Fire Commission Call Special Meeting
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TONIGHT Late Snow. Low of 20. Search for The Westfield News The WestfieldNews Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews “IF THERE IS ONE BASIC Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME ISELEMENT THE ONLY I N OUR WEATHER CRITICCONST WITHOUTITUT ION, IT TONIGHT IS CIAMBITIONVILIAN CONTROL.” Partly Cloudy. OFJOHN THE STEINBECK MILITARY.” Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com — PresIDENTSearch HARRY for The S. TRUMAWestfieldN News Westfield350.comWestfield350.org The WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHERVOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents VOL.88 NO. 14 THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2019 CRITIC75 Cents WITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK WestfieldLow of 55. woman www.thewestfieldnews.comApplications for arrestedVOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 2019 Community 75 cents on assault, Development Block Grants due March 11 burglary charges By AMY PORTER Correspondent By PETER CURRIER WESTFIELD – Community Development Correspondent Director Peter J. Miller shared the Annual Action WESTFIELD- A Westfield woman was Plan for the 2019 Community Development Block arrested and charged with burglary, assault and Grants (CDBG) at two public hearings this week. battery on an elderly person, assault and bat- Miller also announced the application deadline of tery with a dangerous weapon, and possession March 11 for 2019 CDBG grant funding. of a class B drug. The CDBG program, funded through the depart- Kristen Halla, 27, of 20 people attended the unexpectedly brief fire commission meeting earlier this ment of Housing and Urban Development, began 42 106 Feeding Hills road month. It is unknown why the Mayor’s office directed the commission to remove years ago and is focused on providing decent hous- was arrested Monday the two agenda items. (Photo by Peter Currier) ing, suitable living environments and expanding for breaking into a economic development opportunities primarily for Washington Street low and moderate income residents. home and assaulting Eligible grants must meet one of three national the homeowner by objectives: Provide a benefit to low to moderate throwing her against a Fire Commission income persons, prevent or eliminate slums or blight, wall and attempting to or meet an urgent community need. slam her head into a Last year, Westfield received $372,000, which stove, according to Miller said is still down from the high of $500,000 police and court call special meeting the city received in the ‘90’s. Funded projects includ- records. The home- ed $170,000 for new sidewalks on one side of owner stated that she By PETER CURRIER the agenda with no reason given. After KRISTEN HALLA Washington St., which are in process, and $80,000 had never seen or met Correspondent the meeting, Commission Chairman (Photo courtesy of for the demolition of the former Soo’s restaurant at Halla before this WESTFIELD- The Westfield Fire Albert Masciadrelli said that the items The Westfield Police 340 Elm St. Miller said he hopes to fund sidewalks encounter. Commission announced a special meet- were removed at the direction of the Department) on the other side of Washington St. with this year’s Officer Brenden ing Friday at 1 p.m. to consider an Mayor’s office. Irujo responded to the appointment for a new Westfield Fire During the public participation por- See Applications, Page 3 scene to find Halla leaving the residence. Irujo Chief. tion of that meeting, City Councilor placed Halla under arrest. During booking, According to the posted meeting At-Large Matt Emmershy asked the Officer Irujo discovered a small quantity of a agenda, the meeting will begin with an commission if they would address the white rock-like substance that he believed to executive session. The executive ses- reasons for the removal of the two be crack cocaine, according to court records. sion will be to discuss, “the character, agenda items. Masciadrelli responded Halla was arraigned in Westfield District Court reputation, as opposed to professional that there would be no conversation on on Tuesday and was held on $750 cash bail competence, and/or complaints or the matter during the meeting. pending a February 13th pre-trial hearing. charges brought against Deputy Fire Commissioner Carlo Bonavita had ten- Chief Patrick Egloff for the purpose of dered his resignation earlier that day determining viability for either tempo- leaving just Masciadrelli and Patrick rary or permanent promotion to chief of Olearcek on what is supposed to be a Test your trivia the fire department.” three-person commission. The commis- Similar language originally appeared sion position vacated by the resignation in the agenda for the regularly sched- of Bonavita is still open. knowledge at uled January 7th meeting. Just a couple Also on the agenda for Friday’s spe- hours before the meeting was set to cial meeting is the resignation of Andy begin, that item as well as an item to Friends fundraiser hold the actual vote were removed from See Special Meeting, Page 3 By LORI SZEPELAK Christine Fedora and Peter J. Miller, of the Correspondent Westfield Community Development office. (Photo by WESTFIELD-How well do you know Amy Porter) Westfield? Your memory will be put to the test Longtime Westfield firefighter retires when the Friends of By PETER CURRIER the Westfield Senior Correspondent Southwick officials Center host a unique WESTFIELD- Longtime fundraiser, Westfield firefighter Tony “Westfield Trivia,” Rogers had his final day of seek state help for on March 3 at the work Wednesday due to his senior center on Noble Street. In the event of retirement, and his fellow inclement weather, the event will be staged on firefighters gave him a warm Congamond Lake March 31. sendoff. By GREG FITZPATRICK Kathy Millas, who serves as treasurer and Rogers originally joined Correspondent clerk for the Friends group, said this is open to the Westfield Fire Department SOUTHWICK – Town officials have been mak- all ages and encourages area residents to 32 years ago in 1987 as a ing an effort to secure funding to treat Congamond spend an afternoon at the senior center and reserve force member. Lake. On January 10, Lake Management Committee join in the fun as “local celebrity hosts” pose According to Rogers the Tony Rogers, a Westfield Firefighter for 32 years, Chairman Dick Grannells, Select Board Chairman questions to teams during the 2 to 4 p.m. mayor at the time created the stands in front of his truck on his last day of event. force to cut back a little on Joe Deedy, and Conservation Commission Chairman work. (Photo by Peter Currier) “Half of the trivia questions in each round overtime. Rogers was on the Chris Pratt sent a letter to Executive Office of will be related to the Westfield 350th,” said reserves for four years before in this building.” years later, prospective Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Millas, noting the event is in conjunction with he became a full-time fire- Rogers describes firefighters are sent to Matthew Beaton. The letter was a request for town Westfield’s 350th anniversary celebration. fighter. how there were ladder train in Springfield and officials to meet with Beaton to convince him to “The other questions will touch on music, “The captain then was towers in the yard, fire Boston. Rogers had to commit $850,000 of funding for alum treatment of sports, and general knowledge.” Andy Roy,” said Rogers, “he hydrants in the parking attend EMT school as a Congamond Lake. As of Wednesday, the Town of had started an academy here lot, and alarm panels See Westfield Trivia, Page 5 and it was held in a classroom used for training. 32 See Firefighter, Page 3 See Congamond Lake, Page 5 Southwick police chief preparing for staffing change By GREG FITZPATRICK a full-time officer in his department other full-time officers. Deedy. “Let’s get in front of it.” Correspondent will be retiring as that officer has “If we don’t do it at this point in In an effort to get ahead of the staff- SOUTHWICK – Chief of Police reached his or her mandatory retire- time, we’re looking at filling those ing change, Bishop is hoping to send Kevin Bishop met with the Select ment age. shifts with overtime,” said Bishop. one of the reserve officer’s on the Board this week to discuss the staffing As a result, Bishop wants to make Select Board Chairman Joe Deedy department to a full-time police acad- levels that he’s preparing for in the sure he isn’t down an officer and has agreed with Bishop that it’s beneficial emy in June. From there, the officer near future for the Southwick Police his staff filled. In years past, the depart- to get ready now for that retirement will have 23 weeks to graduate and Department. ment was sometimes down an officer and make sure the department will become the full-time officer in the Bishop informed the Select Board due to a retirement and could have have a full staff. department to fill the staff. Southwick Chief of that it’s expected in March of 2020 that forced them to allow overtime for the “Let’s look ahead, it’s coming,” said Police Kevin Bishop. Saturday, February 2 • 7:30pm at Symphony Hall Classical music lovers will realize just how far we’ve come when the orchestra contrasts the creative accomplishments of these three invaluable American women composers with the uncertain fate of the slave, Scheherazade. Concert Sponsor Media sponsor Premier supporter Additional support Robyn Newhouse Kevin Rhodes, Conductor Call the box office at 413-733-2291 or visit SpringfieldSymphony.org PAGE 2 - THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2019 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS A few spots available for February Vacation Ski Trip WESTFIELD — St.