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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
“Nothing in science has any value to society if it is not communicated ...” — ANNE ROE SIMPSON
www.thewestfieldnews.com WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015
VOL. 84 NO. 005
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Kevin Regan, then president of the Westfield firefighters’ union, presents a miniature firefighter’s badge to former firefighter Robert Derock at his retirement party in 1993. (Photo
Kevin Regan (right) looks over a 1996 firefighters’ calendar with retired fire Capt. Dan Wojik in 1995. (Photo ©1995 Carl E. Hartdegen)
KEVIN J. REGAN
©1993 Carl E. Hartdegen)
Moment of silence slated for Regan By PETER FRANCIS Staff Writer WESTFIELD – During the first formal session of 2015 today, the Massachusetts House Of Representatives will be holding a moment of silence for fallen Westfield firefighter Kevin Regan, a rare honor bestowed upon a select few. State Rep. John Velis, D-Westfield, said yesterday that he put in a request with the office of Speaker Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, Monday and sent him a biography of Regan, 62, a 43-year veteran of the Westfield Fire Department who was killed on Cape Cod on December 27 and who was also active in various community organizations and a vocal adovcate for retirement services throughout his life. Upon hearing Regan’s remarkable life story, DeLeo obliged the request and approved a moment of silence for the beloved firefighter today. “What is so interesting and such an honor for Kevin is that this honor is bestowed upon current or former state reps who pass away or people in uniform who are killed in
the line of duty,” explained Velis yesterday. “What caused them to deviate from protocol was that Kevin was a firefighter for 43 years and that he was so active in politics, at the local, state and national level, that he was so involved in retirement issues for the state… caused them to say ‘this is someone we absolutely need to recognize with a formal moment of silence.’” DeLeo expressed his condolences to the Regan family, the Westfield Fire Department and the city of Westfield in a statement yesterday and said that Kevin Regan “exemplified the ideals of public service and commitment to his community.” “That Firefighter Regan wore Badge #1 speaks volumes to his character. Through his admirable tenure and unyielding efforts to improve the fire department and the town, Firefighter Regan touched so many lives and has forever changed Westfield,” said DeLeo in a statement. “In honoring Firefighter Regan with a moment of silence in the House Chamber, it is my hope that we will look to his legacy as we recall our duty
Patrick departs amid tradition, ceremony By BOB SALSBERG Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Deval Patrick prepared for his last full day in office today with a schedule of events steeped in tradition, including a ceremonial exchange of gifts with his successor and a “lone walk” down the front steps of the state capitol. The Democrat, who eschewed seeking a third term but who has not ruled out a future run for higher office, has kept a
as public servants.” Asked about his take on the House’s gesture, Patrick Murphy, past president for the Sons of Erin, the Irish social club of which Regan was a
founding member, was with Regan in Yarmouth at the Sons of Erin Cape Cod on the evening of his death and fondly remembered him as a “fireman’s fireman” who
loved his family, his job and his Hibernian heritage. “He was a great man for the firefighters. It was his life,” said Murphy. “There’s so much to say about the guy. He
See Regan, Page 5
Firtion-Adams readying Regan memorial By PETER FRANCIS Staff Writer WESTFIELD – It is never easy to say goodbye to a loved one and this weekend is poised to be one of the toughest in recent memory for the untold hundreds of city residentts who will pay their final respects to Westfield firefighter Kevin Regan, whose funeral will be held Saturday at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament on Holyoke Road at 10 a.m. He will be laid to rest immediately thereafter at St. Mary’s Cemetary. Regan, a 43-year veteran of the Westfield Fire Department, was 62 years old when he and his fiancee Lynda Cavanaugh were struck by a van in Yarmouth on the evening of December 27. Cavanaugh was airlifted to a hospital in Boston and Regan was taken to Cape Cod Hospital, where he died from his injuries. James R. Adams, funeral director at Firtion-Adams Funeral Home, has been tasked with handling the accomodations for Regan’s funeral and is anticipating a massive outpouring of love and support for the Regan family. “The preparation is going very good. We’re coordinating See Memorial, Page 5
Firtion-Adams Funeral Home on Broad Street in Westfield, will be handling the accommodations for Westfield Firefighter Kevin Regan on Friday. Regan, a 43-year veteran of the Westfield Fire Department, was 62 years old when he and his fiancee Lynda Cavanaugh were struck by a van in Yarmouth on the evening of December 27. Cavanaugh was airlifted to a hospital in Boston, Regan was taken to Cape Cod Hospital, where he died from his injuries. (© 2014 Frederick Gore)
Recovered stolen gun doesn’t wrap up case
Lawmakers kickoff new 2-year session
By CARL E. HARTDEGEN Staff Writer WESTFIELD – Although state police arrested a man who was in possession of a gun stolen during a spate of thefts in the city shortly before Christmas, city police report that the case remains under investigation. During the weekend before Christmas, at
By BOB SALSBERG Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — The Democratic-controlled state Legislature begins a new two-year session today, a day before a new Republican governor takes office on Beacon Hill. Outgoing Democratic Gov. Deval Patrick, in one of his final official acts, will swear-in the 160 members of the House and 40 members of the Senate. The two chambers that comprise the
See Stolen Gun, Page 5
See Lawmakers, Page 3
See Patrick, Page 3
Brewery seeks special permit amendment By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – Westfield River Brewery owner Sergio Bonavita met with the Southwick Planning Board last night to amend the brewery’s special permit. The latest plans include a kitchen and retail space already in use. Originally, there were plans for food trucks in the WRB parking lot but Bonavita said he and his business partners and tenant, Skyline Hop Shop, quickly realized that was not practical. “No one wants to go outside for food in December,” he said.
loved the Irish people, his fellow firefighters and worked hard for them.” When informed of Boston’s
The Skyline Hop Shop is a home brewer’s supply shop that also operates the kitchen. Owned by business partners Lisa Pac and Dan Osella, the shop and kitchen are part of WRB. In addition to brewing supplies, Bonavita said he hopes to sell WRB merchandise such as hats, shirts and pint glasses in the near future. “We grow our own hops and if we ever have a surplus of hops, we’d like to offer them for sale,” said Bonavita. Bonavita’s amended plans also include a slight expansion of the outdoor patio. WRB will also be applying for a farmer’s winery license in the future, and
Bonavita said other expansion could include moving the brewing process to the upper barn. “Our original idea was to distribute our product, but right now we don’t have the capacity,” said Bonavita. When WRB first sought permits to move from Westfield to the former Chuck’s Steak House, the craft beer was distributed to locations in Berkshire County, Worcester and Boston. With the success of the new brewery, however, Bonavita said he has not been able to distribute his product. He hopes to begin See Special Permit, Page 3
Coffee & Bagel Shoppe
Where the Coffee is Black as Ink
62 School St. • westfield