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The Westfield News
VOL. 83 NO. 98
Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com
better to be irresponsible and right, than to be responsible and wrong.” — Winston Churchill
SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2014
75 cents
Frazer to seek legal action
Treatment plant to go back on line By Dan Moriarty Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Water Resource Department’s project to replace a transmission line and to upgrade the city’s water treatment plant should be completed next month. The department has relied on the city’s well system to provide drinking water to residents while the Granville Reservoir was taken off line for two major projects. One project has been the replacement of the raw water transmission line that carries water from Granville Reservoir to the treatment plant in Southwick. That project, which will cost just under $3 million, includes upgrading equipment at the treatment plant while it was off line. Work crews are currently installing a new hydroelectric generation system in the treatment plant that will use the “head” of pressure created by water coming down the larger transmission line to provide most of the electrical power needed to operate the treatment plant. “The raw transmission line work is done,” Water Resource Superintendent Dave Billips said this morning. “The refurbishment of the treatment plant is almost done. The plant is 25 years old and some of the equipment was outdated.” The department used the time, more than a year now, since the plant was taken off line last spring to replace old equipment installed when the plant was constructed. “We upgraded it with equipment that is more energy-efficient,” Billips said. “We did anything we could to make the plant more energy-efficient.” Billips said that raw transmission line and plant should be returned to service by the end of May. “We have to re-commission everything. It’s almost like starting up a new plant, testing the systems to ensure everything is working properly,”
“Perhaps it is
Louise Moran and her husband, Anthony, stand in their front yard with ‘Baxter’, their American Chihuahua puppy who they say alerted them to a fire in their garage Friday afternoon. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
Dog alerts residents to burning garage By Carl E. Hartdegen Staff Writer WESTFIELD – An American Chihuahua puppy has been credited with alerting his owners of a fire Friday afternoon which seriously damaged their house, garage and the vehicle parked inside. Anthony Moran of Springdale Road said that he and his wife, Louise, had been sitting down to eat when ‘Baxter’, their 14-month-old puppy started barking and crying. When they investigated they found their garage ablaze. Louise Moran said that she stayed inside only long enough to dial 911 before she and her husband, with Baxter, fled the capestyle house. Dep. Fire Chief Mark Devine reports that Engine 3 and Med 30, stationed at the department’s North Side sub-station on Southampton Road, were the first firefighters on scene and immediately began an interior attack on the fire raging in the garage. “The garage was going good”, Devine said, “they did a good job” knocking the fire down before other firefighters and apparatus arrived to help. Devine reports that the fire caused serious structural damage to the garage and involved the breeze way and attic of the attached single story house. Moran said that he had been cooking on his gas grill in his yard behind the garage and had gone inside to eat when Baxter’s agitated behavior alerted him to the fire. He said that he did not think that the gas grill was involved in starting the fire but said that he did not know what did ignite the blaze. Devine, however, said that the gas grill was peripherally involved in starting the
fire. He explained that the automatic ignition system for the grill had failed and Moran had used a propane soldering torch to light his grill. He said that, after the grill was lit, Moran put the torch back on a shelf in the garage, near some kind of combustible material. Devine said that he does not know if there was a problem with the shut off valve which caused the torch to retain a small flame or if the tip was merely hot when it came into contact with something on the shelf which ignited and was reduced to unrecognizable ashes. Moran said that the garage will have to be replaced but Devine was not certain. He said that the joists are sagging but said they may be able to be shored up and replaced. He estimated the value of the damage to the structure at $30,000. A Jeep Liberty SUV which had been parked inside was reportedly a total loss. Devine said that, although there was no structural damage to the house, there was serious smoke damage there. “As soon as I got near Friendly’s (on Southampton Road) I could see the smoke,” he said. He explained that the smoke, much of it caused by burning plastic and other toxic materials, left a layer of soot over much of the house which is itself toxic and will require professional cleaning before the Morans may safely return to live in their home. Anthony Moran said that he was born in Westfield and has lived in his house on Springdale Street for “fifty something” years.
By Peter Francis Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Following his placement on administrative leave earlier this week, Ken Frazer, the director of animal control operations for the City of Westfield, is now seeking to get his job back, and has retained the services of Attorney Patricia Hebert to help him do so. “I was called into the office Tuesday and wasn’t even told why I was being investigated,” Frazer said. “I’ve heard rumors since then about some decisions I’ve made at the shelter that were within my reasoning to make and for the protection of the city.” He added that he was called the night before by Westfield Police Captain Michael McCabe, who told him he had a meeting at 8:45 the following morning, at which time he said he was told he was being put on adminstrative leave KENNETH with pay by Chief John Camerota FRAZER but was not told why, and was asked to turn his equipment in. When asked whether he will seek additional damages or awards from the city, Frazer said he just wants his job back. “I haven’t done anything wrong,” he said. “People have complained, but they haven’t even asked me what the story was, they’ve just taken whatever these people complained about.” Frazer stated that he recently had to euthanize a one year-old dog because it had bitten four people in one weekend. “It was an aggressive biter, it wasn’t a fear biter.” he said of the mixed-breed canine. “They were getting ready to adopt the dog out to a gentleman that had two teenage kids.” “Fear biters, for the most part, there’s a reason why they bite,” Frazer explained. “You can train them, and right now I have a dog up there (the shelter) that’s been there in training for three months.” Frazer claims that the people who have lodged complaints are upset that one dog was placed in a training program, but not the recently euthanized dog. “This dog couldn’t be put in a training program. An aggressive biter will go after you for no reason whatsoever, just because it reads you or whatever have you. A fear biter only bites you because it’s afraid,” Frazer said, before describing the recently euthanized animal. “It was a big dog, stood better than six feet tall on it’s hind legs, and took one girl to the ground inside the cage.” Frazer said that the Westfield Animal Shelter’s volunteers are holding a meeting on Sunday in a conference room at Barnes Regional Airport to put a petition
See Dog Alert, Page 7 See Frazer, Page 7
See Treatment, Page 7
Family event benefits Relay For Life By Hope E. Tremblay Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – Cancer is certainly serious business, but for survivor Patricia Phillips of Southwick, it’s all about the attitude. While undergoing treatment for a second cancer scare a few years ago, friends commented on Phillips’ happy disposition, despite her medical ordeal. Her response was that she had an “attitude of gratitude” and thus, her Relay For Life team name was born. Phillips and Team Attitude of Gratitude co-captain Kerri Tichy , also of Southwick, have been spreading Phillips’ message for the past three years. Along they way, they have raised funds and awareness. “One in three Americans has been touched by cancer or knows someone who has,” said Tichy. Relay For Life team Attitude of Gratitude will benefit from the Sixth “So many people in my family have had it that I Annual Craft and Artisan Fair May 4 at The Daily Grind in Southwick. See Relay For Life, Page 7 (Photo submitted)
Memories We, at the Westfield News, are honored and grateful that Barbara Pellan shared her skillfully written articles with us and our readers over the past years. Her recollections of Westfield, its businesses and residents and living life in the “good old days” brought back happy memories for many readers who eagerly awaited Barb’s columns and often bought extra copies to share with family, friends and former residents. In one column last year she let us know about the illness that kept her from writing more frequently, and in her last article, proudly wrote about her grandchildren who were taking turns staying with and caring for her as she had for them when they were small. Devoted to her family, Barbara was also a dedicated teacher, neighbor, and friend. Those of us whose lives were touched in some way by this remarkable woman are greatly saddened by her passing, but are probably smiling or even laughing out loud as we recall her witty banter, self-deprecating stories and all-around delightful sense of humor. We will miss you Barbara. Thanks for the memories!