Donations to the park continue to grow since the death of Ozzie the duck.
Officials from Mobius Works and Stanley Park in Westfield look at one of the surveillance cameras the company installed at the park in the wake of the brutal killing of "Ozzie" the duck. Seen here, from left, are Edward F. Watson, company CEO, John M. Bowen, company service manager and Robert McKean, executive director of Stanley Park.WESTFIELD – Mobius Works completed installation Tuesday of a three-camera surveillance system at the duck ponds located at Stanley Park.
The donation of the equipment and installation, designed to allow future expansion to cover the entire Western Avenue park, was an easy one for the Westfield information technology services provider owners Edward F. Watson and David Alger.
“We have a good relationship with Stanley Park and most of our employees live in Westfield, involving a lot of kids. The park is a huge asset to the community and we wanted to help make the park safer,” said Watson.
The surveillance project is the result of the November 11 killing of Stanley Park’s resident Muscovy duck Ozzie. Westfield police have filed charges of cruelty to animals and killing a domesticated animal against a 15-year-old Westfield boy through Holyoke’s Juvenile Court.
Park director Robert C. McKean also announced Tuesday the pending arrival of two new Muscovy ducks, “Ricky and David” who will become Stanley Park residents. They are being donated by Westfield’s Jack General, McKean said. Ricky and David will join a female hooded Merganser duck already named Harriet. “This will complete our Nelson family of ducks,” said McKean.
The killing has prompted donations to the park and to a new scholarship established by Citizens Scholarship Foundation. Cynthia M. Neary, CSF president, said the original anonymous donation of $500 has grown in the last few weeks to $900.
The scholarship will be awarded to a high school graduating senior who is a Westfield resident, who is a humanitarian volunteer or who will pursue a college degree humanitarian services.
Donations may be mailed to Citizens Scholarship Foundation, P.O. 382, Westfield, Ma. 01086.
The cameras installed by Mobius will provide 24-hour day and night coverage of the ponds area that can be viewed through the park’s website: www.stanleypark.org. That viewing capability will be available shortly, McKean and Watson said.
“Our hope is that the surveillance system will provide a measure of safety for both the inhabitants and the guests of the Park,” Watson said.
John M. Bowen, Mobius service manager, said the wireless system transmits images to the Network video Recorder, from which it can be viewed on site or via the Internet.
As for donations made to the park since Ozzie’s death, McKean said “Stanley Park’s success is very much in the hands of the community. Ozzie’s senseless death has mobilized many and we are extremely grateful for the support we have received.
“My priority concern is for the safety of the animals that have made the park their home and for the people who use and enjoy the park,” McKean said.
McKean said he is in the process of budgeting for future expansion of the surveillance network. He said donations made in Ozzie’s name will be used to “memorialize him and to further our services to benefit all of the park community.” Westfield Bank has donated $2,000 to the fund and more than $3,300 has been received from individual donors.
Donations in memory of Ozzie can be made to ‘Friends of Ozzie’, c/o Stanley Park, 400 Western Ave., Westfield, 01085. McKean said donations are tax deductible.