The Westfield NewsSearch for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHER CRITIC WITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents $1.00 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019 VOL. 88 NO. 285 WESTFIELD THEATER GROUP ‘Christmas Carol’ marks special anniversary By LORI SZEPELAK matinee performance on Dec. “It’s just a fun story with Correspondent 14 at 2 p.m. The Westfield ghosts, humor, and a happy WESTFIELD — The stage Theatre Group (WTG) is a ending. Entertainment at its of the Westfield Woman’s department of the Westfield best.” Club will come alive with a Woman’s Club, 28 Court St. Both women said their unique musical version of “A “A Christmas Carol is an Christmas show has stayed Christmas Carol,” thanks to entertaining re-telling of a true to the original story, with the collaboration of two classic take with great music, some added artistic elements women who first created the fabulous costumes, marvel- and “especially” with the show 20 years ago. ous local talent and a family music. “We did this particular friendly atmosphere,” said “Some of the story may be show for the first time 20 Dunk, composer and music changed somewhat so that we years ago,” said Kathleen director. “It is the essence of can present it on the stage,” Palmer, playwright and direc- what community theater in said Palmer. “There are some tor of the December produc- Westfield is all about … local things that you can put in a tion. “It was the first folks putting on a quality movie that you just simply Christmas show that Marion show for friends and neigh- cannot do in real life, like a Dunk and I created especially bors.” funeral carriage that charges for the Westfield Theatre Palmer echoed a similar up Scrooge’s stairs in his The Westfield Theatre Group cast and crew of “A Christmas Carol.” (Submitted photo) Group.” sentiment. apartment.” Palmer noted the show is “Dickens Christmas Carol Both Palmer and Dunk feel Hicks, Sam Hicks, Mark Reagan Phillips, Parker Atkin, ensemble includes Sierra “basically” the same script is timeless on so many lev- that area residents will come Parsons, David Carlson, Lisa Matthew, Jesse Stark, Allen, Jeanine DeLand, Aaron but has undergone editing els,” said Palmer. “First of all, to see a story that they always Jackie O’Dell, Peter Smith, Norm Robitaille, Heather Kielbasa, Judi Lamothe, Carol over the years since it has it appeals to all ages, from the knew. Fallon Boze, Vivian Mello, Robitaille, Elaine Hebert, Martin, Ayden Rogalski, and been performed seven times. youngest to the very oldest. “The cast is awesome,” Dominic Nazzaro, Griffin Mark Hebert, Krista Tetreault, Mary Jane Smith. “We hope the editing has Who doesn’t love Tiny Tim?” said Palmer. “They are all Parrow, Faye Desarro, Caroline McKenzie, Margie There will be one intermis- made it better,” said Palmer. Palmer added the show’s talented and dedicated and Lindsey DeLand, Kevin Secora, Aaron Kielbasa, Rock sion that offers patrons water, “A Christmas Carol” will “message” of trying to be a will surely entertain every- Montemagni, Nancy Colby, Palmer, Carol Palmer, Linda coffee, tea, snacks, a 50/50 be staged Dec. 6, 7, 13 and 14 better person rings true for all one.” Sammie Noska, Calaeb Slozak, Raymond Boisvert, at 7:30 p.m., as well as a of us. The cast includes Peter Vieweg, Catherine Burke, and Madi Byers. Also, the See Christmas Carol, Page 5 Chester, Blandford create shared police force By AMY PORTER associated with sharing of Staff Writer personnel, facilities, or equip- CHESTER – For the past ment. two years the towns of Chester The report resulted in sev- and Blandford have been eral recommendations which working cooperatively on cre- Blandford and Chester, ating a shared police force. through the boards of This effort was a collabora- Selectmen, have committed tion with the boards of to pursue, Garcia said. Selectmen and town adminis- Throughout the study, they trators, the Pioneer Valley found the towns were unique- Planning Commission and ly positioned to succeed in Police Chief Daniel Ilnicky, some sort of shared service who was sworn in as chief in policing arrangement for the Blandford in September of following reasons: 2018 and has served as chief Both towns have part-time in Chester for over 10 years. police departments that work Ilnicky was hired following limited schedules, generally the walk-off of the former providing less than 25 hours interim police chief and part- of patrol per week, with cov- time officers. erage provided during other During six months of meet- hours by the Massachusetts Chester Police Chief Daniel Ilnicky was sworn in as ings, the towns reorganized State Police, a situation that Blandford Police Chief in September, 2018, and has been the administration of their allows for considerable flexi- serving both towns. (Photo by Amy Porter) policing efforts, upgraded bility in structuring a com- their capital needs, and draft- bined department. A number of residents came include salaries for police ed an inter-municipal agree- Both towns employ the and were supportive,” Garcia chief and officers including ment (IMA) which is ready to same part-time chief of police, said. He said following the salary adjustments, member- be implemented in January of who is familiar with the char- public meetings, the boards of ship dues/fees, annual service 2020. acteristics of each town, and Selectmen voted for the plan. fees, and expenses for vehicle In 2018, the towns were Blandford’s Police The IMA was then drafted maintenance and/or replace- with the assistance of the ment, supplies, and other The newly designed patch for the Blandford - Chester shared aided by a $15,000 grant from Department had no other police partnership. The artwork starts with the Arrowhead the Pioneer Valley Planning employees at the time of the PVPC and a state Community administrative needs. Compact grant for implemen- In the IMA, Chester will shape; a symbol of respect for those who initially inhabited Commission’s Division of study, leaving it in a position the region and showed ingenuity by adapting to the needs of Local Technical Assistance to rebuild from the ground up. tation of $43,400. The grant serve as the host municipality, paid for the new costs associ- and the towns will share the times. The center circle shows aspects of the area and the for a joint study to explore a Chester officers have also commitment to maintaining its integrity. (Photo submitted) combined police force been periodically patrolling ated with the first year start- evenly the costs of operation. between the two towns, said Blandford in the absence of up of the shared service Garcia said the new FY2021 backup, if needed. “What I’m excited about in Blandford Town regularly scheduled Blandford arrangement, including pur- budgets will reflect the shared Garcia said there will be this arrangement, is that when Administrator Joshua Garcia. patrols, and have begun to chase of dual band portable policing services partnership. more police coverage at any turnover occurs; (it will be) Services of the Novak develop mutual familiarity radios, digital vehicle repeat- “What’s really consolidated given time with the new attractive to a skilled and Consulting Group were with the town and its resi- er systems, standardization of is the administration,” Garcia arrangement. “Still, with this qualified person to fill that retained to perform the study dents. uniforms and patches, re- said. There will be one police arrangement, we won’t have job,” Garcia added, saying in and were tasked with review- “When we went through marking of cruisers, and legal chief overseeing the two 24/7 coverage,” he said, add- the past the town has had dif- ing the operations of both the feasibility study, both and consultant costs. towns, and one or two part- ing that even servicing both ficulty in hiring a police chief police departments to assess towns had public meetings. In Other operational costs not time officers in each town, towns, the police chief’s posi- potential benefits or obstacles Blandford, it went very well. dependent on the grant with the other town providing tion is part-time. See Shared Police, Page 3 Amber Boisseau creates an ever- Hunting down the perfect tree green arrange- ment at Ray’s By HOPE home. But, don’t wait, because higher prices and fewer options our tree,” Pulaski said as his Family Farm, E. TREMBLAY they just might run out. at their usual tree stands, but son Jacob pointed at a tree, which sells Assistant Managing Editor A Christmas tree shortage Westfield and Southwick shouting “This is it!” trees, wreaths, WESTFIELD/SOUTHWICK has begun to hit the northeast farms and retailers have variet- Ray’s Manager Paige garland and — With snow on the ground following a 2012 drought that ies of trees at a fair price. Gosselin said most of their swags. (Photo by creating a winter wonderland killed many trees that would David Pulaski and his family trees come from northwest Hope E. Tremblay) in New England, those who be ready to cut this year. This found just the right tree this Vermont and southern Canada. have not already put up their resulted in some retailers, such year at Ray’s Family Farm in She said the shortage has not Christmas tree are most likely as Kelly’s Home and Garden Southwick. affected them, adding they feeling the holiday spirit and in Westfield, without trees. Pulaski said normally they order their trees very early in looking for that perfect ever- Kelly’s still offers a variety of find their tree at Kelly’s but the year.