Westfield

Families, friends help open Kamp for Kids in Westfield

By Amy Porter | Jul 17, 2024

Families, friends help open Kamp for Kids in Westfield

WESTFIELD — Behavioral Health Network Program Director Anne Benoit welcomed families, friends and distinguished visitors to the 49th annual Kamp for Kids Welcome Day on July 12.

Amy Porter

amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com | + posts

By Tyler Lederer | Jul 9, 2024

Westfield sees slight increase in COVID-19 cases as summer rolls in

WESTFIELD — The nation is experiencing an uptick in COVID-19 cases this summer, and Westfield is not immune. Acting Health Director Debra Mulvenna said on July 5 that the city had seen eight lab-confirmed cases since July 1. There were 10 cases the week before....

Neighbor’s prayers heard as turtle she saved returns to Westfield

By Mike Lydick | Jul 9, 2024

Neighbor’s prayers heard as turtle she saved returns to Westfield

WESTFIELD — It was a homecoming more than eight months in the making. Hudson, a large snapping turtle, was returned to its pond on Westfield’s North Side after being hit by a vehicle in October and severely injured.

Mike Lydick

mlydick@thereminder.com | + posts

By Amy Porter | Jul 2, 2024

Westfield City Council agrees to purchase of rectory lots for police station

WESTFIELD — The City Council voted unanimously on June 20 to purchase the land on Union Street where Westfield plans to build a new police headquarters.

Amy Porter

amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com | + posts

By Hope Murray Tremblay | Jul 2, 2024

Chess club may end without donations for meeting space

WESTFIELD — For more than five decades, chess players from around the region have met in Westfield to learn, play and hone their skills. Unfortunately, this tradition could soon come to an end.

Hope Murray Tremblay

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Whitney Park diamond dedicated as ‘Chico Field’

By Amy Porter | Jul 2, 2024

Whitney Park diamond dedicated as ‘Chico Field’

WESTFIELD — Current and former softball, basketball, baseball and hockey officials and players, family and friends came together to honor Robert “Chico” Veronesi at Whitney Playground on Shepard Street on June 29, and to dedicate Field 1 as Chico Field.

Amy Porter

amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com | + posts

By Tyler Lederer | Jun 25, 2024

Newly elected Westfield Light Board member eager to start

WESTFIELD — Robert Goyette won the June 18 special election for Ward 5 Municipal Light Board representative with 91% of the vote, according to official results released Thursday. “I’m humbled by the landslide victory,” said Goyette. Robert Goyette, center,...

Wyben July 4 parade marshals cited as farmers, parents, neighbors

By Amy Porter | Jun 25, 2024

Wyben July 4 parade marshals cited as farmers, parents, neighbors

WESTFIELD — The Wyben Fourth of July Committee has announced that Annette and James “Jim” Bemis, “outstanding members of the Wyben community,” will be the 2024 grand marshals for this year’s parade. Sue Crane, a member of the parade committee, said the selection is well deserved.

Amy Porter

amyporter@thewestfieldnews.com | + posts

Police pedal 300 miles in Unity Tour for fallen officer fund

By Staasi Heropoulos | Jun 25, 2024

Police pedal 300 miles in Unity Tour for fallen officer fund

In May, a team of five Western Massachusetts police officers honored all fallen cops — 23,785 throughout American history, according to the memorial fund — by pedaling more than 300 miles from northern New Jersey to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Staasi Heropoulos

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Staasi Heropoulos has been a broadcast and print journalist as well as a corporate communications practitioner, in Western Mass. and internationally for more than 40 years. He loves writing feature articles on local people and places but also welcomes story ideas about corporate and government malfeasance. Staasi can be reached at Staasi.Heropoulos@gmail.com.

Elks honor Agawam youth for patriotic essay contest win

By Mike Lydick | Jun 25, 2024

Elks honor Agawam youth for patriotic essay contest win

WESTFIELD — Ava Skowron, a sixth grader at Doering School in Agawam, is one of two statewide winners of an annual Americanism essay contest to be sponsored by the Westfield-West Springfield Lodge of Elks.