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 SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2019 VOL. 88 NO. 295 Velis ‘excited’ special election date set By HOPE that make up the state senate The deadline for submitting said he will keep campaigning available at the Secretary of E. TREMBLAY district will be without repre- nomination papers to the local and collecting signatures. the Commonwealth’s Western Assistant Managing Editor sentation at a critical time,” registrars of voters is Jan. 21, “As far as the campaign Office at 236 Dwight St. in WESTFIELD — State Rep. said Velis. “So, having a date 2020, while the last day to file goes, I will just stay the Springfield, the Elections John C. Velis on Dec. 12 said certain now allows everyone certified nomination papers course,” Velis said. “I have Division at One Ashburton he was “beyond excited” that a to plan accordingly.” with the Secretary of the personally knocked on more Place in Boston, and by mail. special election for the 2nd Secretary of the Commonwealth is Jan. 28, than 1,000 doors so far and The 2nd Hampden & Hampden & Hampshire Commonwealth William F. 2020. Nominations for the have been humbled by the Hampshire Senate District Senate seat was set. Galvin issued a calendar of State Senate require a mini- support I have received. I look consists of the cities of Current Sen. Donald F. deadlines for a special election mum of 300 certified signa- forward to continuing to make Humason Jr. resigned his posi- to be conducted on March 31. tures. the case as to why my version Holyoke and Westfield and tion to become Westfield’s The Senate adopted the order Velis announced last winter of bi-partisanship, compro- parts of Chicopee, as well as mayor. He will be sworn-in Thursday to hold the special that he would seek the seat if mise, and putting people the towns of Agawam, Jan. 6. election. The primary will be Humason were elected mayor. before politics is what this Easthampton, Granville, “On January 6 Westfield held alongside the Presidential He has spent much of his time district needs going forward.“ Montgomery, Russell, and the other 10 communities Primaries on March 3, 2020. campaigning this past year and Nomination papers will be Southampton, and Southwick. REP. JOHN VELIS Westfield Bank purchasing Huntington People’s United branch By HOPE knew immediately that he tomers. Hagan and O’Connor E. TREMBLAY needed to respond and began said they wanted to expedite Assistant Managing Editor talking with People’s United the process and buying the and AMY PORTER Bank. building only enabled them to Staff Wtiter “It’s a natural fit,” said make it happen quickly. WESTFIELD – Westfield Hagan. “We have a lot of cus- “They will close the branch Bank and People’s United tomers from the hilltowns Feb. 22 and we will have the Bank are working together to already. The residents there purchase closing a few days keep a bank branch in the spoke up and we wanted to be before that,” Hagan said, not- hilltowns. responsive.” ing it took just two weeks to People’s United Bank At a meeting of the Jacob’s enter an agreement for the announced two weeks ago it Ladder Business Association sale. was closing its Huntington (JLBA) on Thursday evening. Both Hagan and O’Connor branch at 14 Russell Road, Laurie Mikalunas, manager credited People’s United the only bank branch between of the Huntington People’s Bank management for a quick Westfield and Lee and United Bank branch shared deal and cooperation. Westfield and Northampton. the news of the Letter of “They are being very coop- The hilltown customers Intent with members of the erative and allowing us access that had frequented the for- hilltown business community to the bank,” O’Connor said. mer United Bank branch who were present. Hagan said Westfield before its merger with “I’m extremely excited Bank’s human resources staff People’s United had reacted about it because Westfield and People’s United staff met strongly to the initial news of Bank is a JLBA member,” with the four employees at the its closing last month. A peti- said treasurer Elizabeth Huntington branch to discuss tion was circulated by Massa of Chester. options this week. Huntington Liquor Store Michele Kenney, Economic “They were all offered owner Evelyn Korfias and Development Director for the positions with People’s Westfield Bank has signed a letter of intent to purchase the Peoples United Bank branch in Linda Hamlin, owner of Hilltown Community United, but they are all Huntington at the end of February. (Photo by Amy Porter) Mountain Laurel Designs, Development Corporation, offered positions to stay with expressing the “dismay and and owner of Functional Art Westfield Bank,” Hagan said. Chairman and CEO Jack 24-hour mobile and online two other branches in 2020, strenuous objection to the Thermal Insulated Window The cooperation between Barnes in a written statement. banking channels, telephone both in Connecticut. The decision.” Treatments, agreed. “I’m the two banks is a little unusu- “People’s United could not banking, seven-day Call Huntington office will be the To date, more than 600 sig- really glad to see a bank has al, Hagan said, but ultimately be more cooperative,” said Center, and other branch and bank’s most western branch. natures have been collected stepped up to the plate to both parties care about the O’Connor. “We are putting ATM locations. Hagan and O’Connor are on the petition. “All I can say serve the people of the hill- customers and want to sup- together a strong communica- Hagan said anyone wishing happy to expand into the hill- is that we have had over- towns,” Kenney said. port them through the transi- tion plan for customers and to become a Westfield Bank towns and continue to offer whelming support from the The sale is for the building tion. will have a landing page customer is welcome to come banking services there. communities. It is very impor- only, stressed Westfield Bank “In exiting this location, we about the Huntington branch to Westfield and open an “We grow to be bigger so tant for us to have a bank to Executive Vice President were open to finding a buyer on our website in the next few account ahead of the switch, we can do more for our cus- serve our people. Kevin C. O’Connor. for the property who would days.” or they can wait until the tomers,” O’Connor said. Important for day to day, “We’re buying the build- be able to offer branch bank- Mikalunas said the custom- branch officially becomes a “Westfield Bank is built on important for growth, impor- ing, not the customer base,” ing services to the Huntington ers of People’s United Bank Westfield Bank in February. community and this is a natu- tant for our future,” Korfias he said. community. We are pleased will continue to have access Anyone can view account ral fit.” said. Often when a bank pur- that we were able to find that to their accounts and all of options online at westfield- Hagan added that Westfield Westfield Bank President chases another bank’s branch, with Westfield Bank,” said People’s United Bank’s prod- bank.com. Bank “makes local decisions and CEO James C. Hagan the sale includes those cus- People’s United Financial ucts and services through its Westfield Bank is opening for local people.” Health Department struggles to fill staff nurse position By PETER CURRIER “Things that are not priori- “It’s not through lack of people may have applied ed in the new series of adver- we can’t have one,” said Staff Writer ty are things that I am letting trying. We did an advertise- because the job, by its very tisements, as he believes that Rouse, “Because there is WESTFIELD — Filling a go, like TB [Tuberculosis] ment, we put out applications, nature, is very demanding at least one candidate may not nothing we can do to change vacant nurse position in the testing. Unless someone is we did interviews,” said compared to what the city can have applied in the first place it.” city’s Health Department is a exposed to a case, this is not a Rouse, “We didn’t feel like, offer for the position. had they known the salary. He also suggested that they struggle, said Supervising public health issue, it is most- after that first round of adver- Board member Juanita “For 35 hours a week, it’s may remove the position from Public Health Nurse Debra ly for employment purposes,” tising — not that the candi- Carnes theorized that the lack not like it’s a pittance. It’s still the nurse’s union and instead Mulvenna. said Mulvenna, “I am not dates weren’t good – but that of applicants has been because a living wage,” said Rouse. give them personal service Mulvenna said during the actively pursuing doing any- we didn’t have a big enough the salary is much lower than Rouse then suggested that contracts. Both Carnes and Dec. 11 Board of Health more flu clinics or home- pool to choose from.” the salary for a private regis- if they cannot fill the position Board Member Margaret meeting that there are some bound.” Rouse then said that he tered nurse.