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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 82 NO. 280
— HERBERT HOOVER
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2013
‘Valley Gives’ in December By PETER FRANCIS Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Greater Westfield will have the opportunity to support dozens of non-profits and community organizations on December 12, as the second annual Valley Gives Day kicks off the season of giving. Put on by the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Valley Gives Day is looking to make a big impact in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties, though it may be tougher to make a larger impact than the haul for last year’s online pledge drive, which will be run once again through the Razoo Foundation, a public charity that operates a donor advised fund. More than 6,000 individuals donated over $1 million through last year’s event. This year, the organization is challenging the region to double the number of donors and nonprofits, in an effort to raise $2 million dollars. The goal of Valley Gives is to help connect residents of the three western Mass. counties with their favorite organizations, and in greater Westfield, many residents and non-profits are eagerly anticipating the event, which will last from 12:01 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on the second Thursday of December. Last year’s event saw 219 donors make 229 donations in Westfield, with the contributions totaling $30,800 dollars. This year’s crop of Westfield nonprofits eligible to receive donations include Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail, Inc., Young Singers of Greater Westfield, The Amelia Park Ice Arena & Garden, the Western Massachusetts Council of the Boy Scouts of America, Domus Incorporated, The Carson Center for Human Services, Inc., Volunteers in Public Schools of Westfield, Inc., Novi Cantori of Greater Springfield, YMCA of Greater Westfield, Friends of the Westfield Athenaeum, Amelia Park Children’s Museum, Western Hampden Historical Society, Genesis Spiritual Life and Conference Center Noble Visiting Nurse, and the Hospice Westfield Museum Inc. Stanley Park of Westfield is looking to get a boost from community members as it looks to replace it’s sanctuary bridge and improve handicap accessibility for it’s patrons. “It takes everyone helping us out to keep us open and free,” said Bob McKean, managing director for Stanley Park. “If people want to donate, we’d appreciate it.” “(The sanctuary bridge) is where a lot of money is going,” McKean said. “We put money into our International Bridge, and we’ll be putting more towards the Sanctuary, as well.” The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield is hoping to attract donors online and during events being held throughout the day. “This Club makes a difference in the lives of children every day and Valley Gives provides a great opportunity to support the Boys & Girls Club and thereby improving the chances for our organization to win significant cash awards during the course of the day,” said Bill Parks, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club. Donations do not need to be large in scale, for just one donation of $45 dollars to the Boys & Girls Club on December 12 will provide one year of membership to a child, while a donation of $100 will provide one child with a week of licensed childcare, and $130 dollars will provide one week of summer camp. While a minimum donation is $10, there is no maximum donation limit. All donations are tax-deductable. Due to the online nature of the event, donations may only be made via credit and debit cards at valleygives.razoo.com
“A good many things go around in the dark besides Santa Claus.” 75 cents
Here comes Santa Claus Santa waves to the crowd as Dan Scibelli, of Scibelli Helicopters, pilots the aircraft into a field in back of the Amelia Park Children’s Museum yesterday morning where more than 100 visitors were waiting. See additional photos Page 3. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
Father pleads guilty to assaulting his son By CARL E. HARTDEGEN Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A city man will be on probation for two years after he pleaded guilty last week to a charge of assault and battery on a child with injury. Jason D. Woody, 30, of 40 City View Boulevard, was also ordered to make no threats or violence toward the victim, his sixyear-old son, and to strictly abide by all abuse prevention orders. City police became involved with the family when a five-year-old boy was treated at Baystate Medical Center after arriving with an almost completely bruised face with one eye swollen almost shut, ears which had been bruised inside and out and red marks and bruises on his back and torso. Dets. Roxanne Bradley and Daniel Gustafson were notified of the boy’s injuries and went to the hospital. Bradley reports that when they initially spoke with the boy’s mother she appeared to be upset when she realized that there was offi-
cial interest in her son’s injuries. The detective reported that the woman immediately said that she didn’t hit her son and didn’t think her husband hit him either. Bradley said that she was told that the little boy had been beaten up on the school bus the day before. The woman said that she had slept with her son the night before because she feared he might have a concussion and had taken him to her pediatrician who referred her to the hospital. The boy was interviewed and said that he had been hit on the bus. He denied that his injuries happened at home but said that his father had helped him clean up after the bus. Bradley reports that the bus driver said that she took particular notice of the boy when she brought him home on the day in question because his father, a stay-at-home dad, was not at the bus stop when she got there so she kept him on the bus. The bus driver said that the little boy was cheerful and showed no signs of injury while he waited for her to contact her dispatcher to
obtain permission, per policy, to keep the boy on the bus and return later on her route. She was allowed to do so but, before she could leave, the boy’s father came on the run and the boy went home with him. When Woody was interviewed he said that his son looked like he had fallen down when he got him from the bus and said that a girl hit him. Woody said he did not want to make a fuss about the boy being punched by a girl and let the matter drop. He also told the detectives that his son wet his pants but he said he does not spank the boy. The detectives and a Department of Families and Children investigator were also able to interview the boy’s three-year-old sister who told them how her brother got his “boo boos”. The girl said that her daddy squeezed her brother and gave him boo boos in the bathroom because he “peed his pants” on the bus. Bradley reports the little girl said that “Her See Father, Page 3
Animal facility up and running By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – It’s been just over a month since the opening of the Polverari-Southwick Animal Control Facility, and the place has already gone to the dogs. And, the cats. Animal Control Officer Tracy Root said within three days of the Oct. 21 opening, she had 30 cats – mostly strays – awaiting adoption. “It’s been very busy,” said Root. “The whole ‘If you build it they will come’ is so true.” Root said she currently has one dog, an older beagle, ready for adoption in addition to numerous cats. Although a very successful fundraiser was held at Roma Restaurant last month to stock the facility with supplies, Root is in need of cat littler and paper towels because of the high volume of cats at the shelter. “I was so surprised at how many people came to that event,” she said of the fundraising dinner. “We have a lot of support.” Root said she hopes to find loving homes for all the animals at the facility, but she discourages bringing home a pet as a Christmas gift on the holiday. “If you want to give a pet at the holidays, you should bring it to the home before Christmas,” she said. “The holidays are a stressful, busy time and it’s stressful to bring a new pet into a house on a holiday, especially one that needs training.” Root suggested instead that a pet carrier, crate, and supplies be given as a gift with a note letting the recipient know they can choose a pet after the holidays. The Polverari-Southwick Animal Control Facility was built by residents Bob and Barbara Polverari. The animal-loving philanthropists donated the facility to the town after seeing the need for a larger facility. The new building includes an area
Robert and Barbara Polverari, of Southwick, stand in front of the new Polverari / Southwick Animal Control Facility. The couple donated the $300,000 structure to the Town of Southwick earlier this year. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
for adoption, a lobby, office, laundry, storage, feline room and separate kennels. There is also an outdoor area for both dogs and cats. The facility is open from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday-Friday, and by appointment on weekends. The facility is located on Depot Street behind the Southwick Police Department.
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