White Oak School Graduates Celebrate Success
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tOniGHt Chance of Showers. Low of 60. Search for The Westfield News The WestfieldNews Search for The Westfield News “DARE TO BE NAIVE.” Westfield350.com The WestfieldNews IME IS THE ONLY Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “T— R. Buckminste R FulleR WEATHER CRITIC WITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.comWestfield350.orgLow of 55. Thewww.thewestfieldnews.com WestfieldNews Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHERVOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75CRITIC centsWITHOUT VOl. 88 nO. 130 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2019 75 cents TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 151 WhiteTUESDAY, Oak JUNE School 27, 2017 75 cents graduates celebrate success By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Correspondent WESTFIELD – High school graduation is a time to cel- ebrate accomplishments, lessons learned, friendships made and the future. For students at White Oak School, it means all this and more. White Oak, located on North Road, provides research- based instruction for students with specific learning dis- White Oak School graduates celebrate following their graduation abilities and related learning differences. With a maximum celebration June 3. (Hope E. Tremblay Photo) class size of eight students, White Oak offers language- based curriculum, daily individual tutoring, social, recre- they once thought graduation was an impossible task. The shoreline of North Pond is part of the 146 acre ational and athletic opportunities. It also offers a haven for “Here at White Oak, the teachers know how to teach us,” said property that the Franklin Land Trust is planning on its students. graduate Bevan Carpenter. purchasing. (WNG File Photo) For the 12 students in the Class of 2019, school was “I am going to BayPath University,” said Eden Stoops. “Because always a struggle — often both academically and socially of this school, I have the proper tools to help me succeed.” — before coming to White Oak. Many didn’t think they For graduate James Harrington, White Oak was a life changing would graduate, let alone continue their studies in college. experience. Conservation “When I started at White Oak, I was struggling,” said “I used to believe all schools were the same,” he said. “To this day graduate James Wynne. “I was failing and falling farther I’m shocked how wrong I was. White Oak doesn’t just care about me and farther behind my peers. It was clear that I needed academically, they care about me as a whole.” restriction help.” Harrington said his time at White Oak has been the happiest of his Wynne said he received that help and will study move- life. ment science at Westfield State University this fall with the Fellow graduate Gabriele Gay expressed similar sentiments. goal of becoming a physical education teacher. Wynne said “From the first day I felt like I belonged,” she said. “Right off the approved for his future, which once seemed so dim, is finally bright and bat I formed a squad.” he has the tools to succeed. For Sarena Gonzalez, White Oak gave her a path academically and “Today, I understand how I learn,” he said. a group of friends. North Pond land Every graduate spoke during the White Oak commence- “I left public school because they didn’t know how to teach me,” By HOPE E. TREMBLAY ment June 3, held in the school auditorium. And every Correspondent student shared a similar success story and expressed that See White Oak School, Page 8 SOUTHWICK – Land around North Pond is another step closer to becoming preserved in perpetuity. Christina Peterson from Massachusetts Fish & Game and Richard Hubbard, recently retired from Franklin Land Trust, met with the Select Board Tuesday to cross another item off the to-do list before closing on the All items pass at Huntington town meeting property later this month. By AMY PORTER Vietnam, and one year in peacetime for In welcoming residents to the town The Board gave its approval of a conservation Correspondent the 2nd Infantry in Korea. He also served meeting, Renauld called it “a pretty cool restriction, with the understanding that Peterson and HUNTINGTON – Even with a packed stateside duty as a heavy engine mechan- process.” However, he said the town was Hubbard may be back to discuss two related topics. agenda requiring some explanation, the ic, he said. missing a finance committee for a few One topic is the question of vandalism and dumping 78 residents in attendance passed every The 2018 Annual Report was dedicat- years, which he called important for item at the Annual Town Meeting on ed to Tom Gralinski, former firefighter, “checks and balances,” leaving the bud- See North Pond, Page 3 Monday. training officer, Zoning Board of Appeals get to the Board of Selectmen to prepare. The meeting opened with a ceremony chair and Town Moderator. Select Board He encouraged residents to volunteer for where the retired Memorial Day flag was chair Edward Renauld said Gralinski had that committee. presented to Vietnam Veteran Lou encouraged and inspired many people The town budget of $1,965,377, not Purinton, who runs the transfer station in from town to participate in local govern- counting the school budget portion, town. Purinton said it meant a lot to him. ment, before presenting him with a bird- Notice of agenda He served with the 544th Engineers in house as a gift. See Huntington, Page 3 item cancellation WESTFIELD — The Old Dominion Freight Line hearing scheduled for tonight’s Westfield City Council Volunteers will discover history by cleaning meeting has been canceled stones at the Old Burying Ground this Sunday By AMY PORTER opened in the 1840’s. She said every year, the Correspondent group tries to clean 40 or 50 new stones of the Calling All Actors! WESTFIELD – Volunteers are welcome to 1100 standing. WESTFIELD — Are you interested in Acting? Come join members of the Historical Commission “It’s so magical to see the history of and audition for Westfield Theatre Group's Fall and this Sunday, June 9 at 1 p.m. to clean stones Westfield unfold as you work your way down Christmas productions! and discover history at the Old Burying the stone,” Gaylord said. Auditions for our Fall show, "Murder Among Friends" Ground on Mechanic Street, one of the oldest Volunteers are asked to bring containers of will take place June 10th and 11th at 7:00PM. burying grounds in the country still in its water and spray bottles to clean the stones, as Auditions for our Christmas musical, "A Christmas original location, according to Historical there is no water source in the Old Burying Carol" will take place June 17th and 18th at 6:30PM. Eco-friendly cleaning Commission Chair Cynthia P. Gaylord. Ground. All the other materials, including All are welcome and no prior experience is required. supplies will be used dur- The oldest remaining stone in the cemetery gloves, toothbrushes and very soft brushes Auditions will take place at the Westfield Woman's Club ing a clean-up day at The is from 1683, although the burials most likely will be supplied, and training offered on how at 28 Court St. Old Burying Ground off began in 1660, Gaylord said, adding that buri- For show and character information please visit our Mechanic Street. als largely stopped when Pine Hill cemetery See Cleaning Stones, Page 3 website at www.westfieldtheatregroup.com. Strawberry Festival sales benefit soup kitchen By LORI SZEPELAK “It has been amazing to be a part of chosen also shares the mission of the Correspondent this group of volunteers,” added Joseph. church,” said Joseph. WESTFIELD-Fresh picked strawber- Committee members assisting Joseph “When the Westfield Soup Kitchen ries from Kosinski Farms will take center and Parks include Bill Stroud, Sally volunteers learned we were selected as stage at the Strawberry Festival on June Angers, Barbara Giacometti, Steve this year’s Strawberry Festival recipient, 20 – first at the Westfield Farmers’ Danneker, Laurie Davison, Sue and Gary everyone was surprised and elated, yet Market and then on the Park Square Cole, Allyn Hall, Ann Kousch, Joanne humbled as this is a competitive pro- Green during Westfield on Weekends’ Florek, Donna Tatlock-Calkins, Barbara cess,” said Ann Kousch, who has served MusicFest. Langmore, Sherrie Denison, Amber and for two years as president of the organi- Now in its 157th year, members of the John Danahey, and Jan Parks. zation. Episcopal Church of the Atonement and Since the festival’s inception, straw- Kousch noted in her tenure as presi- countless volunteers will once again berries have always been at the heart of dent, she has spent countless hours donate their time to ensure that the popu- the charity event. Committee members speaking about the mission of the soup lar event exceeds expectations – and noted the festival began as a fundraiser to kitchen to numerous businesses and raises money this year for the Westfield build their place of worship. In the inau- organizations. Soup Kitchen. gural year, $60 was raised. After the par- “Many nonprofits are struggling these The Rev. Nancy Webb Stroud, rector of the Episcopal ish was established, church members days,” said Kousch. “We all need to Church of the Atonement, Westfield, addresses the “Our church mission of outreach is turned their fundraising efforts to sup- share our stories and ask others to con- Strawberry Festival Committee prior to a logistics meeting drawn in by grace and we reach out with porting the community. sider a donation so that no one in our Wednesday night. love to support others in need,” said Joseph explained that recipients of community minded city goes without Tamara Joseph, co-chair of the festival festival funds are chosen by the church basic necessities.” teers will be making the homemade biscuits early that morn- for the second year with Bill Parks.