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Baker approves only one item involving Westfield and surrounding hilltowns By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent WESTFIELD – On July 17, Governor Charlie Baker signed the Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18) budget into law. It was a $39.4 billion plan and the budget centers around creating safer communities, better educational opportunities, and promoting economic development, among other items. In that budget, Sen. Don Humason, who represents 11 different communities in the 2nd Hampden and Hampshire District, requested line items for communities in his district, some of which involved Westfield, Southwick, and
Tolland. But, according to Sen. Humason, only one of the six line items he sponsored for those communities was approved by Governor Baker. The other five were vetoed. Approved was $50,000 to be used towards planning and preparation purposes for the 350th Anniversary of Westfield celebration. The line items that were vetoed are as follows: • $25,000 for safety upgrades and restoration work at the Westfield Athenaeum • $50,000 for safety upgrades in Southwick’s public schools • $100,000 for repairs to Tolland’s
Department of Public Works building • $50,000 to support the Westfield International Air Show at WestfieldBarnes Airport • $25,000 for restoration of the Westfield Museum Humason is not surprised that some of these items were vetoed since Governor Baker has to look at the bigger picture for the state, but the Senator will be looking at the possibility of overriding those items when the next budget process takes place in January 2018. Before any items that are overridden by the See Budget, Page 3
Chief Administrative Officer Karl Stinehart.
Hoarding disorder, what is it? By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—The term “hoarding” has been a more regular part of conversations in the city over the past monthplus due to the deaths of two residents in a fire, but it may not be clear what hoarding really is. First, hoarding is a disorder, according to Lee Shuer, certified peer specialist at Mutual Support Counseling in Bec Belofsky Easthampton. Shuer has worked Shuer to help treat those with hoarding disorder, including writing pieces and developing a workshop for its treatment, along with his wife, Bec Belofsky Shuer. And since it is a disorder, Shuer said that it is important that it is understood in the public like depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety disorder are understood. “We are working on dispelling the myth that having too much stuff is a hoarding disorder and working to get away from people being referred to as hoarders,” Shuer said. According to Belofsky Shuer, hoarding disorder is a diagnosable disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, also known as DSM-5. This fact however, may not be known, she said. “It became a separate diagnosis in 2013 in DSM5,” she said. “A lot of clinicians, a lot of people in the field don’t know that.” Shuer said that while acquiring items is one step, there is more to hoarding disorder than just that. “Hoarding disorder is really about the acquisition of and holding onto a large number of items regardless of their value,” he said. These items may begin to overwhelm living areas,
(Photo by Greg
Fitzpatrick)
Families at the center of the Westfield Fair
Last year’s youth dairy participants at the Westfield Fair. (Submitted photo)
Maureen Phelon is seen with her niece, Madison Rida, and “Cheerios,” at last year’s Westfield Fair. Rida took first place in her class. (Submitted photo)
Maureen Phelon was only 2 when she first showed her family’s Milking Shorthorns in competition at the Westfield Fair. She is seen next to the cow barn on the fairgrounds.
By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD-For families including Maureen Phelon’s, the third weekend of August has always been reserved for attending the Westfield Fair. “No matter where we are, our family always makes sure we are back in town for the fair,” said Phelon during a recent interview at the fairgrounds on Russellville Road. The Westfield Fair, which celebrates a 90-year milestone next month, is slated Aug. 18-20. Fair hours are Aug. 18, 5 to 10 p.m.; Aug. 19, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Aug. 20 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. “The focus of the fair has always been on agriculture,” said Phelon, who grew up on Prospect Valley Farm. Her early experiences of caring for the family’s Milking Shorthorns, as well as chickens and pigs, cemented her passion for farm life. “I enjoy doing chores and watching a calf be born and grow into something we helped make it become,” said Phelon. Since her early days around age 2 when she started showing her family’s Milking Shorthorns at the Westfield Fair, Phelon said See Westfield Fair, Page 3
Review: ‘At Home at the Zoo (Zoo story)’ at Berkshire Theatre Group
See Hoarding, Page 3
LEE SHUER
By MARK G. AUERBACH Correspondent Even though I’ve been covering theatre for years, I’m like a kid on Christmas morning, when a theatre announces a new season. When Berkshire Theatre Group announced a production of Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo (Zoo story), to be staged by Eric Hill, a director I worked with thirty years ago at StageWest, and an artist who balances the playwright’s intent with the audience’s expectations, I was thrust into a state of perpetual anticipation. Then, Hill announced his cast of
three of regional theatre’s finest: David Adkins, a master of nuance so brilliant in last season’s Bakelite Masterpiece; Tara Franklin, star of The Homecoming which was also staged by Hill, and Joey Collins, an alum of Hill’s The Homecoming as well. For me, At Home at the Zoo (Zoo story) has been my “must see” theatre this summer. At Home at the Zoo (Zoo story) first appeared as a one-act, The Zoo Story, early in Albee’s prolific career. Paired David Adkins and Tara Franklin in Edward with Samuel Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Albee’s At Home at the Zoo (Zoo story). (Photo See Zoo Story, Page 3 by Emma Rotherberg-Ware)
Veterinarians remind dog owners about dangers of heatstroke By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent WESTFIELD – With the most recent heat wave that has swept through Western Massachusetts, everyone is vulnerable to the dangers of heatstroke, including man’s best friend; dogs. An article published by the website Doctors Foster and Smith lists off a number of signs of heatstroke for dogs, which include increased heart rate, Dogs are at risk to heatstroke during the summer days of excessive panting, increased salivation, extremely hot weather. (Photo courtesy of Dog Heirs) bright read tongue, dizziness, diarrhea,
depression, and more. There are several ways to tell if your dog may be suffering from heatstroke, but what are the best and simplest ways to prevent it from happening? A couple local veterinarians spoke to the Westfield News and were able to provide the best options possible. “We always tell them (pet owners) to exercise (their dog(s) in the morning or evening,” said Dr. Hazel Holman of Blandford Animal Hospital. As Holman certainly doesn’t recom-
mend that dogs exercise in the afternoon during extreme heat, an unfortunate incident occurred on Thursday night where a dog passed away at Blandford Animal Hospital, due to heat exhaustion from exercising too much outside. If people do put their dog outside for any period of time in the hot weather, keeping the dog hydrated is crucial. “Be sure there’s a cool, shady spot they can rest in with plenty of cool fresh See Heatstroke, Page 3