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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014
VOL. 83 NO.204
“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” — Winston Churchill
75 cents
Hundreds gather to honor hero By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer LONGMEADOW – Hundreds gathered on the Town Green Saturday evening to pay their respects to a man who is a hero, a husband, a father, a friend and an Air Force legend. Longmeadow resident Lt. Col. Morris “Moose” Fontenot, Jr. died in an accident last Wednesday morning when the F-15 fighter jet he was flying crashed in Virginia. A member of the 104th Fighter Wing, Fontenot was a career military pilot. His death was confirmed Thursday and over the course of the next two days, the community came together to remember one of their own. Fontenot’s wife Kara and teenage daughters Nicole and Natalie attended the gathering that celebrated his life. “I am overwhelmed by how many
people are here on such short notice,” said Kara. “My husband died doing what he loved – serving his country, flying F-15s, and being part of a band of brothers.” She shared with the group of people that her 40th birthday was that day, and she decided to try to celebrate with her daughters by spending time together. They left their house in the morning and when they returned at 1 p.m. they were surprised to see that members of the 104th had completely re-landscaped their yard, carrying out plans Fontenot had made for his wife. “He mentioned that he wanted to plant 40 rose bushes for my 40th birthday,” she said. “And those men planted 40 rose bushes.” The Fontenots have not lived in town long, but Kara said that when she saw all the people gathered to honor her
husband and support her family, she knew Longmeadow was the right place to call home. “We’ve moved our girls five times since they were born,” she said. “We left active duty Air Force for the Massachusetts Air National Guard so we could settle down in one place for high school.” Daughter Nicole is starting Longmeadow High School this year as a freshman and Natalie is a sophomore. Lt. Col. Alexander Haldopoulos, Commander of the 104th Operations Group at Barnes Air National Guard Base and a Longmeadow resident, told the group that Fontenot had only recently joined the guard. In fact, Fontenot was known in the United States Air Force and beyond for See Hero Honored, Page 3
Members of the 104th Fighter Wing bow their heads as a prayer is said during a remembrance service to honor Morris Fontenot, Jr., a 104th pilot who died in a tragic accident last week. (Photo by Hope E. Tremblay)
Gateway groups hope to work together First-grader Dominic Nazzaro and mom Melissa arrive at Littleville Elementary School on opening day. (Photo submitted)
Smooth opening day for Gateway HUNTINGTON – “In all honesty, this was probably the smoothest opening in my five years with the district,” reported K-6 Principal Megan Coburn. “All three buildings had a very smooth opening day.” Coburn added that the teachers in her three buildings— Chester Elementary School, Littleville Elementary School and Gateway Regional Middle School—had worked really hard to make their classrooms exciting learning environments for students. “Students were very excited to meet their new teachers and see their friends,” Coburn reported. Her sentiments were echoed by Jr./Sr. High School Principal Jason Finnie. “The positive energy and excitement about our new schedule was palpable in the cafeteria as students picked up their schedules this morning.” Gateway moved from a 5-block to a 7-block schedule this year, which is easing some of the difficulty students had in scheduling their classes. Finnie added that the Guidance staff is working hard with students to tweak their schedules based on their college and career aspirations, and reminds students that there is a two-week add/drop period. The high school’s Program of Studies is posted on the website to assist with this process. JR./Sr. High School Assistant Principal Anthony Sabonis added that school openings ran smoothly, although students were understandably sad that their summers were over.
Health care spending in Massachusetts on the rise BOSTON (AP) — A new report says health care spending in Massachusetts continues to grow faster than the rate of inflation. The report is scheduled to be released Tuesday by the Center for Health Information and Analysis, created under state law in 2012 to monitor health care spending. The report says overall spending grew 2.3 percent last year. That is below the cost growth benchmark of 3.6 percent set by the state, but higher than the inflation rate, which was 1.5 percent. The report says higher spending was driven by the state’s largest health insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts; and the biggest provider, Partners HealthCare. Both called the state’s calculations inaccurate. More than $50 billion was spent on health care, an average of $7,550 per person. Sixty percent went to taxpayer-funded care.
By Peter Francis Staff Writer WORTHINGTON – During Wednesday night’s meeting in Worthington, the Gateway Towns Advisory Committee (GTAC) sought to bring its interests to the attention of the school committee and to try to influence it to work with GTAC on the upcoming reorganization needs conference being set up by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). “So far, the school committee has been relatively inactive in the process,” said GTAC member Derrick Mason Friday. “We’re trying to help them understand that the needs conference is going to be very critical to the future of the school district.” Mason said GTAC wants to help them get this process underway and completed as soon as possible. “I’m hoping we can attend all of the (needs conference) meetings in some form of an official capacity, and to keep them up to date about whats happening at the GTAC level and any activities we’re undertaking,” he said. “We want to make sure that we know what they’re doing (school committee) as much as possible.” Mason added that the organizations have been “stovepiping” quite a bit up until now, and feels that the two organizations have to work cohesively going forward. “One of GTAC’s main purposes is to help ensure that what happens during the withdrawal (of the town of Worthington from the school district) is ultimately beneficial to the district and least detrimental,” he said. Montgomery Selectman Dan Jacques, who has worked has a liasion of sorts for GTAC, wrote a letter to the committee outlining what the mandates are from DESE in the reorganization process, and what different considerations they need to take into account. GTAC is urging Gateway Superintendent Dr. David Hopson to write a letter to the DESE requesting they complete the reorganization conference prior to making a decision on whether to allow Worthington to leave the district. See Gateway, Page 3
State Sen. Don Humason Jr., center, presents an official State Citation to Westfield State University President Elizabeth Preston,right, during the 5th Annual Westfield State University Helping Out Our Town (HOOT) service day on the Westfield Green this morning where 150 university students visited 13 local organizations to perform general service and clean-up. Joining the ceremony is Westfield Mayor Daniel Knapik, left. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
HOOT Day becoming a town-gown tradition WESTFIELD – Westfield State University kicked off the school year by presenting its fifth annual Helping Out Our Town (HOOT) Day today. More than 150 students (mainly first year) were expected to participate. Students will be actively working throughout Westfield at local businesses painting, cleaning, gardening, and other volunteer activities this morning. HOOT Day began in fall 2010 as a Circle K community service program. The program was designed to bring together Westfield State students and the City of Westfield as well as provided students with a way to learn about their new home
for the next four years. The opportunity to participate was offered to freshmen/first year students during their orientation in the summer. Multiple offices were instrumental in getting this program underway including: Westfield State’s offices of Residential Life and Advancement & University Relations, the City of Westfield Mayor’s Office, the Westfield Chamber of Commerce, the Westfield School Department, the Greater Westfield NonProfits Organization, and the Westfield BID. “HOOT Day is a great opportunity for See HOOT Day, Page 3
Westfield State University Executive Director of University Advancement Michael Knapik, center, welcomes everyone to the 5th Annual Helping Out Our Town (HOOT) service day on the Westfield Green this morning where 150 Westfield State University students visited 13 organizations throughout the city to perform basic clean-up and maintenance. (Photo by Frederick Gore) 115 West Silver Street, Westfield, MA 01085 | (413) 568-2811 | NobleHospital.org
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