Transition Services Settling in Downtown Artisans Grateful For
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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 MONDAY,TUESDAY, NOVEMBER JUNE 27, 2017 23, 2020 VOL. 75 cents 89 NO. 281 New KFC Transition drive-thru Services planned for settling in East Main downtown Street By AMY PORTER By AMY PORTER Staff Writer Staff Writer WESTFIELD — On a recent visit to the Westfield WESTFIELD — A new KFC restau- community-based transition services’ new home at rant is being planned for 301-303 East Central Baptist Church, one student talked about the Main St. A sampling of wood creations by Mark Lisowski of Mark’s Wooden Creations advantages of the new location, and another about his Robert Levesque of R. Levesque are on sale at the Pottery Cellar at The Mill at Crane Pond. (MARK LISOWSKI frustrations with the COVID shutdown. Assoc. presented the site plan for the PHOTO) Dakota Noel, a returning student, liked the fact that KFC drive-through restaurant to the the new location is downtown. “I can walk to it,” he Planning Board for consideration at its said, compared to the former location on East Mountain Nov. 17 meeting, on behalf of applicant Road. Ron Abdow and ABSAK, LLC. Artisans grateful Transition Specialist Sherry Elander said when In the proposal, posted at www.cityof- Western Mass Hospital told them they needed the space westfield.org, Levesque said the restau- for public health, there was consideration by the district rant would be built on a vacant pad site of bringing the transition services back to the high at 301-303 East Main St. directly adja- for business outlets school. Elander said Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski cent to D’Angelo’s, owned by Streamfield supported finding them a separate location. LLC, Andrew Oleksak, and containing a Noel for one is thankful. “I’m happy that he (the portion of an existing 70,489 square-feet superintendent) agreed with us. Some of us want to of the shopping plaza at 301 East Main to sell their works move on from high school. We already graduated. We St., owned by Abdow. didn’t want to stay in the high school,” he said. Levesque said that Abdow also owns By LORI SZEPELAK Elements Salon & Spa and Coward Transition services is a part of the Westfield Public the property of 311 E. Main St. which Correspondent Farms. Schools, and is for students ages 18-21 who are still contains the remainder of the shopping WESTFIELD — For business “The heart behind my company is to entitled to school services. Transition gives students the plaza. Streamfield LLC and Abdow have owner Jennifer Doser, she is grateful handcraft quality products in small support and opportunity to achieve their goals by offer- a reciprocal easement agreement affect- for the businesses that have supported batches that you can trust to be safe, ing continuing education opportunities, assistance with ing their respective parcels regarding the her by showcasing her Relax. Rinse. effective, and affordable for your employment and workplace readiness, and community- entire family,” said Doser, adding, operation and maintenance of common Repeat. products over the past few based opportunities and support. years – especially in light of the “We even have products for your furry “There are very clear guidelines on what I am sup- areas at the shopping center. The ease- friends.” ment agreement authorized the creation COVID-19 pandemic this year which posed to do. Transition law focuses on students’ has wreaked havoc with so many Her current “best sellers” include a strengths, interests and abilities. That’s my job,” of an entity known as ABSAK, LLC to Germ-Busting Hand Sanitizer Spray, develop the two properties collectively small businesses. Elander said. “All of our shows this year except Stress Away Rub, and Room and Linen There are 26 students in the program; 18 in person, and enter into long-term leases with ten- Sprays. ants for buildings currently existing or to for a partial season at the Westfield and eight online. Some students are with them three “Our holiday scents include days a week, and two days at home online. Most stu- be built at the shopping center. Farmers’ Market have been canceled Gingerbread and Christmas Wreath,” The proposed 2,400 square-foot res- so we have definitely felt that being a she said. dents are there five days a week, Elander said. They taurant will have two lanes for the drive- small business trying to support a fam- Doser noted her products are “cru- come by PVTA and paratransit buses. One student through to increase the amount of stack- ily,” said Doser. “We have tried to elty free” and made with the highest drives, and others walk. ing and functionality of pickup, Levesque focus on extending the stores that cur- grade essential oils, clays, butters, and The new space in Central Baptist includes a kitchen, said. There will also be a bypass lane to rently offer our products as well as other organic ingredients. two handicap-accessible bathrooms, a washer and drive around the stack. focus on our online presence.” “We believe natural products should dryer, storage area, an office/conference room, and a There will be access to the drive- Currently, Doser’s products are fea- be affordable but also have a heart big social room that is used for classes, a living room through from the plaza. Levesque said tured in the Greater Westfield area at behind them,” she said. “We are happy and dining area. they strategically located the ordering Pilgrim Candle, Westfield Feed, Elander said there is still more work to be done as kiosk for the second drive through to Choice Health, Camp K-9, Four See Artisans, Page 5 they settle in, including making new curtains for the big allow access to cars coming from the room. The church has a maintenance staff person, and plaza. There will also be access to pedes- the school department comes in every day to ionize the trians. classroom. The room has special cups to separate pen- The building will be located within an cils and pens that have been used from clean pencils area which currently provides surplus and pens, and students have their own baskets and bind- parking to the Shopping Center, and will ers. Everyone wears masks, except when eating, and eliminate 52 surplus parking spaces for maintains social distance. existing commercial uses. Levesque said The transition service connects with other agencies, 19 additional spaces will be developed as such as the Mass Development Disability Council, part of the proposed project, providing a which is working with the students on skills to become net loss of 33 parking spaces at 303 East an employee. The Stavos Center offers pre-employment Main St. He said there will still be a workplace readiness, and PVTA is giving a class on surplus of 32 spaces over what is travel training. During the visit, some students were required. working in the hall space, taking classes at Westfield There were some suggestions made at State University. There are also students enrolled at the Planning Board meeting on the loca- HCC, and others participating in an autism group tion of the entrance, which Levesque through Independence College. said he believed they could accommo- Students use Chromebooks everyday to send emails. date. He said he would bring changes Staff member Luis Burgos does a music enrichment back to the next meeting. The hearing class, and some students bring in their instruments to was continued to Dec. 15. play. They have made muffins and pizza in the kitchen, After the meeting, Levesque said the as well as the favorite “worms and dirt,” gummy worms applicant is looking to be operational fairly quickly, by the spring if they can See Transistion Services, Page 6 start quickly. He said there used to be another KFC on the other side of the plaza near Mainline Drive with a differ- ent franchisee, but that this one is in a Westfield’s Price Rite is participating in a campaign to feed the hungry this much better location for the restaurant. holiday season. (ISABEL MARCHESELLI PHOTO) Fighting hunger at the check-out counter By ISABEL MARCHESELLI Out Hunger fundraising campaign,” Correspondent said Jim Dorey, president of Price Rite WESTFIELD — This holiday sea- Marketplace. “Thank you to our gener- son, Price-Rite will kick-off its annual ous customers and associates whose fundraising campaign against hunger at support helps make a difference in the its check-out counters. lives of local families in need.” Shoppers will have the chance to Every year, Price-Rite donates donate at least $1, $3 or $5 at check- $500,000 to hunger-fighting charities. out toward this campaign to feed the Since 2002, it has raised millions of hungry. Monies collected will benefit dollars for 22 Feeding America food the Food Bank of Western banks in Massachusetts. In Westfield, Massachusetts among other charities, Price-Rite strives to make the donation such as the Worcester County Food process a smooth one for customers Bank. through giving opportunities available A new KFC restaurant is planned for “We are proud to be able to help at the self-checkout counter as well as the lot adjacent to D’Angelos on East fight food insecurity in our local com- A white board lists some of the projects for the week. Main Street. (HOPE E. TREMBLAY/THE munities through our annual Check See Fighting Hunger, Page 3 (AMY PORTER/THE WESTFIELD NEWS) WESTFIELD NEWS) PAGE 2 - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Rotary Holy Trinity hosts gift United Way of Southwick card fundraiser Pioneer Valley brings WESTFIELD - Holy Trinity Church, 335 Elm St.