North Pond Saved
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TONIGHT Partly Cloudy. Low of 64 Search for The Westfield News The WestfieldNews Search for The Westfield News “BEGIN SOMEWHERE; Westfield350.com The Westfield News YOU CANNOT BUILD Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns A REPUTATION“TIME IS THE ONLY ON WHAT WEATHER YOUCRITIC INTEND WITHOUT TO DO.” TONIGHT AMBITION.” — James Russell LOWELL Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.comWestfield350.orgLow of 55. Thewww.thewestfieldnews.com WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHERVOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75CRITIC centsWITHOUT VOL. 88 NO. 153 SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 2019 75 Cents TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents Karen and Tom Fanion are pictured with sons Timothy and Daniel at their graduation from the Massachusetts State Police Academy June 27, 2019. (Photo submitted) Fanion brothers graduate from State Police Academy together By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Correspondent WESTFIELD – Growing up, brothers Timothy and Daniel Fanion were close, but didn’t always see eye to eye. In fact, Timothy, 30, and Daniel, 28, were opposites. Timothy was older and followed the rules while younger brother Daniel was a bit of a wild child. Timothy joined the North Pond Saved Westfield Police Department while Daniel pursued his inter- Denise LeClair-Robbins, Kathy and John Whalley, Susan Kochanski, Dennis Clark and Chris and Michelle Pratt est in golf. celebrate June 28 after the official closing on the Southwick North Pond property which is now preserved for the town. As they grew older, they grew closer. They both settled (Photo submitted) down and had children – a boy for Timothy and a girl for Daniel – 10 days apart in 2018. As their lives began to mirror each other, their interests began to merge. On June 27 they solidified their brotherhood when they graduated together from the Massachusetts State Police Academy. “I’m just so proud,” said their mother, Westfield City Clerk Karen Fanion. Despite donations, food pantry has She and her husband Tom were “beyond proud” parents Thursday as they watched Tom’s father George Fanion pin the HELLO brothers at a graduation ceremony in Worcester. Timothy’s wife Raeanne and Daniel’s wife Amelia, and big hill to climb to be fully funded their children, also attended the ceremony which was the cul- mination of six months of hard work for the entire family. By PETER CURRIER Both brothers credited their parents and wives for holding Correspondent down the fort, so to speak, during their time at the academy WESTFIELD- The Westfield Food Pantry is still short of its in New Braintree. goal of $10,000 in donations by July 1, despite some help from “We would leave Monday at 4:30 a.m. and not come home the community over the last week. until 5 p.m. Friday,” Daniel said. Food Pantry Director Rebecca Hart said that they have “And we couldn’t have contact with anyone unless it was received $1,500 in donations in the last week after making a an emergency,” added Timothy. “Without our wives we could plea to the community to help them raise $10,000. On July 1 the not have done this. Even on the weekends when we were new fiscal year begins, closing the books on FY2019. Hart said home we had homework. And our parents helped with our that if they cannot raise the remaining $8,500 before Monday, kids – without them there’s no way we could have done this.” they will have to start making cuts. Daniel agreed and added that doing it together made it “We may have to layoff my position,” said Hart who, as easier. director, is a salaried employee working 20 hours a week, “It “It’s pretty cool that we could go together and be both sup- happened once before, and I was laid off for 12 weeks.” She Rebecca Hart (2nd from left) receives a $500 donation from portive and competitive,” Daniel said. “He is my best friend.” noted that, at the time of her previous layoff, she did not know Rita Slasinski (left), Kathy Wallis-McCann (2nd from right), and Kathy Mochak of Coldwell Banker in Westfield. See Fanion Brothers, Page 7 See Food Pantry Funds, Page 7 (Photo by Peter Currier) Fire Commission to interview three prospective firefighters By PETER CURRIER wants all firefighters in the WestfieldSpring Fire the Fire Commission in June of 2018. The judge’s ruling. Correspondent Department to also be certifiedHELLO paramedics. grievance was tabled byGIGABIT the commission in “This is because judge SweeneyINTERNET! nullified to WESTFIELD- The Fire Commission will Egloff said in the past that he wants Westfield September. Fire Captain Keith Supinski, presi- the day before everybody was placed on admin- convene Monday at 6 p.m. at Little River Fire firefighters to have further medical training dent of the Local 1111 union, submitted a istrative leave,” said Supinski, “Because they Station for the main purpose of hiring three than they had previously been required to have. request that the grievance be removed from the were not put on administrative leave in the eyes new firefighters to the department. For those that are hired as firefighters but table and returned to the union. of the judge, these grievances do not exist.” Gina Favata, Timothy Rowan, and Bethany have not yet completed paramedic training, During the June 3 Fire Commission meeting, According to Supinski, the removal of those Thomas will be interviewed by the Fire they would have to finish the training within a Supinski requested the removal of four other first four grievances does not absolve anybody Commission on Monday. Unlike recent Fire certain period after their date of hire. Egloff grievances that had also been tabled by the of wrongdoing. Rather, it is a legal response to Department hires where as many as six people said that all three candidates have already com- commission. The four grievances were in rela- Judge Sweeney’s decision to nullify the admin- interviewed for just two positions, there are pleted their paramedic training. tion to a group of firefighters who were placed istrative leave of the firefighters. Because it three firefighter positions open for the three The possible new hires come after two fireConnect- on administrative leave today last year. The andgriev- was receive retroactively nullified, one the grievances month are FREE! applicants. fighters, Joseph Szenda and Michael Hawthorne ances were filed because the firefighters did not essentially no longer necessary. The possible hiring of these three would were promoted to captain wo weeks ago. believe that their leave was justified. Supinski The final items on the agenda are under the mark the beginning of a new policy being Also on Monday’s agenda is an item address- said that the reason for removing the grievanc- rolled out by Fire Chief Patrick Egloff, who ing one grievance that had been filed against es from the commission was because of a See Fire Commission, Page 7 POWERED BY YOUR LOCAL TEAM AT FREE Equipment and Wi-Fi FREE Standard Install No Contracts FOR A FREE MONTH USE PROMO CODE: GRAND SLAM whipcityfiber.com | 413-485-1251 PROUD SPONSORS OF HIGH-SPEED INTERNET THE WESTFIELD STARFIRES FOR $69.95 A MONTH INAUGURAL SEASON whipcityfiber.com | 485-1251 PAGE 2 - SATURDAY, JUNE 29, 2019 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Westfield Rep. Velis Update Homeless Hello Westfield! Hope you all had a great and have such a successful event. service and dedi- week and enjoyed the beautiful weather we’ve The Annual Westfield Women’s Club Garden cation to the Cat Project been having. This week was the first in a while Tea occupied most of my Wednesday. The Commonwealth’s that I was not required to go to Boston for for- Westfield Women’s Club is a pillar in our com- Justice system. WESTFIELD — June is Adopt A Cat mal session or hearings, so I was able to stay in munity, doing great community service work My Uncle Pete is Month and it is officially “kitten sea- Westfield for most of the week and attend a few and putting on some of the best plays this side one of the smart- son” here at WHCP! We are filled to events around town. of Broadway. Although I always enjoy the tea est, kindest, and the brim with adult cats and kittens. First up, I attended the St. Mary’s Golf service and trifle competition, by far the most funniest people I Now, more than ever, WHCP is in des- Tournament fundraiser last Saturday in order to important part of this event was recognizing the know and we perate need of foster homes had has an send off the golfers and wish them luck as they guests of honor, Anne and Harry Rock. This couldn’t be urgent need for monetary donations headed out onto the course. As I am not much of extraordinary couple was responsible for orga- prouder of all he and supplies. Can’t foster but would a golfer, myself, I stayed behind and spoke with nizing the Westfield 350 committee and many has done during like to help? WHCP is also seeking one of the smartest 12-year-olds I have ever of the events surrounding our anniversary week- his time on the volunteers to launder cat beds, towels met. Calaeb Vieweg just finished the sixth grade end, truly earning their recognition by the bench. I can think and blankets and assist at canned food but was able to tell me everything there is to WWC.