tONiGht: Mostly Clear. Low of 59. Search for The Westfield News The WestfieldNews Search“E for DUCATIONThe Westfield NewsIS A PRIVATE Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews MATTER BETWeeN THE Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns P“TERSONIME IS ANDTHE ONLYTHE WORLD OF WEATHER KNOWLCRITICEDGE WITHOUT AND EXP ERIENCE, TONIGHT ANDAMBITION HAS LITTL.” E TO DO Partly Cloudy. WITH SCHOOLJOHN STEINBECK OR COLLEGE.” Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.comWestfield350.org The WestfieldNews — LiLLiaN Smith “TIME IS THE ONLY VOL. 86 NO. 151 Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns WEATHER TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 centsCRITIC WITHOUT VOL. 88 NO. 187 FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019 75 Cents TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL.Burglar 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 Firefighter 75 cents convicted, replacement strategy jailed By CARL E. HARTDEGEN approved Correspondent WESTFIELD – A Green Avenue By HOPE E. TREMBLAY resident with a history with city Correspondent police has been sent to jail for a WESTFIELD – The Westfield Fire year after pleading guilty to his Commission this week approved Fire most recent infraction, a nighttime Chief Patrick Egloff’s plan to replace burglary of a neighbor’s home open firefighter positions. while the residents were sleeping. By the end of August there will be Michael R. Hiltbrand, 47, of 5 three vacant positions, and because Green Ave., Westfield, pleaded Egloff requires all new firefighters to guilty in Westfield District Court also be paramedics, the available Wednesday to charges of larceny pool of applicants is slim. In fact, from a building and breaking and Egloff said there are no civil service entering a building in the nighttime candidates who are currently both a with intent to commit a felony. firefighter and paramedic. He said Judge William O’Grady sentenced there are three basic firefighter/EMT Hiltbrand to a year in the house of candidates, one of which is currently correction for the larceny charge in paramedic school. and placed him on probation for World Series Opener “My recommendation is we call for two years for the breaking and The Westfield Babe Ruth team practices under an early evening sun before their game with Fargo a Westfield basic EMT list and when entering charge. ND. See additional photos and stories in today’s Sports Section. (Photo by Marc St.Onge) we hire, prior to them signing, they The charges stemmed from an will agree to become a paramedic July 17 incident when city police within 28 months of being hired,” responded to a Green Avenue said Egloff. address because a resident reported It takes approximately 28 months that two windows of his home had to obtain paramedic certification. been broken overnight and a televi- Fire Commission Chair Albert J. sion and crockpot had been stolen. Mullen: Mayoral run was ‘late decision’ Masciadrelli said this recommenda- By AMY PORTER will be attending first grade at tion was cleared through the proper See Burglar, Page 5 Associated Press Munger Hill Elementary School. departments. WESTFIELD – Andrew He said his son is part of the “There’s an agreement worked out Mullen, 33, of Shaker Road, was reason he wanted to get involved, with the law department and the the last of four candidates to pull to try to use creative thinking to union,” he said. “When they come papers for a run as mayor of a get more programs for the schools. Westfield, which he returned on Water is also a hot button issue for See Replacement Strategy, Page 5 Tuesday. him. He wants to make sure that “It was a bit of a late decision,” it’s the best that Westfield can get. Mullen said this week. “I thought Mullen said he was involved in it was a good idea to get some different community organiza- fresh ideas into Westfield.” He tions in high school, including as said this will be his first campaign a volunteer with special education running for anything. projects, and while he was a stu- Mullen, who graduated from dent at Holyoke Community Westfield High School in 2004 College. after attending elementary school “I’ve worked in a lot of differ- in Holyoke and Chicopee, moved ent places,” Mullen said, adding back to the city three years ago. that he’s managed restaurants, He describes himself as a single worked in hotels, at Dunkin father, whose son, Aiden will be Mayoral candidate Andrew Donuts and at Big Y. “I know the turning seven the day before the Mullen with his son, Aiden. PATRICK EGLOFF MICHAEL R. HILTBRAND Sept. 24 preliminary election, and (Photo submitted) See Mullen, Page 3 Westfield Fire Chief Mike Tierney stands in front of his Deadline nears for Miss Westfield Fair Pageant yaks at his By LORI SZEPELAK Meghan Lacas, who was crowned East Correspondent Miss Westfield 2018, has made com- Mountain WESTFIELD — Kim Starsiak munity service a top priority in her Road farm. “loves” being a part of the Miss life. She is the daughter of Tracy and (Photo by Westfield Fair Pageant. Robert Lacas. Currently, she is fin- Danielle Eaton) “I’ve been involved with the pageant ishing U.S. Army National Guard since I was 4,” said Starsiak, noting basic training at Fort Leonard Wood that was more than 40 years ago. in Missouri. After basic training, she Starsiak, who owns and is the artistic plans to major in criminal justice at director for the All-Stars Dance Center Westfield State University and par- on Root Road, has been serving as pag- ticipate in the ROTC program. eant director for three years. “Meghan has always been Tierney’s yaks are “I enjoy this role because it gives involved in community service,” everybody an opportunity to really be a said Tracy Lacas, adding her daugh- positive part of the community,” she ter graduated as a sergeant from the said. Westfield Police Youth Cadets unique, ‘unusual’ The pageant will take place Aug. 17 Program. By DANIELLE EATON from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. during the Lacas noted she had “suggested” Correspondent Westfield Fair on Russellville Road. the pageant to Meghan since she was WESTFIELD – Mike Tierney’s yaks were the talk of the town in The deadline to complete a registration also a competitive dancer. West Springfield recently after they were spotted at Bear Hole form is Aug. 15. “Meghan can do the glitz and Reservoir. Starsiak noted the pageant encom- glamour and be serious,” said Lacas. The three large, furry animals with long horns had escaped while passes formal wear, sportswear, talent Meghan Lacas, who was crowned “I think it’s important to open the Tierney was out of town, and were spotted by someone that morning and photogenic categories. Miss Westfield 2018, is seen with doors and show our kids different after the yaks were said to have charged at a dog and their owner. “They start at age 3 months, male or her mother, Tracy Lacas, at the experiences to try. Being involved in Warnings went out from police, the mayor, and animal control about female, and we even have Mrs. Pioneer Westfield Fair. Tracy Lacas had the community is beneficial for the sighting, cautioning anyone in the area to be careful. Valley for 30 years and up,” said competed in the Mrs. Pioneer everyone.” Starsiak, adding, “Anyone who loves Valley competition. (Submitted photo) See Yaks, Page 3 their community should give it a try.” See Miss Westfield, Page 3 Flex start Sept 3 Fall Classes Now Forming or Oct 23! Fall in Most Instant stcc.edu love with affordable accept admissions STCC in Springfield every day (413) 755-3333 7/16/19 Westfield News Ad: Front page bottom banner: 10.875”x2” Email ads to: Ken Morrow: [email protected] Runs: 7/20, 26 and 8/3, 9, 17, 23, 31 PAGE 2 - FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2019 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Happy 105th Birthday! Special birthday wishes to our Fisher Family Matriarch; Anna Fisher Jasmin! On Thurs., Aug. 1, 2019 Anna celebrated her 105th birthday and enjoyed her birthday week with visits from family members, friends, telephone calls and cards with well wishes. Born in 1914 in the Mt Tom area, the family moved to Westfield for many years and in later years moved to Wilbraham. She now resides at Heritage Hall in Agawam and is grateful for kind and compassionate staff. She enjoys playing bingo, watching the birds in the courtyard and chatting with friends. Anna is proud to say she does not take one medication and wears a smile every day! ODDS & ENDS LOCAL LOTTERY LAST NIGHT’s numBERS MASSACHUSETTS SATURDAY SUNDAY Lucky For Life TONIGHT 25-28-34-45-46, Lucky Ball: 18 MassCash 05-06-18-34-35 Mega Millions Estimated jackpot: $60 million Numbers Evening 9-6-0-9 All hands on duck! Drivers Numbers Midday Sunny. 3-9-9-8 Sunny. stop for dozens of ducks Powerball BIDDEFORD, Maine (AP) — Dozens of Estimated jackpot: $128 million 77-79 ducklings have made a bid to create the 77-79 world’s cutest traffic jam in a Maine city. Today, sunny, with a high near 83. Tonight, mostly Even “Make Way for Ducklings” author clear, with a low around 59. West wind 3 to 7 mph. Robert McCloskey couldn’t have envisioned a Mostly Clear. Saturday, mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Satur- scene like the one in Biddeford on Wednesday day Night, mostly clear, with a low around 55. Sun- day, sunny, with a high near 79. Northwest wind 5 to morning. CONNECTICUT 8 mph. Sunday Night, mostly clear, with a low around Biddeford resident Karen Ramunno cap- Cash 5 59.