WESTFIELD — City police are investigating an armed robbery reported by a gasoline station attendant Tuesday night.
The incident, which occurred at the Westfield Mobil gas station at 162 Southampton Road, occurred at 10:43 p.m. when a male suspect entered the store and handed a note to the clerk stating that he had a handgun.
The clerk gave the suspect, whose face was covered with clothing, cash from the register and the suspect fled the area.
Det. Lt. Paul Miller said city detectives assigned to the case are speaking with witnesses today to garner further information.
“We are assuming he left the area on foot because no vehicle was seen, but we have not confirmed that yet,” Miller said. … Click to Subscribe!
DAN MORIARTY
WESTFIELD — A 15-year-old boy has been arraigned on assault charges in the wake of an incident in which a 6-year-old boy was found unconscious in a bathroom at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield.
Det. Lt. Paul Miller, commander of the Westfield Police Department’s detective bureau, said Tuesday that an investigation by Westfield Police Det. Roxanne Bradley and Det. Ronald Gibbons of the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit into the Dec. 9 incident was completed last week when the detectives prepared paperwork for the court. He said a 15-year-old youth had been arraigned either in Holyoke or Springfield in connection with the case.
The young victim had been found unconscious in a bathroom adjacent to the boy’s locker room at the 28 West Silver St. club. … Click to Subscribe!
CARL E. HARTDEGEN
WESTFIELD — The City Council Public Health & Safety Committee set priorities for pending issues Tuesday night.
The committee voted to invite Police Chief John Camerota and Sgt. Michael Ugolik, president of the supervisory officers union which represented sergeants and lieutenants, to a Feb. 9, 2010 meeting to discuss reorganization.
Camerota is requesting the City Council to amend the city ordinance which set the structure of the Westfield Police Department.
The current ordinance set the supervisory staff with one police chief, one police captain and six lieutenants.
Under the proposed restructuring requested by Camerota, a second captain’s position will be created and the number of lieutenants reduced to five.
Ward 2 Councilor James E. Brown Jr., said that he has been contacted by the supervisory officers union.
“That union will be losing a member position because captains are not part of the bargaining unit,” Brown said. … Click to Subscribe!
DAN MORIARTY
SOUTHWICK — The town’s Planning Board last night approved a site plan review of the proposed Senior Center expansion at Town Hall.
Architect Richard Misiaszek, of Reinhardt and Associates of Agawam, told the board the 33-foot by 56-foot addition to Town Hall would encompass the current patio area behind the building at the east end of the building.
A new enclosed vestibule entrance would be built on the north side of the addition, while a second exit would be added to the south side.
Town Director of Maintenance John Westcott said last night that the town is hoping to construct the addition to allow for further expansion in the future. The hope is that funding can be found to pay for reinforced walls and ceiling to accommodate a second floor in the future. Westcott said Town Meeting approved the architectural funding needed for the additional design work to include future expansion. … Click to Subscribe!
DAVE CANTON
WESTFIELD — Heavy rain and a January thaw have caused the formation of potholes on roads throughout the city.
Tuesday, following the storm Monday which dumped more than two inches of rain, city employees were dispatched to locate and repair the potholes.
Public Works Director James Mulvenna said that his department had two crews patching “the real bad spots” with a new winter patch material.
“We think it works much better,” Mulvenna said. “This patch is similar to what we’ve used in the past, but it has a little higher asphalt content.” … Click to Subscribe!
DAN MORIARTY
WESTFIELD—On Monday, February 1, 2010, the speaker at the Rotary Club meeting will be Dr. Daniel O’Malley, J.D., Ed.D., the coordinator of the Adult Basic Education Program at the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department.
Dr. O’Malley is responsible for all adult education programs at the minimum security facility. Prior to this position, O’Malley was the coordinator of the Education Reintegration Program for the department at the main facility. He is a licensed Guidance Counselor, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and has held teaching positions at American International College, Springfield College, Springfield Technical Community College and Western New England College. He has degrees from AIC, Westfield State College and Suffolk University Law School. …
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The PennySaver