JANUARY 15, 2025 | FREE
IN THIS
EDITION WESTFIELD
High School to implement new cell phone pilot The pilot program for a new schoolwide cell phone policy for Westfield High School will begin later this month.
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SOUTHWICK
Southwick Select Board discusses future of Channel 15 A month after Select Board member Russ Anderson proposed overhauling the town’s public access channel, including pausing and restructuring Channel 15, its director updated the board about what he does to keep town residents informed.
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HILLTOWNS
Southern Hilltown agencies cut from CDBG grant funding Notably absent in the state’s announcement of nearly $33.5 million in Community Development Block Grant awards was the funding for Southern Hilltowns’ social service agencies.
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PUBLISHED BY REMINDER PUBLISHING
McCabe begins third mayoral term with thanks By Amy Porter
aporter@thereminder.com
WESTFIELD — After City Clerk Kaitlyn Bruce swore in Mayor Michael McCabe and all of the newly-elected city officials at the inauguration ceremony on Jan. 5 at Westfield High School, McCabe expressed his thanks and appreciation to all in his inaugural address. McCabe welcomed newly reelected at large Councilor Dan Knapik, who was unable to attend the inauguration; new School Committee member Kick Sullivan, who previously served on the Zoning Board of Appeals for 11 years, Jeffrey Gosselin, who previously served the School Committee and Commission for Citizens with Disabilities, and new Ward 1 Municipal Light Board Commissioner Thomas Fanion, who served the city for 24 years in operations management at the Housing Authority. McCabe thanked Bruce for her “commitment to excellence in all things” and for the morning’s event along with the help of School Committee member Bo Sullivan and City Council President John Beltrandi III, who recruited several members of his family to participate, including Danica Fini, 8, who helped to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. In a brief City Council meeting following the inauguration, Beltrandi was unanimously reelected to serve another one-year term as president. McCabe also thanked his wife Jennipher McCabe for being on the journey with him. “Thanks for your patience and your willingness to be a private sounding board,” he said to her. He went on to thank Amy Tosi, who he said “just kills it as an office manager” with 26
Westfield City Clerk Kaitlyn Bruce swears in Mayor Michael McCabe on Jan. 5 at Westfield High School with Jennipher McCabe at his side. Reminder Publishing photo by Amy Porter
boards and commissions, each with needs and their own set of protocols. He thanked Westfield High School Principal Charles Jendrysik, Band Leader Patrick Kennedy and Show Choir Director Korey Bruno. Both groups performed during the ceremony. McCabe then talked about infrastructure, economic development and staffing, all of which he said have seen significant gains during his first two-year term. He said Westfield resurfaced or repaved 20 miles of pavement on 56 city roads, and replaced 10 miles of sidewalks across 23 streets.
He said Complete Streets’ efforts on Broad Street and East Silver have been successful at slowing down traffic in the downtown area, which helped to boost the downtown corridor, designated by the Mass. Cultural Council as a Cultural District in November of 2024. McCabe congratulated Community Development Director Peter Miller and his team for getting it done. McCabe said since 2024, more than 30 new entrepreneurs have invested in the community, opening art dealerships, boutiques, barbershops, hair sa-
lons, marketplaces, cafés and restaurants. He said businesses like ALDI, Entre Technologies, James Hardie and ERD Metals have moved into town; and longtime businesses such as John S. Lane and Sons, celebrating 100 years, and Mestek, 80 years this year, continue to thrive. “The 104th Fighter Wing will continue operations as the guardian of the North American east coast, the addition of the F35s marking a new era of security and stability,” McCabe said, adding, See MCCABE on page 2