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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 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents $1.00 SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020 VOL. 89 NO. 062 City officials host emergency meeting on virus procedures By AMY PORTER School Chief Financial Officer Humason said as of Friday after- before,” he said. “Even with SARS Staff Writer Ronald R. Rix, City Solicitor Susan noon, municipal meetings would and H1N1 there was no talk of can- WESTFIELD – City Council Phillips, Police Chief Lawrence still go on as scheduled. celing events or school.” President Brent B. Bean, II called Valliere and his staff, Fire Chief “It’s business as usual, but we’re Humason noted that the precau- together a meeting of city leaders at Patrick Egloff and Personnel following CDC guidelines for hand- tions could not only slow the spread City Hall March 13 to discuss efforts Director Dennis Miles were among washing, keeping social distance if of COVID-19, but also the common being taken in Westfield to slow the those in attendance at the meeting. people want to do that, and other cold and flu. spread of COVID-19. Humason said he wants residents practices,” said Humason. The city is planning to host a Bean said Mayor Donald F. to know city leaders encourage resi- Humason said the 24 people press conference early next week Humason Jr., state Rep. John C. dents to be prepared, but not to around the table at City Hall Friday announcing plans going forward, Velis, Board of Health Director panic. agreed this was unprecedented in once Humason has spoken to all the Joseph Rouse and his staff, District “Do not be afraid,” he urged resi- their lifetimes. Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, WESTFIELD CITY HALL dents. “Take precautions.” “We have not been through this See Virus Proceedures, Page 3 Southwick Regional district closed STEFAN CZAPOROWSK Westfield Public Schools Superintendent through March 29 Mealtime at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield will become “Grab & Go” for city Westfield Learning resources students during the Club and school shut-down due to the spread of COVID-19. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS FILE PHOTO) will be issued Schools By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Editor Boys & Girls Club to offer meals SOUTHWICK – Southwick-Tolland- Granville Regional School District will closed for be closed March 16-29 to slow the to city students starting March 17 spread of COVID-19. By HOPE E. TREMBLAY free breakfast and lunch. We “We will be at Westfield Superintendent Jennifer C. Willard Editor will do a late afternoon Grab Middle School,” he said. “The two weeks sent a letter to parents Friday afternoon, WESTFIELD – The Boys & & Go cold meal for all stu- food will be prepared in the stating “after many discussions with Girls Club of Greater Westfield dents.” middle school kitchen.” By AMY PORTER state and local public health officials, will provide cold dinners for The meal will consist of a Residents will drive up, be Staff Writer emergency management officials, and city students for two weeks sandwich, fruit/vegetable, handed a meal in a bag, and WESTFIELD – Westfield Public local superintendents, the Southwick- starting March 17 and will milk and snack, Sullivan said, drive away. Sullivan said there Schools Superintendent Stefan Tolland-Granville Regional School shut down all other operations which meets the Early will be people directing traf- Czaporowski announced at the end of District is making the decision to close March 16-27. Education Care guidelines. fic. the day March 13 that Westfield schools beginning March 16, 2020 Club Chief Advancement The EEC provides funding for At press time, the details Public Schools will close March through March 29, 2020.” Officer Bo Sullivan said the Club meal program. were still being hammered out 16-27. Willard said the decision was not Friday that when they learned “This will be similar to our and a time for pick-up was not “We’ll revisit the situation on because of any affected individuals. schools would be closed due summer food program,” established. Sullivan said it March 27, to determine if we’re ready “I want to stress that this closure is to the threat of spreading Sullivan said. would be “late afternoon” and to open March 30,” Czaporowski not in response to any immediate health COVID-19, they stepped up. What will be different is the he would provide The said. concern but is a deliberate and proac- “The school department distribution. In the summer, Westfield News with times The closure was not something the tive step with the goal of working will feed students at Abner meals are provided at various once they were set. Information superintendent and his team took together to prevent the spread and Gibbs and Franklin Avenue locations throughout the city. will also be on the Club web- lightly. reduce the number of people who may schools either breakfast or Starting Tuesday, the Club site, bgcwestfield.org. “We had no choice. We had so become infected in our area,” she lunch,” said Sullivan. “Those will have a drive-thru style many staff members affected by clo- wrote. schools meet the eligibility for service. See Meals, Page 2 sures in other districts whose kids During that time, Willard said she were home; and so many students will be providing updates to district out,” Czaporowski said. families, staff and the greater commu- He said he made the determination nity through the district website, after speaking to the state and local Facebook and Instagram accounts and Department of Health, the Department automated notification system. Baystate Noble nurses petition for of Elementary and Secondary Students at Powder Mill School were Education, Westfield School given instructions Friday that, in case transparency, full-service and full staffing Committee Vice-Chair Timothy schools closed, students should read 60 By HOPE E. TREMBLAY See Westfield, Page 5 See Southwick, Page 5 Editor WESTFIELD – Baystate Noble Hospital nurses are demanding public transparency regarding changes that have taken place – and those that Purse Bingo event to could be coming – at the hospi- tal. Baystate Noble registered nurses Dennise Colson and Paul support ‘Mom Prom’ Dubin presented a petition March 11 to Baystate Noble By LORI SZEPELAK President Ron Bryant calling for Correspondent a public meeting. The petition WESTFIELD — Esther Lassard is was signed by 95 percent of the the epitome of a cancer warrior. 108-member Baystate Noble Lassard, in her early 80’s, has sur- bargaining unit of the vived – and thrived – for more than 20 Massachusetts Nurses years after that initial diagnosis. Association Bargaining “A little spot on a mammogram was Committee. the first sign and after surgery and radi- Dubin, who has been a nurse Baystate Noble Hospital nurses Paul Dubin and Dennise Colson ation, I have been cancer free,” said at Noble for 32 years, said there carry a petition to hospital President Ron Bryant calling for a have been “remarkable” chang- Lassard, who was among the more than public meeting to discuss the future of the hospital. (HOPE E. es in the past six months, includ- 40 women last fall who were treated to TREMBLAY/THE WESTFIELD NEWS) the Western Mass. Mom Prom. “My ing layoffs that resulted in a kids talked me into buying a really reduction of nurses in Westfield, Dubin said. “We hear rumors,” said fancy glittery dress which was pretty a concern as COVID-19 spreads. Colson is a surgical nurse who Colson. stylish for me.” “We have seen a decrease in said surgery is no longer per- Baystate Health President & Lassard, of Westfield, said being services in general, our Intensive formed at Baystate Noble on CEO Mark A. Keroack addressed treated to a night out as a “warrior” was Care Unit closed, our Fowler Fridays. She and Dubin said the their concerns in a written state- “special.” Unit psychiatric department community needs to know about ment. “The night was so much fun,” said Amber Gibbs, on left, was nominated could be closing in the next two the changes and added that not “We have made and continue by her aunt, Kathy Boyd, to attend the years, they combined units and all staff have been informed of See Mom Prom, Page 2 Western Mass Mom Prom last fall. they cut out a day of surgery,” what’s coming. See Petition, Page 5 PAGE 2 - SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2020 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Mom Prom Continued from Page 1 Lassard, adding, “I enjoyed direct sales vendors will also Board member April every moment.” be present including Pure Lassard echoed those senti- Each fall, the women Haven. ments. behind the nonprofit Western Dina McMahon from 94.7 “I love co-hosting the Mass. Mom Prom host a WMAS will be the emcee for events, hearing the laughter “ladies night out” to support the evening with bingo games and knowing that we are not cancer survivors and warriors. starting promptly at 7. There only raising money to help On Oct. 3, net proceeds from are 10+ designer handbags up against the fight against can- the seventh annual Ladies for grabs this spring. cer but are giving some awe- Only – Prom with a “Grease” Tickets are $30 for general some ladies a well-deserved theme at the Tekoa Country admission, or $38 that night out with friends, some Club will be donated to the includes a cup of chicken noo- old and some new, and fami- American Cancer Society and dle soup, full turkey or ham ly,” said Lassard, adding, the Cancer House of Hope.

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