University COVID-19 Outbreak Continues
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The Westfield NewsSearch for The Westfield News Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHER CRITIC WITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 151 $1.00 MONDAY,TUESDAY, NOVEMBER JUNE 27, 2017 16, 2020 VOL. 75 cents 89 NO. 275 Think local SHELTER-IN-PLACE when planning University your holiday COVID-19 shopping list By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent outbreak WESTFIELD — The holiday season is typi- cally a time when friends spend a day together – enjoying a special lunch gathering – and checking out local craft fairs in the search for the continues perfect gift for someone on their holiday shop- ping list. By PETER CURRIER Since local craft fairs and other popular ven- Westfield River Brewing owner Sergio Bonavita hand a check to the Southwick Our Staff Writer ues will not be shopping options in the coming Community Food Pantry Bettylou Murphy Nov. 12 pantry volunteers Deb Herath, WESTFIELD — Westfield State University weeks due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, at left, and Kathlyn Cook look on. (HOPE E. TREMBLAY/THE WESTFIELD NEWS) reported 58 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 businesses and artisans continue to think outside this week as the campus remains in a shelter-in- the box in the hopes that area residents will con- place period due to the outbreak. sider checking out local opportunities for unique There have been 113 confirmed cases at gift ideas. Those opportunities can range from Southwick Food Pantry Westfield State since September 29. shops that dot the landscape to social media plat- In a letter to the Westfield State Community forms including “Westfield Small Biz Saturday” Nov. 12, Interim University President Dr. Roy H. postings on the We Love Westfield Community receives donation from Saigo said that there were 57 students in isolation Forum Facebook page. in Lansdowne Place and 11 students in quarantine Andrea Bruno, owner of the Blended Vintage there. The downtown student housing facility is Marketplace on Elm Street, is among several the designated quarantine building for Westfield business owners who are all-in on highlighting Westfield River Brewery State students. the work of local artists in addition to her own During the Westfield Board of Health meeting creations. By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Luckily, Bonavita said, Westfield last week, city Health Director Joseph Rouse said Bruno noted in a recent blog that her “little Editor River Brewing’s loyal customers kept that Lansdowne Place was “essentially full.” shop” that features artisans with differing inter- SOUTHWICK – Although the annual them afloat. Should there be any further cases at Westfield ests and creations has been her “happy place” Our Community Food Pantry fundrais- “Our customers were so supportive of State, an unused dorm on campus will be desig- since 2016. er, hosted at Westfield River Brewing, us and we were okay,” he said. “So we nated a quarantine area for students. “When I look back it’s hard to believe how was canceled this year due to COVID- decided to give the money to the food Rouse said university administration has been much the shop has evolved,” said Bruno, noting 19, brewery owner Sergio Bonavita pantry, especially because they always handling the situation well despite the circum- after the pandemic “swept through,” she was made a donation to the pantry last week. have their fundraiser here and this year, stances they are in. closed for almost three months. During the time Bonavita presented Pantry President they obviously can’t.” “Westfield State is doing the best they can with she was shut down, she focused on her art which Bettylou Murphy and board members Bonavita said he feels fortunate to their situation,” said Rouse, “They were relieved includes blended painted furniture. Deb Herath and Kathlyn Cook with a have stayed in business throughout the to have the state step in and offer assistance. It “The shop has grown with new products like check for more than $1,000. Bonavita pandemic. Even though nearly 30 wed- turned into a big deal but now we are on the right clothing, jewelry, organic facial products and said the funds were from an event host- dings planned at the brewery were can- track.” shoes,” said Bruno. “Things in the shop are ed at the brewery last April. celed, he was able to host small wed- things that make me happy and that make me “I had this idea to do a community dings in late spring and serve customers See Westfield State, Page 3 smile, and I hope it does the same for those who beer and reached out to other local outside on the property at 707 College walk through its doors.” breweries,” he said. Lisa Lefreniere, co- Highway, before being allowed to offer Art classes are also another outlet that Bruno owner of Skyline Brewing Co. in indoor dining. Bonavita said he has con- is expanding on in small groups due to pandemic Westfield, told Bonavita there was cerns about the coming months, but concerns. The classes offer area residents the already a similar program called All looks forward to continuing to serve Band is coming chance to also experiment with their own artistic Together. food, beer and more to his customers talents. A “Vintage Truck with Lit Tree” paint “We decided to join All Together and and continue to help the food pantry. party is slated Nov. 12 at 6 p.m., and an “Old they gave us labels and a recipe,” “Hopefully we will be able to have together with a lot Fashion Christmas Tree with Lights” paint party Bonavita said. He brewed the beer the event next year, even if everyone is is slated Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. For more details on all according to the recipe and a portion of wearing a mask,” said Bonavita. of moving parts classes, visit the Blended Vintage Marketplace every sale was set aside. The donation will help the pantry website. At the time, most participating brew- continue serving families and individu- By AMY PORTER For Lucille Nason of Westfield, she is cur- eries were donating to the hospitality als in Southwick, Tolland and Granville. Staff Writer rently selling her works at the Blended Vintage industry or using it for themselves. The pantry has remained open through- WESTFIELD – Band has been a little bit of a Marketplace. She said she uses a variety of “It was pretty rough for a while,” he out the pandemic, offering weekly pack- challenge to get underway, says Westfield High mixed media elements to create one-of-a-kind said. “We wanted to wait and see and if ages of food for those in need. Anyone School and Technical Academy Band director pieces. we didn’t do well, we were going to who could use food assistance can apply Patrick Kennedy, but “we’re slowly edging back “When you are an artist you always need to give the money to our staff.” online at community-food-pantry.org. towards some sense of normalcy,” he said. think outside the box,” said Nason. “I have sold Kennedy said the numbers of students taking my art at hospitals, remember they have a lot of band are lower at WHS than they ever have been. wall space to fill. Also places like airports will “I lost probably 25 kids. I think they’ll come back showcase different artists. Never be afraid to ask once things change. For some kids, the online any business if you think your art will be benefi- thing isn’t for them. We still have 70-something cial to the both parties.” kids – that’s not a terrible number,” he said. Nason added that when artists creates art, “We The WHS students are never all in one place at show a part of our soul to the world.” a time. Kennedy sees a third of his members on Bruno concurred. Cohort A, a third on Cohort B, and he has another “Having a storefront allows me to share what third that are fully remote and participate online. beautiful work is being created by artists,” said “We meet every day, and are experimenting Bruno. “If you are in a position to help someone, with using the computer to broadcast the music in it is your responsibility to do so.” the room, and have the kids play along at home,” Another unique setting for artistic gifts in the Kennedy said. city is Results In Wellness, LLC, at 93 Springfield The WTA band is fully remote this year, Road. because the school is only open for the students during their shop weeks. He said he sees music students there online every day. Kennedy does all See Holiday Shopping, Page 5 Troop 109 bat house crew (L-R)Billy Fouche, Matt Mcmahon, Sean Mcmahon, of the remote classes from the high school, which Zach hall, Alex Dawicki (kneeling), Paul Dawicki behind him, Tim Mcmahon, he has made as home base. He said he still has 30 Chris Cekovsky, Brandon Cekovsky, and Brandon Barnes. (SUBMITTED students in the band at WTA. PHOTO) Kennedy said he is using Google Classroom this year, and the district was fortunate to buy a program for all the kids called SmartMusic, which allows music teachers to buy music to let Scout to build bat houses students work on it at home. for Eagle Scout project See Band, Page 6 By AMY PORTER Dawicki said that the bat houses are Staff Writer larger than typical bird houses, but WESTFIELD — Westfield High they are flat. Although they don’t seem School senior Alex Dawicki is build- very spacious, 300 to 400 bats can fit ing a dozen bat houses that he plans to inside one of them.