Westfield

WESTFIELD — The City Council approved $150,000 in overtime for Westfield’s Fire Department, and pledged to avert extreme cost-saving measures that firefighters warned would happen if the overtime account runs out, such as closing Fire Station 2 or instituting “brownouts” in coverage.

WESTFIELD — When Luke Bulan volunteered at Baystate Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or NICU, for a week last summer, he noticed he couldn’t do anything to help with half the babies in the unit, because they were confined to incubators.

WESTFIELD — Westfield’s public schools are hosting a “Countdown to Kindergarten” information and registration night in the Westfield Middle School cafeteria, 30 W. Silver St., on Tuesday, Feb. 6.

WESTFIELD — At the latest Planning Board meeting, current and former Westfield city officials spoke against the Falcon Landing distribution warehouse proposal.

WESTFIELD — School administrators recently announced that Jill Phelan, principal of Highland Elementary School, has been named the principal of the new elementary school being built on Franklin Street.

WESTFIELD — Supporters of Amelia Park Children’s Museum will wade, waddle, dive and run into the icy waters of Hampton Ponds State Park on Jan. 27 for the 20th time to raise funds for the museum.

WESTFIELD — The Community Preservation Committee met on Jan. 18 to review their funding status and award grants to two applicants, $410,000 to Domus Inc. for veterans housing in the Old Town Hall at 20 Broad St., and $9,200 to Grandmother’s Garden on Smith Avenue.

WESTFIELD — Members of the Westfield aviation community described the late Fredrika Ballard as an inspiration, a high achiever, and a passionate advocate for aviation.

WESTFIELD — Policing is much different that when retiring Westfield Police Chief Lawrence Valliere first walked the city’s streets to serve and protect.

WESTFIELD — Lucas Imbriglio wants to be a commercial airline pilot. That sky-high dream could become a reality for the 15-year-old thanks to a Westfield aviation program.