of our legislators to ensure a more thorough
review process to make sure this is in the best interest of all the (towns)?” “We have a long history, at DESE and DOE (Department of Education), of being supportive of regional school districts,” said Wulfson. “We have lots of towns in the Commonwealth that are basically too small to run an effective and quality school district. We’ve been using them since the 1950s.”
Wulfson explained to the representatives that during his tenure with DESE, he has seen two other instances in which districts have seen member communities withdraw, in the Plymouth County communities of Plymouth and Carver, and when the Town of Pembroke broke away from the Silver Lake Regional District, located in See Worthington, Page 3