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WEATHER TONIGHT Evening shower. Clearing late. Low of 50.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
— John, Viscount
Morley of Blackburn
www.thewestfieldnews.com WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014
VOL. 83 NO.188
“The great business of life is to be, to do, to do without, and to depart.”
75 cents
Conditions set for Riverwalk soil testing
This past spring The Westfield River Brewing Company began growing its own hops on land behind the property which is leased to them from John Whalley at their new location at 707 College Highway. The well-known former Chuck’s Steak House closed many years ago and was most recently home to the Southwick Feed Warehouse. (Photo by Frederick Gore)
New brewery closer to opening By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – The Westfield River Brewing Company is one step closer to opening on College Highway following a license hearing Monday night. Brewery owner Sergio Bonavita met with the Board of Selectmen to discuss his application for a Farmers Brewers, Farmers Winery, and Farmers Distillery license. The brewery would be subject to state regulations for selling and serving alcohol, including having TIPS certified employees. The license sought in Southwick would allow Westfield River Brewing Co. to offer two-ounce samples for free and sell pints and fill growlers for sale. “The pouring permit allows us to pour our products for retail and consumption onsite,” said Bonavita. The company was previously located in Westfield, and Bonavita said they were approved for the same license there. The brewery plans to sell a sampler of four- and six-ounce beers, pints, growlers and six packs, plus free two-ounce samples. “Our objective is to have people come in and educate them about our product while they enjoy it,” Bonavita said. Southwick Police Sgt. Robert Landis told selectmen he believes Bonavita is following the guidelines for brewing, serving and selling his product. Landis said he had a few concerns about the outdoor patio space where Bonavita plans to serve but said those issues were being addressed. Resident Jack Sinico said the brewery would “be a good thing” for the town. Selectman Chairman Russell Fox asked what hours Bonavita hoped to be open. “Monday through Sunday, noon to 10 p.m.,” he said. Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart asked if there would be brewing during those hours. Bonavita said he is the brewmaster and he would begin brewing around 7 a.m. He also said they may not be open seven days a week, but he wanted the option. Bonavita said he will have 10 taps, although he plans to start with six brews and focus on quality of beer over quantity.
See Riverwalk, Page 3
Police cracking down on graffiti By Peter Francis Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A recent spate of graffiti “bombs” have taken place in the city near the Great River Bridge, targeting recently painted buildings. In graffiti lingo, to “bomb” an area is to spray a design on as many buildings or surfaces as possible, and is generally done quickly to avoid being caught by authorities. The Westfield Detective Bureau has posted to their Facebook page seven photographs of the designs, which were done in multiple colors on several buildings. The Facebook post, which went up late last night advises anyone with information about the person or people responsible for the vandalism to contact Sgt. Eric Hall of the city’s Community Police Unit via phone at (413) 642-9383. The post added that the name of anyone who assists authorities in the investigation will not be used. Sergio Bonavita, brewmaster at The Westfield River Brewing Company, appeared before the The Board of Selectmen who act as the Liquor Commission, requesting the issuance of a new licence, Farmer-Breweries, Farmer Wineries & Farm Distilleries for the relocation of his business at 707 College Highway in Southwick. (Photo by Frederick Gore) The brewery will also have a home brew equipment shop on site. Bonavita planted hops behind the brewery, which is the former See New Brewery, Page 3
Man pleads guilty to rabbit head prank WESTFIELD (AP) — A Springfield man who placed severed rabbit heads in mailboxes in Westfield on Easter Sunday has pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and defacing property charges. Christopher McHugh was fined $675 after entering his plea to two counts of each charge on yesterday. Police say the 24-year-old McHugh and a 26-year-old Chicopee man found several dead rabbits on the side of the
By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Conservation Commission approved a request by the city to initiate soil testing along a section of the Westfield River levee system with only one condition, that any excess soil be removed and that disturbed soil be loamed and seeded. Jessica Roberts, of Tighe & Bond, said the purpose of the soil investigation is linked to construction of a multiuse trail along the Westfield River. The city is currently in the initial stage of engineering and design for that project. That project, called the Riverwalk multiuse trail will intersect the city’s Columbia Greenway project right at the former railroad bridge over the Westfield River. The city is proposing to use the concrete footings, which once supported high-tension power line towers, as supports for an observation deck overlooking the river. Tighe & Bond will conduct geotechnical borings and dig test pits in three locations between the west Great River Bridge and Sackett Street to determine if the structural pilings are sufficient to support the observation deck and to assess the structure of the existing
road, and cut off the heads. They placed them in several residential mailboxes on April 20, and they were discovered the next day by residents and mail carriers. The suspects told police it was a prank. Charges are pending against the second man. The rabbits were believed to be wild and not domesticated pets.
Homeless man arraigned By Peter Francis Staff Writer WESTFIELD – A Westfield man residing at no fixed address was arraigned yesterday on one count of disorderly conduct. Joshua Chobot, 25, was arrested Sunday afternoon outside of The Samaritan Inn on Free Street in Westfield. When officers responded at 3:47 p.m. to a report of a possibly drunk man attempting to fight with staff members, they found Chobot in the parking lot, shouting racial epithets at staff members and nearby bystanders. The report added that Chobot was throwing objects at the building and spitting at staff members, and refused to calm down when asked to do so by police. Chobot was released by Westfield District Court Judge Philip Contant on his own personal recognizance on Monday.
Rite Aid robbery attempted By Peter Francis Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Two men from New Jersey and New York were arrested Monday for attempting to make purchases with stolen credit cards at a city drugstore. Michael Gilbert, 22, of Dunellen, New Jersey and Felix Santos, 22, of Brooklyn, New York were arraigned in Westfield District Court yesterday on a litany of charges related to their attempt to use stolen credit cards at the Rite Aid on East Silver Street at approximately 12:17 p.m. Gilbert was charged with receiving stolen property valued over $250, attempting to commit larceny over $250, possession of over four false embossed credit cards, and improper use of a
FELIX SANTOS
MICHAEL GILBERT
credit card over $250. Santos was charged with unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property valued over $250, possession of over four false embossed credit cards, and attempting to commit larceny over $250. According to Westfield Police, the store’s manager reported a black male
entering the store and attempting to purchase several pre-paid Visa gift cards with stolen credit cards. The manager said that it had been an ongoing scam in the area. She said the man was proceeding to the parking lot of a nearby Big Y supermarket in a black Honda with New Jersey plates. The manager then called Big Y’s manager to give them a heads up. Officers arrived between the two establishments and stopped the Honda carrying the two men. They asked to see the drivers license of Santos, the driver of the vehicle, who produced a New York permit. The officers then asked Gilbert for his identification, and Gilbert produced an expired New Jersey license. It was confirmed in the court’s statement of facts that the 2013 Honda Civic Santos was ille-
Two out-of-state men were arraigned in Westfield District Court Tuesday on a litany of charges related to their attempts to use stolen credit cards at the Rite Aid on East Silver Street in Westfield. (Photo by Frederick Gore) gally driving was rented by Gilbert. Gilbert was found to have had 10 credit cards in his name and on his person, while Santos was in possession of two cards of his own. Authorities then located 48 more cards in both suspects names. After a check on several of the cards, officers deemed them to be counterfeits.
Westfield Police also uncovered 51 $25 pre-paid Visa and American Express cards, obtained by using the counterfeit credit cards. Following their arraignments yesterday, Judge Philip Contant ordered the pair be held in lieu of $500 cash bail each until their next scheduled court appearance on September 3.