2014 BUSINESS & INDUSTRY — INSIDE TODAY! Search for The Westfield News
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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 83 NO. 75
MONDAY, MARCH 31, 2014
‘Rowdy’ residents respond By Peter Francis Staff Writer WESTFIELD – At a March 24 meeting of the Westfield State University Neighborhood Advisory Board at Landsdowne Place, the University-leased apartment complex on Thomas Street which houses around 200 students, city residents vented their fed-up frustrations with the unruly behavior of members of the student populace to school officials, claiming that many WSU Owls turn the city’s downtown into a cesspit of public urination and rampant rowdiness on weekends. When the story was picked up by the Associated Press, that students residing off-campus began to vent some frustration of their own, wondering among themselves, in conversation and on social media, whether they would be able to have their voices heard. Of the almost 5,000 students who attend the university, a small percentage of students actually reside in rented off-campus apartments, and it is these students who feel as though they are being unfairly targeted. “In my opinion, I think a lot of people think it’s a joke,” said Patrick Barrera, a senior from Canton, who resides near Landsdowne. “It’s bigger than just off-campus students. It’s kids, but it’s also townies (being rowdy) too. The college has been here longer than any of the residents who are complaining.” Barrera added that the city’s considerable student population pumps a lot of money into the city’s economy, and believes that changes may be on the horizon for WSU’s off-campus contingent. “There may be more community policing,” he said. “Landlords may have to crack down more. But kids just have to be more respectful.” Students who live on campus and venture into the city on the weekends to party and blow off steam are perpetrating what many students who pay rent and buy goods in the community feel are actions deemed offensive by city residents. See Westfield Residents, Page 8
“If there is anything
that a man can do well, I say let him do it. Give him a chance.” — Abraham Lincoln
75 cents
Mayor: City better positioned fiscally
Greg Strattner, manager of MoFroYo Frozen Yogurt in Westfield, displays a Blueberry froyo as part of Autism Awareness Month. The store will also feature Cotton Candy blue. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Business supports Autism effort By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer WESTFIELD – April is Autism Awareness Month and the community – including local businesses – is rallying to support local families affected by the developmental disorder. Western New England Walk Now For Autism Speaks Committee Co-Chair Monica Donnelly and her walk team have partnered with MoFroYo this month to shine a light on autism. April 2 is Autism Speaks’ Light It Up
Women’s Recognition Day Isabele Castro, right, daughter of Carmen Nunez of Westfield, accepts a glass award from Wil Rodriguez, business development director for the Massachusetts Latino Chamber of Commerce, for her mother as part of the 2014 Massachusetts Outstanding Women’s Recognition Day celebration at Nadim’s Mediterranean Restaurant in Springfield Friday evening. Nunez was unable to attend the award ceremony where Annamarie Golden, Nubia Erives, Carmen Milagros Baez Rodriguez, Jacqueline Lozada, Anita Soto, Cecy Galvan-Perry and Rosa Perez, all from the greater Springfield area, received a similar award. The celebration took place in conjunction with International Women’s History month. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Blue and World Autism Day, and MoFroYo owner Todd Cieplinski is taking going blue for autism to the next level. “With it being Light It Up Blue, we have brought back Cotton Candy and Blueberry froyo and we will have all blue beanbags this month,” Cieplinski said. “Our staff will be wearing Autism Speaks pins, and they have the option of wearing blue T-shirts in April.” The Autism Speaks symbol is a blue puzzle piece and MoFroYo will support the Autism Speaks Puzzle Piece Campaign by selling paper puzzle pieces throughout April. “People can decorate and color them and we will make a mural on the wall with them,” said Cieplinski. Donnelly teamed up with MoFroYo last year to raise funds during two Spirit Nights and formed a great partnership with the frozen yogurt restaurant, she said. This year, MoFroYo is hosting an Autism Spirit Night to raise funds and support Light It Up Blue Tuesday, April 2 starting at 4 p.m. Donnelly said having MoFroYo not only support Autism Speaks, but be an autism-friendly business, means a lot to her family. “My family and I frequent MoFroYo,” she said. “It’s one of the few places that my autistic son can go and I don’t have to worry. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is very laid back. When Todd suggested he could help raise funds and, better yet raise awareness, I was elated. I am very excited to team up with MoFroYo for the month of April as well as some other events later in the year.” “If you are looking for a good family friendly place to hang out MoFroYo is the place,” ” said Donnelly. “And the fact that Todd is helping make the community better by giving back to many different organizations, makes it that much better.” Donnelly found Autism Speaks soon after her son’s diagnosis. See Autism Effort, Page 8
By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Mayor Daniel M. Knapik began his tenure in office during one of the financially bleakest times in recent history, but conservative money management practices over the past four years have positioned the city for future financial stability There are some, including several City Council members, who disagree with Knapik’s financial practices during his tenure in the corner office, but at least two professional assessment companies support his approach. Both Moody’s and Standard & Poor, credit-rating companies which assess the city’s ability to meet its debt obligations, have MAYOR upgraded the city’s bond rating during Knapik’s DANIEL M. KNAPIK tenure.The city received a credit rating upgrade from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service last month, raising it two notches from ‘A+’ to ‘AA’ which will lower interest, reducing the cost of financing bonds. The agency cited the city’s financial liquidity, strong financial management practices, and rapidly amortizing debt as underlying factors for the upgrade. In 2011, the city was upgraded by Moody’s Investors Services. This was reaffirmed in 2013, when the city was given an A-1 rating and a MIG-1 short-term rating (the highest rate that a city can get for short term borrowing) resulting in a capability to borrow at a very low rate. Additionally, the city was recently approved by the Municipal Finance Oversight Board to sell its See City of Westfield, Page 3
Patrick announces summer jobs funding By David Kennedy Westfield News intern WESTFIELD – Governor Deval Patrick joined Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rachel Kaprielian, local elected officials, youth job advocates and a number of young people to announce $8 million in state funding for the YouthWorks Summer Jobs Program. The subsidized program is expected to put 4,000 at-risk teens and young adults to work in summer camps, daycare centers, cities and towns, non-profits, state agencies and private sector firms to gain valuable work experience, which can build stronger and safer communities. “These jobs are essential to providing our Commonwealth’s at-risk youth with a better opportunity for a brighter future, while creating See Summer Jobs, Page 3