WSKB’s Jay Pagluica.
WESTFIELD- The Historical Commission announced Oct. 21 that $2,700 was raised so far in a Gofundme to help Jay Pagluica recoup his losses from the theft of his lighting equipment following the Ghost Tours at the Old Burying Ground late last month.
Commission Chair Cindy Gaylord said that the money raised is going to be used to help Pagluica replace his lighting kit. The lights consisted of Two Chauvet ColorDash Battens and six Chauvet SlimPar56 lights that likely have writing with grey marker or on tape indicating DMX address. Pagluica also lost his fog machine that he used in the tours.
Gaylord and other commissioners said that the lights that were stolen were used for many city events that Pagluica had volunteered his time and equipment for, but now he can’t do so. In the meantime, Pagluica has apparently found used versions of his light strips to use.
Gaylord also theorized that the equipment was stolen to be used as Halloween props or to simply be sold for money. A wooden ladder was found leaned up against the outer wall of the Old Burying Ground that appears to have been used by the thief to scale the wall.
“The best I could hope for is that they show up at the door of the police station, no questions asked,” said Pagluica shortly after the equipment was stolen, “I don’t want this to be a pity party. It’s not about me.”
Gaylord noted that Pagluica originally did not want for there to be any fundraising on his behalf, but people convinced him that he would be unable to help out in the same way with events in the city without it.
Pagluica said that he does not want this act to discourage others from volunteering their time and effort for the city. If the eight lights, the fog machine and the cables are dropped off at the police station, the matter would not be pursued any further.
Some of the Commissioners said they had gone to the Old Burying Ground the day after the last tours had ended to clean up to find that the lights were gone. They had originally assumed that Pagluica had already been through to take them himself. It was not until Pagluica reached out to them later asking if they had taken the lights did they realize what had happened.
