Westfield
Westfield High School celebrates Community Closet reopening
WESTFIELD — Westfield High School on Feb. 12 celebrated the grand reopening of its newly refurbished Community Closet, which offers free clothing, personal care items and school supplies to any member of the WHS community who might be in need of them.
Westfield warehouse OK’d despite organized neighbor opposition
WESTFIELD — The Planning Board voted 5-2 to approve the site plan, stormwater permit, and special permits for Falcon Landing, after months of tension between the board, developers, and North Side residents over the warehouse proposal.
Westfield Fire Dept. gets $150K for overtime transfer request
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 science fair has ideas for baby health care, art
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.
Kindergarten info night planned on Feb. 6 at middle school
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 officials join skeptics of proposed warehouse
WESTFIELD — At the latest Planning Board meeting, current and former Westfield city officials spoke against the Falcon Landing distribution warehouse proposal.
Elementary leaders to swap seats before new school opens
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.
Aviation community mourns Barnes instructor, entrepreneur
WESTFIELD — Members of the Westfield aviation community described the late Fredrika Ballard as an inspiration, a high achiever, and a passionate advocate for aviation.
Policing, society have changed in retiring chief’s 4 decades
WESTFIELD — Policing is much different that when retiring Westfield Police Chief Lawrence Valliere first walked the city’s streets to serve and protect.
Children’s museum supporters ready for chilly Penguin Plunge
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.