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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 SATURDAY,TUESDAY, NOVEMBER JUNE 27, 2017 14, 2020 VOL. 75 cents 89 NO. 274 Some students Southwick has struggling, significant spike some thriving in new COVID say school adjustment infections counselors Westfield confirms 53 new cases this week Counselors discuss social, By PETER CURRIER emotional health of students Staff Writer SOUTHWICK — The Southwick Health Department By AMY PORTER Singing chambers were created at the Southwick Congregational reported 31 new confirmed COVID-19 cases this week, a Staff Writer Church because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Steve Pitoniak is seen on staggering increase in a town that has seen relatively little WESTFIELD – As students swim through a left; Mike Pitoniak is on the right, and Roberta Kowal, church organ- spread in the pandemic so far. sea of changes because of the pandemic, some ist and choir director, is seated on the pew. (TERRY PUTNAM PHOTO) The spike in the number of weekly cases brings the Town are rising above the waves while others are of Southwick to a pandemic case total of 131. Southwick barely wading through. Health Director Tammy Spencer was able to provide the School adjustment counselors Kristine Hupfer raw new case count but did not specify where or how the from Westfield Technical Academy, Kate Fahey Church flourishes spread is occurring in the town of about 10,000 people and from Franklin Avenue Elementary School, and was not available for comment at press time. Karl Michalik from Westfield Middle School According to last week’s report, Southwick had only recently gathered on Google Meet to talk about recorded four deaths due to COVID-19 throughout the how students are faring with all the changes due thanks to ‘ingenuity’ pandemic. The town reported just new cases last week, to the coronavirus. which was an increase from the weekly average, but not yet “I’ve seen a little of both. Some students have considered out of control. This week’s 31 new cases the surprised me in their resilience, some are thriv- of lay leaders largest weekly increase in cases Southwick since the begin- ing. They are here for shop, and home for aca- ning of the pandemic. demics on remote learning. Others are struggling By LORI SZEPELAK United Church of Christ, Putnam The Southwick Board of Health is next scheduled to immensely for a variety of reasons,” said Hupfer, Correspondent noted “we are autonomous.” meet remotely Nov. 19 at 6 p.m.. adding that freshmen who are new to the school SOUTHWICK — With the “A great deal of effort, ingenu- The City of Westfield reported 53 new confirmed cases are especially struggling with having to self Southwick Congregational ity, and engagement from the con- this week, bringing the pandemic total to 807 cases. There manage their schedules. Church, United Church of Christ gregation is required to sustain and were also five additional COVID-19 related deaths this Fahey said she works with students in kinder- on College Highway currently grow our church,” said Putnam. week, bringing the pandemic total for deaths to 69. There garten through grade four. “They’re young, so a without an interim minister, church “The COVID pandemic has truly were 95 cases in isolation when the Health Department lot of how they’re doing depends on how things moderator Terry Putnam and lay put our ingenuity and engagement reported the weekly numbers on Tuesday. are going at home; how it’s impacting people at leaders have stepped up to ensure to the test.” Westfield recorded fewer new cases this week than the home, whether parents are out of work, whether the congregation continues to Putnam said in “normal” times, previous week. Health Director Joseph Rouse said that this adults are talking to them about what is happen- flourish during the COVID-19 the role of the church moderator is is likely because the Westfield Gardens nursing home out- ing now,” she said. pandemic. to preside over monthly committee break has mostly subsided. He said, however, that most of Fahey said in school, some of the stress is “Local governance by its church meetings and leadership executive the five new deaths due to COVID-19 this week occurred from how separate students have to be. She said members is a distinguishing char- sessions, as well as the annual all- among residents of the nursing home. Westfield State University reported 58 new confirmed the focus on mask wearing and hand washing, is acteristic of the Congregational church meeting. cases among students this week, bringing the total number time taken up that would have been for learning Church,” said Putnam, adding, “Since the pandemic, I have of cases at the university to 113 since students returned to or socializing. “Recess is hard to understand. “Our membership accomplishes helped to coordinate our efforts to campus in late September. The campus is in a period of We’re trying to be as creative as possible,” she this through an annual church continue our ministry safely, first said. shelter-in-place until Nov. 19. It is unclear how the semes- meeting, our elected leaders, and offering services exclusively ter will move forward for students after the shelter-in-place Fahey said she goes to the Boys & Girls Club our various committees.” online via Facebook and YouTube, every Friday to see some of the kids that are is over. While church leaders regularly and now providing both in-person More information about the Westfield State COVID-19 doing remote learning at the club. “They are so seek guidance from the Southern happy to see us in person. The most outstanding New England Conference of the See Ingenuity, Page 2 feature since last spring is students are starting to See COVID Spike, Page 3 think about things they appreciate in school,” she said. Fahey did say the switch from last spring to this fall in the focus on academics is causing (Holiday Lights) Challenge accepted See Adjustment, Page 3 By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Editor WESTFIELD – Lights, Santa, Action! Westfield on Weekends’ is hosting a DecemberFest drive-thru Holiday Light Challenge that will get residents in the mood to light up their homes. WOW’s annual Holiday House Tour – where visitors walk-through decorated homes – cannot happen this year because of the ongo- ing pandemic. The Holiday Light Challenge comes on the heels of WOW’s successful PumpkinFest Haunted House Tour and is a way for residents to enjoy holiday decorations while socially distanced. “Knowing that the online map for the Scarecrow Trail and Haunted Houses tour was viewed by more than 23,000 people, we felt it made perfect sense to follow the same format for DecemberFest,” said Jason Polan, WOW event director. “Each decorated home will be denoted on an interactive map on the WOW website (westfieldonweekends.com.) that can be followed by families who wish to make the tour.” SUSAN DARGIE WPS director of curriculum and instruction. See Challenge, Page 3 Current Whip City Fiber Customers Neighbor Hey, how do you like Get $25 credit when you refer Whip City Fiber? a friend for gigabit internet It’s AMAZING!! PLUS, YOUR FRIEND WILL GET THEIR FIRST MONTH FREE whipcityfiber.com/promo/referral | 413-485-1251 PAGE 2 - SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2020 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Ingenuity Continued from Page 1 and online services,” said Putnam. weekly in-person worship services complete said Putnam. “We are providing music at each Keeping in touch with members who remain with live music from soloists, duos, and musi- service but are limiting it to musicians only, sheltered in place at home have also been a cians,” said Putnam. “This would not have soloists, or duets and have developed ‘singing top priority for Putnam, and leadership group been possible without the tremendous efforts chambers’ for the soloists and duets to protect members have made telephone calls, sent of our leadership team.” the organist and congregation.” cards, and made socially distant visits. Leadership team members include Melanie Putnam noted that the church remains finan- “Our leadership group and I have met virtu- and Eric Nitsch, Patti Wood, Kristy Johnston, cially stable since “donations have continued ally throughout the pandemic and continue to Bob Franzen, Karen Brzezinski, Patty Banasik, during the pandemic.” tweak the services we provide our members to Roxanne Cook, Ted Orson and Joe and Donna For Putnam and the leadership group, one ensure that we are meeting their needs in the Sullivan. Additionally, Putnam noted that dea- of the more challenging aspects they have safest manner possible,” said Putnam. cons Patty Banasik, Flo Pitoniak, Dawn experienced during the pandemic is “provid- The leadership group includes the chairs of Turgeon and Lee Zinnack have also been an ing weekly worship in a format that meets the the deacons, finance committee, Christian integral part of the process, as well as greeters needs of our congregation and maintains a education, missions and outreach, music, who include Robin Sklarski and Jim Putnam, ‘connection’ with members who remain shel- building and grounds, pastoral relations, and speakers including Kirsten Allhusen, Flo tered in place.” memorial gifts. Pitoniak, Patti Wood, and Bob Bates, and Now as the holiday season fast approaches, Presently, in-person and recorded services musicians and singers including Roberta Putnam and the lay leaders are making plans followed by online Zoom coffee hours are Kowal, Eric Nitsch, Bob Franzen, and Mike in accordance with protocols that will keep offered each Sunday.