Southwick Resident Personifies Definition of Volunteerism
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JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL.Southwick 86 NO. 151 residentTUESDAY, personifies JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents definition of volunteerism By GREG FITZPATRICK by Greg Fitzpatrick)Snow is a former Coaching youth baseball as part of the Correspondent President of the organization and is the cur- program at the recreation center, Snow and SOUTHWICK – Volunteering in the rent Vice-President. During his time with his wife, Janet, also umpired softball games community seems to come natural for Ray the Rec Center, the 72-year-old Southwick from 1985 to 1990. Snow. In 1981, while Snow was watching resident has helped organize fundraisers to Snow’s volunteer work extends beyond his eight-year-old son play for the baseball benefit the non-profit organization, includ- the sports programs at the recreation center, team sponsored by the Southwick Fire ing bingo, benefit dinners, and comedy as he can be seen making repairs in the Department, he was approached by the shows. Volunteers of the recreation center gymnasium and cleaning the floors. coaches to help them. Shortly after, Snow like Snow can also be seen parking cars for “Usually, I get the call if something became a part of the Board of Directors for the Rugged Maniac and the Motocross broke,” Snow laughed. the Southwick Recreation Center, a non- Nationals in addition to helping organize When Snow isn’t conducting his volun- profit organization in town that was estab- all of the sports that are offered at the rec- teer work at the recreation center, he enjoys lished in 1961. reation center to the youth as well as adults. driving to the facility and seeing it being Snow also helps do the maintenance at “That kind of stuff pays our bills,” said Snow also helps do the maintenance at the Southwick the Southwick Recreation Center. (Photo Snow. See Volunteerism, Page 8 Recreation Center. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick) Southwick School Principal Committee gives update Debra Michaud (left), life long member tackles of the First United Methodist Church, on hockey and Joyce Scanlon, administrative assis- tant for the church since 1980, stand in front of the stained glass window program full agenda retained from the old building. (Photo by By AMY PORTER Peter Currier) By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent Correspondent WESTFIELD – During public participation, SOUTHWICK – Joe Turmel, the Ralph Figy, City Council liaison to the School First United Principal of Southwick Regional School, Committee, said the Annual Food Drive will be gave an update to the school committee on Nov. 19 in Tiger’s Pride. Last year, they on Tuesday about the boy’s ice hockey Kathleen Palmer, seen with Harry Rock, helped over 200 families in need for program. Methodist president of the Friends of the Westfield Thanksgiving. This past May, the school committee 350th, poses with her manuscript “Time in Figy said they are in need of turkeys, canned unanimously approved both a varsity Westfield” for the city’s 350th celebration. goods, and dry goods, as well as personal and junior varsity ice hockey team for hygiene items, which will supply the five Church in (Submitted photo) the upcoming 2018-19 season. school food banks. Later in the meeting, At a school committee meeting on Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said last Westfield April 3 several people in support of the year they received 150 turkeys from the food team going to varsity showed up to show ‘Legacy gifts’ pantry; this year they will only be getting 75, so their support. After several questions turkeys are a big need. were asked by school committee mem- Figy also spoke in favor of the MIAA Co-op celebrates bers, along with answers from former agreement for Alpine Skiing at Westfield Southwick Regional School Athletic are central to Technical Academy, which was on the agenda Director Frank Montagna, the hockey for a vote. 50 years supporters left the meeting with a good WHS Athletic Director Dan Trudeau also feeling and no indication that there celebration’s came forward to speak about the Co-op agree- By PETER CURRIER would be any pushback from the com- ment, which he clarified is to set up a co-ed Correspondent mittee. Alpine Skiing opportunity at WTA with WESTFIELD- The First United Then, on April 6, it was revealed that Gateway Regional and Smith Vocational. Methodist Church in Westfield celebrated success the committee had voted no on having By LORI SZEPELAK Trudeau said the school hopes to enter the the 50th anniversary of its building the hockey program go to the varsity Saturday with an invite only open house Correspondent Co-op for two years, and subsequently build a tour and a dinner. level. WESTFIELD-Countless city residents team at WTA. He said they were asked by The church, which saw its first service As a result, parents of Junior Varsity have been working behind the scenes for Gateway, whose numbers are dwindling, to join in 1968, was constructed to replace the players, like Patrick Jubb and Steve almost two years to ensure that the city’s them for the competitive team. The Co-op team previous building that had been used for Ensign, helped start an informal commit- 350th birthday celebration in 2019 is a still has to be approved by the Pioneer Valley 92 years. tee with other parents and supporters to smashing success. Interscholastic Athletic Conference (PVIAC). “We had about 65 guests who had try and come up with ideas on how they “As the president of the Westfield 350 Trudeau said it’s a great opportunity to signed up for a dinner that night,” says could gain more movement and get the planning committee, I am both inspired and expand the sports program at WTA. Debra Michaud, a lifelong member of the school committee’s attention. deeply appreciative of the effort and dedica- Also speaking on behalf of the Co-op was church, “The church was lit up with sig- The parents created an online petition tion volunteer citizens are committing to WTA freshman Connor Carrier, who said he nage for what had happened when the old to gauge the community’s support of the help plan the 2019 celebration,” said Harry began skiing at age 3, and has been racing at building came down, what was retained Rock. Blandford Ski Area for seven years. He said from the old building, and what improve- See Hockey Program, Page 8 Several fundraisers and special events although skiing is an individual sport, team ments we have made over the last 50 mates cheer each other on, and there is “great years.” have already taken place in recent months to generate excitement about the 350th birth- energy on the mountain.” Guests could freely walk around the He said the Co-op with Gateway will give church and view displays that showed day and just recently, the official Westfield 350 Song & Music Video was released. WTA the first ski team in two years. much of the history of the church in the School Committee vice chair Cindy Sullivan last 50 years, including all the pastors in “Jon Berman wrote and produced an amazing song on the history and inspired asked how many students at WTA will partici- that time, a display that honored members pate. Carrier said there are two other definite who have passed away, and images of the future of Westfield,” said Rock noting the old building in the process of being demol- song and video are posted at westfield350. skiers, and four or five others who have ished. org. “The song link which resides on the expressed an interest. Trudeau said they will be encouraging girls Original service pamphlets for the Turmel (right) is seen speaking to the Westfield 350 website is part of a very inter- church were on display for guests to esting video created by Westfield 350 board to get involved, as there are more boys partici- school committee about the hockey pating in sports than girls at WTA. Trudeau said program on Tuesday night. (Photo by See Church, Page 8 See Legacy Gifts, Page 8 he is confident they will have three boys and Greg Fitzpatrick) one girl. He said the fee to participate will be equal to Westfield High School at $125. The See School Committee, Page 8 DPW announces leaf collection plan By PETER CURRIER in the event of rain or possibly snow. Correspondent It is also emphasized by the DPW that residents WESTFIELD- The Westfield Department of take care to ensure that only leaves are placed in Public Works will begin fall leaf pickup on the bags and no foreign objects such as rocks or Saturday, Nov. 10 for Westfield residents. trash are mixed in with them as the leaves will be Casey Berube, Deputy Superintendent of the composted. DPW, says that leaves should go in the appropriate “The collections will likely be done on residents bags and be placed curbside, but not too close to regularly scheduled trash days,” says Berube, add- one’s trash bins.