Go Westfield, Page 3 “I’M So Appreciative of the Volunteers Who Work So Hard Each Lets and Industry Journals
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TONIGHT Partly Cloudy. Low of 56. The Westfield Search for The Westfield News News HOSESearch forPEOPLE The WestfieldWHO NewsTHINK “T Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews ONLY OF THEMSELVES, ARE Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns HOPELESSLY“TIME IS UNEDUCATHE ONLYT ED. WEATHER THEY ARECRITIC NO TWITHOUT EDUCAT ED, TONIGHT NOAMBITION MAttER.” HOW INSTRUCTED THEY MAY BE.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com Search for— The N ICHOWestfieldLAS News Westfield350.comWestfield350.org The WestfieldNews MURRAY BUTLER Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY VOL.WEATHER 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents VOL. 87 NO. 158 WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018 CRITIC75 CentsWITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 151 ‘Go TUESDAY,Westfield’ JUNE 27, 2017 campaign launches 75 cents By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD- On Tuesday, Mayor Brian P. Sullivan and Westfield Gas & Electric General Manager Dan Howard unveiled “GoWestfield” at G&E head- quarters on Turnpike Industrial Road. GoWestfield is the product of a months- Thomas Leporati arrives with foodstuffs at the Westfield long marketing partnership to communi- Senior Center on Tuesday morning for the monthly “Brown cate to people outside the region that Bag” distribution program. Westfield is an attractive location to grow a business and an exceptional Volunteers are place to live, work, and play. the heart of the Brown Bag Program By LORI SZEPELAK Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan speaks to an audience of key stakeholders during Correspondent the launch of the ‘GoWestfield’ campaign on Tuesday. WESTFIELD — The friends that Maria Proietti has made by include ample developable land, access volunteering at the Brown Bag: Food for Elders program at the “The community itself is the biggest Westfield Senior Center over the years are now considered her “This campaign is focused on promot- sell,” Sullivan says in the video. He goes to markets, high-speed internet and very “sisters and brothers.” ing the full Westfield value proposition,” on to point out that Westfield has its own competitive energy pricing and service,” Proietti was among more than 10 volunteers on Tuesday morn- Mayor Sullivan said. “Westfield has a hospital, parks, airport, university, he added. ing who helped unload the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts great story to tell, and our team has “some of the best public schools,” res- City Advancement Officer Joe truck around 10 a.m. and then started an assembly line where each worked hard to ensure that story is taurants and concerts on the green. Mitchell said the campaign used local person would place a food item in the grocery bag for the senior known around Massachusetts and Sullivan also emphasizes having the vendors, including Larsen Creative citizens that were patiently waiting in line outside of the confer- beyond,” he added. locally owned, municipal Gas & Electric Media, who developed the GoWestfield. ence room. By the end of the morning distribution, 192 brown In partnership with Westfield Bank and Whip City Fiber. com website; Kirby Productions, who bags had been stuffed. and the Greater Westfield Chamber of “The intent of the campaign is to pro- produced the video, and Latka Printing The Brown Bag is a monthly bag of groceries for seniors Commerce, the GoWestfield marketing vide site selectors, developers and bro- and Marketing who worked on printed offered in 50 towns in Western Massachusetts. On Tuesday, the campaign includes unique branding, the kers with a ‘one stop shopping’ place to materials and other marketing pieces. bags were filled with bran flakes, chunk light tuna, kernel corn, GoWestfield.com website, a promotion- gain more information regarding G&E Marketing Director Lisa Stowe kidney beans, peanut butter, elbow pasta, applesauce, spaghetti al video and advertising in regional out- Westfield’s exceptional offerings,” G&E sauce, mixed vegetables and a carton of Natrel milk. General Manager Howard said. “These See Go Westfield, Page 3 “I’m so appreciative of the volunteers who work so hard each lets and industry journals. month to ensure the food distribution goes smoothly,” said Karen Noblit, senior benefits coordinator, Westfield Senior Center. “It is a real community effort of seniors helping fellow residents and their neighbors who are less fortunate.” For persons age 55 and older and living on a limited income, the Sergeant position open in Brown Bag Program offers a healthy mix of protein, vegetables, fruits, dairy and grains, as well as fresh produce in the growing season. Southwick Police Department Barbara Coleman was the first volunteer to arrive around 9 a.m. and said she has been stuffing the brown bags for more than seven By GREG FITZpaTRICK connections while serving in the Detective years. Correspondent Bureau and he believes Krutka can fill the “I like to volunteer to help out wherever I can,” said Coleman. SOUTHWICK – The Select Board met vacant role due to his past experience. with Chief Kevin Bishop and Lt. Robert “Sgt. Krutka made a lot of those same See Brown Bag Program, Page 5 Landis on Tuesday night to discuss the contacts because of his dealing as a K-9 department’s continuous openings due to officer,” said Bishop. “He’s gotten an retirements and promotions. education into drug investigation, which Bishop informed the Select Board that is going to be a very big plus for him.” Chief Kevin Bishop and Lt. Robert Landis due to Landis being promoted from Det. Bishop and Landis expressed to the discussed positions in the department with Sgt to Lieutenant, he’s decided to assign Select Board that they’re focused on the Select Board on Tuesday. (Photo by Greg Sgt. Tom Krutka to Detective Sargent. Fitzpatrick) Bishop indicated that Landis made strong See Sergeant, Page 3 State grants $21 million to WSU for renovations By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD—During a visit to Westfield State University’s campus on Tuesday, Gov. Charlie Baker announced that the university will receive a $21.25 million investment from the Edward and Reggie Ekmalian were among the volunteers on Commonwealth of Massachusetts to renovate its oldest build- Tuesday morningProf. stuffing George brown bags Michael for seniors waiting ing, Parenzo Hall. outside the conference room of the Westfield Senior Center. The funding to Westfield State is made possible by H.4549 WSU Terrorism Expert An Act providing for capital repairs and improvements for the RADIO FOR THE WESTFIELD MASSES THE WESTFIELD FOR RADIO The Westfield Commonwealth, a bill ceremonially signed by Gov. Baker dur- ing the campus visit. Overall, H.4549 authorizes approximately News Radio $3.9 billion to address the Commonwealth’s statewide capital Show needs, including higher education campuses, health and human Thursday services facilities, state office buildings, public safety facilities, Line-Up and courts. Gov. Baker said he wanted to do the second signing of the 6am-8am legislation in Parenzo Hall, to emphasize why it’s so important. He said of the 3.9 billion, $1 billion is for higher education institutions. Baker also noted the building was completed in (L-R) Surrounding Gov. Charlie Baker (seated) are Westfield ThisThis Thursday...Thursday... 1956, “the year I was born. This project in particular is one we State University President Ramon Torrecilha; Massachusetts are thrilled to finance,” Gov. Baker said. Secretary of Education James Peyser; Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito; 6am-8am:6am-8am: Parenzo Hall has not undergone major renovations since its Westfield City Councilor Ralph Figy; Greater Westfield Area BOB McKEAN opening in 1956. Nearly matching the state’s $21.25 million Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kate Phelon; City of Executive Director Stanley Park investment, the Westfield State Board of Trustees has also West Springfield Mayor William Reichelt ’09; Mayor Brian Live At The Westfield authorized up to $20 million allocation to the project, which Sullivan; Westfield State University Board of Trustees Chair Mark Boardman & Jennifer Gruzska will total $40 million. Kevin Queenin ’70; Economic Development Council of Western PancakeWestfield Breakfast Rotary Club Through the Parenzo Hall renovation project, the University Massachusetts President and CEO Rick Sullivan; and the Download WSKB from your Tune In Radio App plans to transform the dated building into a state-of-the-art hub Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and or watch on Comcast Cable CH. 15 Maintenance Commissioner Carol Gladstone. (Photos by Amy See State Grant, Page 2 Porter) PAGE 2 - WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2018 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS State Grant Continued from Page 1 for student success and workforce development. In addition to study options will be offered to its business partners, utilizing optimal space utilization, renovations will create two new cen- technology. ters—the Center for Innovation in Education and Industry According to Torrecilha, the two new Centers will be linked to Partnerships and the Center for Student Success and Engagement, offer students the opportunity to engage with industry profession- which will have a far-reaching impact beyond the University’s als, work on real-world application of their knowledge and skill physical campus. sets, and explore career opportunities. Torrecilha called Parenzo Hall “the largest deferred maintenance “It represents a universal win. The true winners are our students, project” on campus, with ADA compliance and other infrastruc- sons and daughters of Massachusetts, who represent 94% of ture issues, no air conditioning, and its original chemistry labora- Westfield State University students,” Torrecilha said, adding that tories. the majority go on to build their lives and careers in the Bay State Torrecilha said the funds will provide an opportunity to trans- following graduation. form an outdated facility, but that the university also did not let the “It’s an exciting day for the university and the city. Any time the campus serve as the boundary for the project.