Tag:

Westfield, MA

Man In Wheelchair Hit, Killed In Westfield Crash Man In Wheelchair Hit, Killed In Westfield Crash
Man In Wheelchair Hit, Killed In Westfield Crash A 76-year-old, wheelchair-bound man was killed over the weekend after being hit in a Hampden County crosswalk.  The man, who was not identified, was crossing Kellog Street in Westfield around 6 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 8. when he was struck, the Hampden District Attorney's Office said.  Paramedics took him to Baystate Medical Center, where he later died of his wounds, police said.  The driver of the car remained at the scene.  The crash remains under investigation. 
$100,000 Lottery Ticket Sold In Westfield $100,000 Lottery Ticket Sold In Westfield
$100,000 Lottery Ticket Sold In Westfield It's a long, lucky weekend for one Bay Stater after they won $1 million playing in the Massachusetts State Lottery.  The winner correctly guessed all five numbers in the "Mash Cash" drawing. Those numbers in Saturday's drawing, Aug. 31, were 2, 8, 19, 29, 33.  It was the biggest jackpot of the day. Related: Doubling Up — Mass City Scores Second Major Lottery Win In Week The winner's name was not released.  They bought the winning ticket at Union Mart at 420 Union St. in Westfield. The store will get a $1,000 bonus for the sale.  Click here to see the 308 people who w…
Western Mass Dispensary Abruptly Closes Western Mass Dispensary Abruptly Closes
Western Mass Dispensary Abruptly Closes A cannabis dispensary in Westfield has closed with little notice.  Heka opened Sergeant Thomas Dion Way in 2021. Reports said a sign hung on the front door reads: "Thank you for your past support. We will miss all of you. Enjoy life. Be safe.” The store sold recreational and medicinal marijuana.  Western Mass News reported that Heka dispensary employees have complained of unsafe and "potentially dangerous growing practices" at the company. They did not detail any of those alleged incidents.  Reports said the store's management had been involved in yearslong l…
Wanted Man Threatens To Kill Springfield Police Officers During Bust Wanted Man Threatens To Kill Springfield Police Officers During Bust
Wanted Man Threatens To Kill Springfield Police Officers During Bust A 25-year-old man wanted on gun and heroin trafficking charges made this worse for himself when police went to arrest him early Friday morning, June 28, after he threatened to kill the officers, authorities said.  Kenen Monsanto-Maldona, of Westfield, was arrested on several felonies just before 1:30 a.m. at a hookah bar in Springfield, police said.  Springfield officers spotted Monsanto-Maldona at Le Souk Hookah Lounge at 1 Worthington St. He was wanted on three outstanding warrants, authorities said.  When officers went to put in handcuffs, Monsanto-Maldona kicke…
Legendary Mass Rocker Dead At 56 Legendary Mass Rocker Dead At 56
Legendary Mass Rocker Dead At 56 Jon Wysocki, a founding member and former drummer of the band Staind died over the weekend at 56.  The Massachusetts native was born in Hampden County, where he would later meet the other members of the five-times-platinum group.  He died on Saturday, March 18, due to complications with his liver, Variety reported.  The band announced his death on social media.   View this post on Instagram A post shared by Staind (@staindofficial) According to Variety, Wysocki was born in Westfield and would later go on to meet the…
Ex-Western Mass Firefighter Who Secretly Filmed Nude Female Coworkers Gets Prison Time Ex-Western Mass Firefighter Who Secretly Filmed Nude Female Coworkers Gets Prison Time
Ex-Western Mass Firefighter Who Secretly Filmed Nude Female Coworkers Gets Prison Time A former Hampshire County firefighter who admitted to hiding cameras in the women's locker room at the fire station where he worked to capture his female colleagues undressing was sentenced to eight months in prison, authorities announced. Nicholas Tillman, 39, of Westfield, pleaded guilty on April 24 to three counts of videotaping intimate parts of a person without consent, three counts of videotaping an unsuspecting nude person, and one count of attempted illegal wiretap, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. He must also register as a sex offender and will serve…
Blake Scanlon Given Life In Prison For Stabbing Girlfriend To Death: DA Blake Scanlon Given Life In Prison For Stabbing Girlfriend To Death: DA
Blake Scanlon Given Life In Prison For Stabbing Girlfriend To Death: DA Blake Scanlon, the 27-year-old Westfield man found guilty of killing his girlfriend, will spend the rest of his life in prison following his conviction last week.  A judge sentenced Scanlon to life without parole for the 2019 stabbing of Alexis Avery, the Hampden County District Attorney said on Tuesday, April 2. The couple had an infant child together.  A jury found him guilty last week of stabbing Avery multiple times on Jan. 13, 2019.  Police were called to the home they shared on White Street after Scanlon called 911 to report he had been attacked. Police found Aver…
Western Mass Native Stuns Judges In Big Return To NBC's 'The Voice' (VIDEO) Western Mass Native Stuns Judges In Big Return To NBC's 'The Voice' (VIDEO)
Western Mass Native Stuns Judges In Big Return To NBC's 'The Voice' (Video) Madison Curbelo is back, baby. To NBC's "The Voice," that is (scroll for video). View this post on Instagram A post shared by Madison Curbelo (@madison_curbelo) The 22-year-old singer from Westfield appeared on Season 20 of the show in 2021, but her audition back then fell flat. Things couldn't be more different for Curbelo this time around. On Monday, March 4, she returned to "The Voice" and performed "Stand By Me" with her guitar for judges Reba McEntire, John Legend, Chance the Rapper and Dan + Shay. All four judges whipped around …
Popular Western Mass Pizzeria To Close After 50 Years Popular Western Mass Pizzeria To Close After 50 Years
Popular Western Mass Pizzeria To Close After 50 Years A beloved pizzeria in Hampden County announced it will close its doors for good on Tuesday, March 5.  Elm Pizzeria, at 38 N. Elm St. in Westfield, has been in business for 50 years, but the owners — brothers Nick and Steve Theodorakis — decided to sell the property to Westfield Electroplating Company, according to WWLP.  The brothers intended to close on Wednesday, March 6, but overwhelming customer support has deleted their supplies, the restaurant said on its Facebook page.  We will be open tomorrow at 11am. We had originally planned to be open until Wednesd…
Springfield Murder Suspect Caught In South Carolina Springfield Murder Suspect Caught In South Carolina
Springfield Murder Suspect Caught In South Carolina A 36-year-old Hampden County man wanted in connection with a Jan. 31 fatal shooting in Springfield has been arrested in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, authorities announced.  Jermaine Atkins, of Westfield, was arrested on Thursday, Feb. 29, on a fugitive from justice warrant after Springfield police tracked him to South Carolina and relayed the information to officers there, authorities said.  Atkins is accused of shooting Nicorie Adams, age 30, of Springfield, around 4:20 p.m. in the 0 to 100 block of Rochelle Street. Adams and an unnamed woman were in a car when they were bo…
Western Mass Man Charged With Killing Anthony Goss In Springfield; GoFundMe Created For Victim Western Mass Man Charged With Killing Anthony Goss In Springfield; GoFundMe Created For Victim
Western Mass Man Charged With Killing Anthony Goss In Springfield; GoFundMe Created For Victim A Hampden County man was arrested and charged with killing a 23-year-old earlier this week in Springfield, authorities said.  Tyreese Amaro, 25, of East Longmeadow, is charged with murder, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building, and several firearm felonies, Springfield police said.  Related: Police ID Man Killed In Springfield Amaro is accused of fatally shooting Anthony Goss, of Westfield, on Monday, Feb. 26, in his car in the 700 block of Bay Street near the intersection with Tapley Street, police said. The 23-year-old Goss died at the scene.  Police to…
(UPDATE) 23-Year-Old ID'd As Man Shot, Killed In Car In Springfield (UPDATE) 23-Year-Old ID'd As Man Shot, Killed In Car In Springfield
(Update) 23-Year-Old ID'd As Man Shot, Killed In Car In Springfield Update: Police have arrested a man they say is responsible for the killing of Anthony Goss. Click here for more information on that story.  Original: Police have identified the 23-year-old who was found shot to death inside his car on Monday, Feb. 26.  Anthony Goss, of Westfield, was found in the 700 block of Bay St. near the intersection with Tapley Street when police responded to reports of gunshots, the Hampden County District Attorney said.  Police have released few details about the shooting, but investigators urge anyone with information on the shooting to co…
Prostitution Sting: 5 Busted Trying To Pay Springfield Cop For Sex Prostitution Sting: 5 Busted Trying To Pay Springfield Cop For Sex
Prostitution Sting: 5 Busted Trying To Pay Springfield Cop For Sex Several men found themselves in handcuffs on Thursday, Feb. 15, after they hired what they thought was a prostitute online, but when they showed up, they were met by police.  Springfield police posed as online escorts, where men would offer to pay money in exchange for sexual services inside a hotel room. But unbeknownst to them, the room was filled with Springfield police officers and Hampden County Sheriff's deputies. Related: Westfield Massage Parlor Owners Charged In Prostitution Bust Officers arrested five men from 1 until 7 p.m. as they showed up to the designated hotel room a…
Massage Parlor Owners Busted On Prostitution, Sex Trafficking Charges In Western Mass Massage Parlor Owners Busted On Prostitution, Sex Trafficking Charges In Western Mass
Massage Parlor Owners Busted On Prostitution, Sex Trafficking Charges In Western Mass A couple who ran a Hampden County massage parlor were using it as a brothel, police in Westfield announced on Thursday, Feb. 1.  Todd and Baushun Simonds, both of Holyoke, were arrested after police raided the Southampton Road Massage and Body Work at 282 Southampton Road in Westfield, Westfield police said.  Police had been investigating the couple for some time and had determined they were trafficking in women to perform sexual favors on customers for money, though, the workers were not being paid, police said. The only money they kept were the tips they received from their…
Bomb Threat: Western Mass Woman Admits To Making Call To Boston Children's Hospital Bomb Threat: Western Mass Woman Admits To Making Call To Boston Children's Hospital
Bomb Threat: Western Mass Woman Admits To Making Call To Boston Children's Hospital Days after posts from a controversial Twitter account last year called out Boston Children's Hospital's work with transgender teenagers, the renowned institution was bombarded with hate from those opposing gender-reaffirming care. One of those people was a Westfield woman who has now admitted to calling in a bomb threat, authorities said.  Catherine Leavy, 37, pleaded guilty this week to one count of making a false bomb threat and one count of intentionally conveying false or misleading information that a bomb was on the way to Boston Children’s Hospital, the US Attorney for Massachuset…
2 Charged With Setting Train Car On Fire In Western Mass Causing $250K In Damages: Police 2 Charged With Setting Train Car On Fire In Western Mass Causing $250K In Damages: Police
2 Charged With Setting Train Car On Fire In Western Mass Causing $250K In Damages: Police Police have arrested two men investigators say set a train car on fire on Aug. 16 in Hampden County, destroying everything inside. Johnny Hundley, 23, of Southwick in Hampden County, is charged with breaking and entering into a railroad car, burning a railway car, malicious destruction of property worth more than $1,200, and trespassing on railroad property, the Massachusetts Fire Marshal said.  Brandon Jasorkowski, 25, was arrested in Connecticut and is expected to be extradited to face similar charges, investigators said.  Westfield firefighters were called to the area beh…
Western Mass Train Fire 'Suspicious,' 'Very Fortunate No One Was Injured': Investigators Western Mass Train Fire 'Suspicious,' 'Very Fortunate No One Was Injured': Investigators
Western Mass Train Fire 'Suspicious,' 'Very Fortunate No One Was Injured': Investigators State fire investigators are asking for the public's help to gather more information about a "suspicious" train fire Tuesday night, Aug. 16, in Hampden County, where a door was pried open.  Firefighters in Westfield were called to the area behind181 Notre Dame St. just after 6:45 p.m. and found the train car engulfed in flames. Crews were able to put out the blaze, but all of the contents inside were destroyed, state fire investigators said.  Authorities did not say what was lost.  “Railway fires come with a unique set of hazards to firefighters and the public, and this was a very challen…
Westfield Girl, 16, Missing; Police Ask For Help Westfield Girl, 16, Missing; Police Ask For Help
Westfield Girl, 16, Missing; Police Ask For Help Westfield police are asking for the public's help to find a 16-year-old girl who went missing several days ago.  Dakota Grenda was last seen early Wednesday, June 28, her family told investigators. She is described as five feet, six inches tall, with brown hair and brown eyes. Police believe she is in the Westfield/Southwick area.  Officers ask anyone with information about her disappearance to contact Westfield police at 413-562-5411.
'Distraught' Family Displaced After 2-Alarm Fire Destroys Western Mass Home 'Distraught' Family Displaced After 2-Alarm Fire Destroys Western Mass Home
'Distraught' Family Displaced After 2-Alarm Fire Destroys Western Mass Home After a multi-alarm fire tore through a home in Western Massachusetts this week, a family "will be spending the next several weeks finding out what is next," according to an online fundraiser.  Kate Matthews and her children were among those displaced by a 2-alarm fire that broke out on Phelps Avenue in Westfield Tuesday afternoon, June 27.  Not only did Matthews lose her home, she also lost all her family's personal belongings "due to fire and water damage," a GoFundMe campaign organized by her sister Jennifer Floran reads.  Umm. Long time no see. Anyone see that news story about a f…
Missing Canoer, 20, Found Dead In Western Mass Pond After Days Of Searching Missing Canoer, 20, Found Dead In Western Mass Pond After Days Of Searching
Missing Canoer, 20, Found Dead In Western Mass Pond After Days Of Searching After a nearly five-day search, the body of a 20-year-old canoer who went overboard in Westfield's Pequot Pond was found on Sunday, June 25.  The East Longmeadow man was on the pond with two friends on Wednesday night, June 22, when it capsized, tossing them all into the water. Two men swam to shore, but the third man never resurfaced.  Police have not released his name.  One of the other canoers was hospitalized for injuries.  Multiple police agencies utilizing dive teams, helicopters, sonar, and other instruments scoured Pequot Pond for hours each day but found …
UPDATE: Missing Westfield Woman Found Safe UPDATE: Missing Westfield Woman Found Safe
Update: Missing Westfield Woman Found Safe UPDATE: Westfield Police report that Kali Sullivan has been found safe. Police in Westfield are asking for the public's help to find a woman who's been missing for more than two weeks as her family worries she could be in danger, authorities said.  Kali Sullivan, 33, of Westfield, disappeared on May 14 when her family believes she was in the Boston area.  Sullivan has a history of mental health and substance abuse issues, and her family worries she could be in danger.  Police described Sullivan as five feet, three inches tall, weighing 155 pounds, with brown hair and blue e…
Multi-Car Crash: Woman Expected To Survive Violent Springfield Wreck, Police Say Multi-Car Crash: Woman Expected To Survive Violent Springfield Wreck, Police Say
Multi-Car Crash: Woman Expected To Survive Violent Springfield Wreck, Police Say Massachusetts State Police had to go to extreme measures to free a woman trapped in her car following a multi-vehicle crash on I-91 Monday morning, May 22, authorities said.  The crash happened around 8:30 a.m. near Exit 8. The impact pushed a 29-year-old Westfield woman's car on top of a guardrail, which made freeing her from the wreck dicey.  State troopers used a police cruiser as a brace to keep the car from sliding so rescue workers could get her out, authorities said.  The woman was taken to Baystate Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, Massachusetts Stat…
FOUND: Teen Girls From Westfield Who Never Came Home From Walking Dog FOUND: Teen Girls From Westfield Who Never Came Home From Walking Dog
Found: Teen Girls From Westfield Who Never Came Home From Walking Dog UPDATE: Westfield Police report that both the girls and the dog have been located and are safe.  Westfield Police are seeking the public's help in finding two teenage girls who went missing while walking their dog this week. Casey, age 16, and Lori, age 14, were last seen in the area of 166 Hillside Road in Westfield around 6:40 p.m. on Monday, May 8, Westfield Police said on Facebook.  The duo was originally out walking a dog but never came home.  **********MISSING CHILDREN************ The girls pictured are currently missing. They were last seen in the area of 166... Posted by Wes…
Boil Tap Water Before Using It In West Springfield After 'Major' Water Main Burst Boil Tap Water Before Using It In West Springfield After 'Major' Water Main Burst
Boil Tap Water Before Using It In West Springfield After 'Major' Water Main Burst Officials in West Springfield warn residents to boil their tap water before consuming it after a water main broke on Tuesday, April 18, causing "dangerously lowered water pressure." The city posted this warning on its website: Due to a major water main break, certain areas in town have experienced dangerously lowered water pressure. As a result, the Water Department is issuing a boil water order for the impacted areas of town outlined below. West Springfield is working to isolate the area to conduct repairs. When water is available in the impacted area, DO NOT CONSUME TAP WATER WITHOUT BOIL…
Officer Hospitalized After Hit By Car Near Western Mass Construction Site Officer Hospitalized After Hit By Car Near Western Mass Construction Site
Officer Hospitalized After Hit By Car Near Western Mass Construction Site A police officer is recovering after they were hit by a car while working a road construction detail on Tuesday morning, March 21, authorities said. The officer was taken to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield after he was struck near Western Avenue and Highland Avenue in Westfield, Western Mass News reports. Westfield Police said the officer was  "conscious and speaking" when he was transported.  This morning while working a road construction detail, one of our officers was struck by a car. He was transported to... Posted by Westfield Police Department on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 "A…
20 LBs Of Coke, $100K In Cash, Guns: Drug Ring Bust Nabs 8 In Springfield, Police Say 20 LBs Of Coke, $100K In Cash, Guns: Drug Ring Bust Nabs 8 In Springfield, Police Say
20 LBs Of Coke, $100K In Cash, Guns: Drug Ring Bust Nabs 8 In Springfield, Police Say A multi-organizational investigation disrupted a drug ring in Western Massachusetts over a month where police arrested eight people and seized millions worth of drugs, guns, and more than $100,000 cash, authorities said.  The arrested began on Jan. 27 and continued through Feb. 17, Massachusetts State Police said in a Wednesday, March 8, news release. During a series of several raids, officers and agents found 9.5 kilograms of cocaine, 2.3 kilos of fentanyl packaged to look like heroin, 111,2000 baggies, 28 grams of fentanyl pills, 18 pounds of marijuana, $104,000 in cash, authorities said.…
Parking Bans In Effect For These Western Mass Towns Ahead Of Winter Weather Parking Bans In Effect For These Western Mass Towns Ahead Of Winter Weather
Parking Bans In Effect For These Western Mass Towns Ahead Of Winter Weather As heavy snows bear down on most of the Northeast Friday, March 3, several towns in western Massachusetts have implemented parking bans.  Related: Updated Snow Fall Predictions For The Northeast Here is a collection of some of those bans. Violators may have their vehicles towed and ticketed.  AGAWAM No parking is allowed from 12 a.m. Saturday, March 4 until 12 p.m. Saturday, March 4. AMHERST A parking ban on all town streets and lots begins at 12 a.m. Saturday and remains in effect until 7 a.m. However, parking is allowed in three areas.  The lower level of the parking …
Hunter Finds Man's Remains In Westfield Park 3 Years After He Vanished: Police Hunter Finds Man's Remains In Westfield Park 3 Years After He Vanished: Police
Hunter Finds Man's Remains In Westfield Park 3 Years After He Vanished: Police A hunter looking for game in a Westfield park found more than he wanted when he unearthed the remains of a man who disappeared three years ago, authorities said. Timothy Kolendo went missing in November 2019. He had a history of mental illness, and his friends said he may have been paranoid and wanted to get "off the grid" when he disappeared, Westfield police said. He left behind his cell phone and keys and vanished.  He was 53 when he went missing.  Police said there was no sign of foul play at his home, but they did not rule out that something could have happened to him elsewh…
Man Dies After Running From Troopers, Hiding In Westfield Woods: Police Man Dies After Running From Troopers, Hiding In Westfield Woods: Police
Man Dies After Running From Troopers, Hiding In Westfield Woods: Police Police found the body of a 24-year-old in the woods this week after he bolted from a traffic stop in Westfield on Sunday, Feb. 5, authorities said.  Yoniel Monsanto Maldonaldo, of Westfield, was pulled over around midnight in a wooded and swampy area near Union Street, Massachusetts State Polie said. Once his 2003 Subaru Forester came to a stop, Maldonaldo jumped from his car and sprinted into the woods near Eastwood Driver.  The car's insurance was revoked, police said. They also found 250 grams of heroin in a fanny pack inside the vehicle.  Troopers sent K-9 units and heli…
Westfield Dad Who Admitted To Beating His Infant To Death Gets 17 Years: Report Westfield Dad Who Admitted To Beating His Infant To Death Gets 17 Years: Report
Westfield Dad Who Admitted To Beating His Infant To Death Gets 17 Years: Report A 32-year-old Westfield man who pleaded guilty to beating his 8-month-old baby girl Lily to death will serve 17 years in prison, MassLive reported.  Related: Westfield man gets 17-year prison sentence for beating infant daughter to death Daniel A. Torres admitted to the killing on Tuesday, Jan. 24, and struck a plea deal with prosecutors to avoid his trial, which was set to start this week, the report said. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter, though a grand jury indicted him on second-degree murder charges.  Torres was watching Lily on July 28, 2018, while her mother was at w…
Aldi To Open Soon In Northampton: Report Aldi To Open Soon In Northampton: Report
Aldi To Open Soon In Northampton: Report Aldi, the discount grocery chain, is going through a boom period at the moment and will open three stores in Massachusetts in the first three months of 2023. A store in Northampton is scheduled to open in March, according to MassLive. Related: Northampton Aldi grocery store plans for March opening The company plans to open the Northampton store at 303 King Street, but an exact date was not available.  This will be the third store Aldi will open in Massachusetts this year.  According to the company's website, it opened a store in Westfield on Jan. 5 and will open another bra…