Humason: ‘Westfield Will Continue to Follow COVID-19 Guidelines’ by HOPE E
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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 THURSDAY,TUESDAY, JUNEAPRIL 27, 29, 2017 2021 VOL. 75 cents 90 NO. 100 Humason: ‘Westfield will continue to follow COVID-19 guidelines’ By HOPE E. TREMBLAY mayor’s meeting. He did say that he current seven-day positive test rate is Editor expected mixed reaction from residents. below 2 percent. BOSTON – Gov. Charlie Baker April “Changes are happening, not necessar- “Depending on vaccine distribution 27 announced that new COVID-19 ily as fast as some would like, and too and public health data, the Administration guidelines would go into effect in the fast for others,” Humason said. may consider re-evaluating the August coming weeks, including relaxing mask No matter what, Humason said he 1st date,” Baker’s office said in a press requirements outdoors. would review and refer to the guidelines release. “The Department of Public Baker said that all industry restrictions leading up to the full opening in August. Health will also continue to issue guid- will be lifted, capacity will increase to “We’ll keep following the rules,” ance as needed, including guidance to 100 percent across industries and gather- Humason said. “Westfield has done a still require masks indoors.” ing limits will be rescinded Aug. 1. good job.” The new relaxed guidelines begin Westfield Mayor Donald F. Humason Baker made the announcement the day Friday when face coverings will be Jr. said Tuesday afternoon that he did not after the Commonwealth’s lowest single- required outside in public only when it’s have a chance to review the new guide- day COVID-19 positive totals – 812 – not possible to socially distance. Masks Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker removes his mask as he lines in-depth because he was meeting since November, and the same week that will still be required at indoor public steps to the microphone during a Road Safety Legislation with Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito during the all state residents age 16 and over are Announcement at the State House. (JESSICA RINALDI/GLOBE Massachusetts Municipal Association eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations. The See Guidelines, Page 3 STAFF) Gene Theroux sprays one of the gravestones at Southwick cemetery database discussed the Southwick By PETER CURRIER (GIS) file. The map of the cemetery will The surveying project for the New Old Cemetery. Staff Writer mark each grave with a high degree of Southwick Cemetery is similar to a proj- (WESTFIELD SOUTHWICK — The Cemetery accuracy, according to Theroux. ect being undertaken in Westfield. Local NEWS FILE Commission discussed an upcoming sur- “The graves will be marked within five historian Bruce Cortis is mapping the PHOTO) vey of the New Southwick Cemetery that inches of where they really are,” said historic graves of Westfield’s Old Burying will take place to create a full map of each Theroux. Ground. plot in the cemetery. Once all the cemetery data has been put Cortis’ project is different, however, Cemetery Commission Chair Gene into a single file, people will be able to because his goal is to create a map of Theroux said April 27 that he met with the search the file to see whether a given cem- every person who has ever been buried at surveyors April 23. He said he wants to etery plot is occupied, available, or has the Old Burying Ground for genealogy create a complete map of the cemetery to been sold already. Theroux said that the and family research purposes. The bury- put into a Geographic Information System file could be linked to the town’s website. ing ground does not take new burials. Stanley Park Work approved for hosts donation boardwalk at duck pond drive to benefit By AMY PORTER Permission was granted for the work on Staff Writer the boardwalk and for repair of an exist- WESTFIELD – Stanley Park Director ing water pump building within the 200- Homeward Vets Robert C. McKean came before the foot riverfront area to the Little River. By LORI SZEPELAK Conservation Commission on April 27 to McKean said the pump building was Correspondent request permission to repair the boardwalk built “many, many years ago” to help with WESTFIELD — Now in its seventh year, a around the duck pond in the 100-foot wet- watering, and has deteriorated. The park donation drive will be conducted at Stanley Park land buffer zone. plans to replace the roof, repair or replace on May 8 to benefit Homeward Vets, Inc. McKean said the boardwalk is 365 feet the back wall, patch the front wall, replace A donation drive for Homeward Vets, Inc. is “We serve all of Massachusetts with the major- around the duck pond, and was put in 35 the door and fix the floor inside .The park planned May 8 at Stanley Park in Westfield. ity of our donations helping veterans in Western years ago. He said the walk has started to will also be installing new pumps that will Massachusetts,” said Dave Felty, president of (SUBMITTED PHOTO) dip towards the pond, and the park had to be more energy efficient and safe. He said Homeward Vets. assist 100 to 110 veterans each year with house- close it down two months ago for safety the footprint on the pump house will The local nonprofit organization, based in hold items. reasons. remain the same. Ludlow, has been providing free home furnish- “We were still a necessity last year and saw McKean said when it was installed, por- Approval was granted with the condi- ings to veterans since its inception in 2012. more than 70 veterans, always meeting one tions of the walkway rested on rocks, and tion that erosion controls be put in place in The donation drive will be conducted from 8 person at a time, to keep everyone safe because the park wants to put it on helical piers to consultation with the conservation coordi- a.m. to noon at the Asian Garden parking lot on of COVID,” said Felty. make it safer. “All we’re doing is replac- nator, and any disturbed soil be loomed Margaret Lane across from the Veterans’ In past years the organization has always had ing and fixing, not doing anything new in and seeded. Memorial. its own truck on display, however, it is currently that area,” McKean said, adding, “We McKean thanked the commission for its Small household items are being sought at this undergoing $4,000 worth of repairs. want to pay it forward for the next genera- help with the projects. time for veterans who are transitioning into per- “The truck has issues with the brake line and tions that are coming. It will be much manent housing. Items in particular that are power steering, as well as a cracked windshield safer, and will be that way for many, many always needed include small appliances such as and is in need of engine work,” said Felty. “We years.” toasters, microwaves, toaster ovens and coffee are grateful that the Ludlow Elks will pay for a Conservation Coordinator Meredith makers. U-Haul truck and is also supplying the volun- Borenstein said that helical piers are pile “We need pots and pans more than anything,” teers for the drive.” driven with no soil disturbance and require said Felty, adding that people dropping off dona- For persons who do not have household items no wetland fill. “It’s the best thing you can tions will not have to get out of their cars since to donate, cash donations can be dropped off, do in a wetland,” she said. volunteers will be ready to take items out of one’s and gift cards from local stores including Asked for a timeline on the project, trunk or back seat. Walmart, Big Lots, Big Y and Stop & Shop are McKean said they want to move on it as “We just ask that all donations are clean before also welcome. fast as possible in the next couple of they are handed to us,” he said. weeks, because visitors are missing the Stanley Park duck pond. (THE Felty said on average the organization is able to See Donation Drive, Page 3 boardwalk. WESTFIELD NEWS FILE PHOTO) Contest calls for students to get creative about mental health By AMY PORTER line for submission is May 14, with their mental health? How Coordinator Y’aneris Staff Writer 2021. can you let a friend know they Olivencia. WESTFIELD — May is Last year, the student con- can reach out to you for sup- The contest is statewide and Mental Health Awareness test accepted video submis- port? How would you want a will be judged by MHC and Month, and for the second sions, but this year has been friend to help you? What do MAMH according to catego- year in a row the Massachusetts expanded to allow students you do to take care of your ry. The Grand Prize for each Health Council (MHC) and wide creative range. own mental health? Do you category is $200, Second Massachusetts Association Submission categories have strategies or tips to share place is $100 and Third place for Mental Health (MAMH) include Audio Visual -infor- with other students? is $50. The MAMH will con- are giving teens the opportu- mational video, rap, song The purpose of the contest tact winners and their parent nity to express themselves (between 20 to 50 seconds); is to get teens thinking about or guardian, if under 18, by creatively while raising Written – poem, short story their own mental health and email to distribute the win- awareness about the impor- (maximum 1,200 words), and that of their friends.