Light Board to Fully Fund Student Technology Program
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Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.comTheThe Westfield WestfieldNews News 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 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents $1.00 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2020 VOL. 89 NO. 244 ‘Serving Light Board Up Senior to fully fund Safety’ student lunch is technology Oct. 17 program By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Editor WESTFIELD – The Senior Center The program provides is hosting its Serving up Senior Safety drive-through event Oct. 17, with internet to students in lunch and fire prevention and COVID safety packets for participants. need for the school year Council on Aging Director Tina By PETER CURRIER Gorman said with funding from the Staff Writer Massachusetts Department of Fire WESTFIELD — The Municipal Light Services “Senior Safe” grant, each Board (MLB) voted unanimously Oct. 7 to participant will receive a bag of safe- fully fund the Adopt-a-Student Technology ty items, informational flyers, and the Michael Tierney and Michael Tierney, Jr. with doorway pedestal created for Landmark Fowler Program to provide internet access to stu- new COVID-19 Preparedness File of Tavern historic preservation project. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS FILE PHOTO) dents who do not have it while remote learn- Life packets ing continues through the COVID-19 pan- North Elm Butcher Block is pro- demic. viding lunch and reservations are Historic renovation and open space Westfield Public Schools Superintendent required by noon Oct. 14 unless the Stefan Czaporowski and former Mayor Brian lunch is sold-out. North Elm Butcher P. Sullivan spoke during public participation Block will prepare up to 200 lunches, discussed at public hearing at the MLB meeting Wednesday evening to at a cost of $3 each, paid at the time advocate for the program in the hopes of hav- of pickup. By AMY PORTER ing Westfield Gas and Electric provide assis- have an option of cheeseburger Staff Writer tance for the program. chowder or chicken noodle soup as WESTFIELD – The “Last spring was a disaster for getting well as the choice of a ham and Community Preservation some students on the internet during the pan- cheese or turkey and cheese sand- Committee held its annual demic,” said Czaporowski. wich. The Council On Aging will public hearing on Oct. 8, and When schools closed in the spring due to provide a small water and dessert. discussed current and potential the pandemic, about 170 students in the dis- “We are thrilled with this first-time projects in the city supported trict were unable to gain internet access to partnership with the Butcher Block by Community Preservation participate in remote learning. Czaporowski and are most grateful for their recog- Act funds. said that Sullivan and his longtime girlfriend nition of the importance of senior CPC Chair Thomas E. Sharp Sonia Brockney approached him with the safety,” said Gorma. said the purpose of the public idea to create a fund to provide students with While a delicious lunch may be the hearing was to give residents a internet access. The idea was approved by highlight of the event, it’s the safety chance for input into the pro- the School Committee on Sept. 21. component that Gorman said is cess, which he noted was dif- The program works by providing the stu- important for city seniors. ficult to do with a virtual meet- dents who need internet access with verizon “Safety of all types for the City’s ing. He also asked for com- hotspots that they can connect to using their older adults has been a COA priority ments from the board. school devices. Czaporowski and Sullivan for many years,” she said. “We’ve Committee member Vincent Yellow Stonehouse Farm CSA members enjoy a potluck supper said that it costs about $250 per student. With Olinski, who represents Parks outside of the 1840 barn. (2017 PHOTO) about 170 students with the need, the pro- See Senior Safety, Page 3 & Recreation, said he had gram costs about $42,000. Before the MLB looked at all of the city’s fund- like us to spend more money vote from the CPC. meeting Wednesday, about $10,000 had been ing projects to date. “It was on open land and to expand it, While no new projects were raised. interesting to see how much so we can keep the country on the agenda at Thursday’s “We also understand that this is only a one- went into historic resources, type feel of the city that we meeting, two projects reflect- year program,” said Sullivan, “This is a one- which is something real impor- have enjoyed over the years.” ing the committee’s interests time COVID issue that never would have tant in a city as old as ours. I “I share your opinion. I think were among those discussed. come up normally.” thought that was great. I open space is critical,” said Michael Kinney, owner of Ward 5 Commissioner Thomas Flaherty thought the open space part, Sharp, who represents the the 1755 Landlord Fowler said that it would make sense for Westfield my second favorite thing to Conservation Commission. Tavern, thanked the CPC for Gas and Electric to contribute to the rest of talk about; when I look at proj- City Planner Jay Vinskey grants totalling $279,000, and the cost now that the city is no longer asking ects, open space connected to then gave an overview of thanked Saloomey the municipal utility for the $1 million in other open space is a very good Community Preservation Act Construction and John Carlo financial assistance due to COVID-19. use of the dollars in the com- funds available by category, Woodworking for the histori- “It’s nice that we have a solid ask with a munity. I’m always thankful totalling $200,000 for Open cal exterior renovations and tangible benefit to the children and the city,” for any dollars that are spent,” Space, $400,000 in Housing, the reproduction of the original said Ward 6 Commissioner and Chairman he said. and approximately $700,000 in tavern door, part of the perma- Robert Sacco, “If you find that the funding is Alternate Rich Salois, of the undesignated funds. Historic nent collection of the short, come back.” Tina Gorman, Executive Director of Planning Board, said while he has spent down its funds, but Metropolitan Museum of Art. The MLB voted unanimously to contribute the Westfield Council on Aging (THE agreed that historical spending future projects may access the an additional $35,000 to the program to WESTFIELD NEWS PHOTO) is good for the city, “I would undesignated portion with a See Hearing, Page 3 make it fully funded. Westfield State University, Athenaeum team up for new ‘chat’ series By LORI SZEPELAK Westfield State University is such a interesting history and begin that Deviny. America” from 7 – 8 p.m. A ques- Correspondent rich source of knowledge on all partnership,” said Blackburn. Deviny added she believes area tion-and-answer session will follow WESTFIELD — As the election kinds of topics,” said Becky Deviny shared a similar senti- residents will enjoy the intriguing his presentation. Registration is season enters its final weeks, the Blackburn, public services librarian, ment. comparisons and contrasts, as well required due to space limitations on Westfield Athenaeum and Westfield adding that Kate Deviny, Athenaeum “Our townspeople love history as new factoids the professors will the Zoom platform. State University are teaming up for director, has been the “driving force” and while they may think their stu- share. Aieta has been a resident and a new series of chats titled “WSU behind the collaboration. dent time was finished years ago, Dr. Nicholas Aieta, chair of the Athenaeum patron for almost 11 Professors Present” beginning Oct. “We have been wanting to partner there is much to be gained and even History Department, will lead off years and believes in the importance 14. with them for years and as the elec- entertained when professors talk the virtual series on Oct. 14 with a of making connections between the “Part of our strategic plan is to tion approaches it seemed a great about subjects that are near and dear lecture titled “Presidential become a community forum and opportunity to incorporate some to their scholarship and hearts,” said Campaigning in Jacksonian See New Series, Page 5 Southwick celebrates birthday with neighbors across the ‘pond’ By HOPE E. TREMBLAY times. The name Southwick itself goes back backyard, or at the Rec Center, Rail Trail, Editor to Anglo-Saxon times, and was specifically Congamond or some community event. We SOUTHWICK – There is something about included in the Domesday Book in 1085. This look forward to learning more about our sharing a name that connects people, and for is a highly picturesque region with both natu- Southwick neighbors just across ‘the pond’ in the members of the Southwick 250 Committee, ral beauty and historical charm. It is a suburb Great Britain!” said Putnam in a written forging a friendship based on a name has of Brighton & Hove, a resort city several release. “More to follow as events unfold! become a fun way to mark the town’s birth- miles to the east. Watch our Celebrate Southwick 250 Facebook day. Southwick 250 Committee Chair James page and local news coverage.” The community of Southwick, West Sussex, Putnam said the two towns have no connec- Putnam said the goal is to get to know each England and Southwick, Massachusetts have tion, other than sharing a name, however other and the respective Southwicks, add to connected to celebrate SOuthwick, Mass.’s bonds are already being formed.