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 WEDNESDAY,TUESDAY, JANUARYJUNE 27, 2017 27, 2021 VOL.75 cents 90 NO. 22 Police search for missing Westfield man By PETER CURRIER then. They said he may be in dan- Jeep Wrangler with the license in and mention that he is consid- Staff Writer ger and in need of medical assis- plate 9MW458 and he is believed ered to be missing and in danger. WESTFIELD — The Westfield tance. to have taken his vehicle with him. Afterwards, call the non-emergen- Police Department is seeking the “Stephen resides in Westfield but The Jeep is believed to have minor cy line for the Westfield Police public’s help in finding Westfield has been known to visit Norwalk, driver’s side damage to the rear Department at 413-562-5411. man Stephen Champiney. CT,” said the Westfield Detective bumper as well as a loose fender If anyone has information on the Police said Monday that Bureau in a Facebook post. flair on the front drivers side. whereabouts of Champiney they Champiney was last seen by his Police believe Champiney could If anyone sees Champiney or his should contact Det. Rick Mazza at family on Jan. 15 and that he has also be in Chicopee, Holyoke, or vehicle, call the police department [email protected] or STEPHEN CHAMPINEY not been heard from or seen since Springfield. He drives a gray 2015 in whatever jurisdiction he is found 413-642-9390. (WESTFIELD DETECTIVE BUREAU PHOTO) Westfield Taxpayers Humason, Association elects Velis and Pease new president By AMY PORTER Staff Writer discuss city WESTFIELD — Westfield native Lisa Okscin, who was elected 2021 president of the Westfield Taxpayers Association (WTPA) ear- priorities lier this month, recently spoke with The Westfield News about the activities of the citi- By HOPE E. TREMBLAY zen group whose mission is to bring about Editor more accountable, effective and efficient gov- WESTFIELD – Mayor Donald F. Humason ernment in the city. Jr. state Sen. John C. Velis and state Rep. Kelly Okscin, a founding member of the WTPA, is Pease met this week to talk budgets, COVID a contracts manager for Greater Springfield and more. Senior Services, where she oversees contracted “It’s the start of a new year, a new legislative providers who send home care aides to elderly session, and my second year as Mayor of consumers’ homes. She has a master’s in Westfield,” Humason said. “I wanted to start the accounting, with a concentration in forensic year off right by inviting our state officials to accounting and fraud investigation from my office at City Hall to brief the delegation on Western New England University. important city matters and discuss state issues Since forming in 2020, the WTPA has hosted impacting Westfield.” two state representative candidate forums to According to Humason, the three leaders dis- educate voters on candidate options. They cussed their priorities for Westfield, including started a petition initiative to request the city to city and state budget, the budget process, dedicate meals tax, hotel tax and 25 percent of Kat Good-Schiff, reference and local his- Gretchen Hohmeyer, digital services COVID testing and vaccine distribution, the the marijuana tax to the Road and Sidewalk tory librarian at the Westfield Athenaeum, librarian at the Westfield Athenaeum, governor’s State of the Commonwealth Address, Stabilization Fund. Okscin said the stabiliza- recommends reading “Homegoing.” suggests reading “Between the the new elementary school, various constituent tion fund was established by the Westfield City (SUBMITTED PHOTO) World and Me.” (SUBMITTED PHOTO) group issues and more. Council in 2019 but never funded, adding that “I felt it was important for us to be on the due to covid-19 restrictions and business shut- same page. I’d met with Governor Baker’s staff downs, the meals and hotel taxes did not play a few weeks ago to do the same thing,” said an important role in the FY21 budget. Librarians plan Black History Humason. “There’s value in communication and Okscin encouraged registered voters to go to collaboration. AskWestfield.com to learn more about the peti- tions. “We are looking to get enough signatures Month virtual events See City Priorities, Page 5 to get the petition questions on the next election By LORI SZEPELAK and one who is kidnapped and enslaved ballot,” she said. Correspondent in the United States,” said Good-Schiff. WESTFIELD — Westfield “It is a powerful history lesson that’s See WTPA, Page 3 Athenaeum staffers are gearing up for also touching and beautifully written.” Black History Month with challenges, Gretchen Hohmeyer, digital services virtual displays, and a host of recom- librarian, recommends reading mended reads by African American “Between the World and Me” by authors. Ta-Nehisi Coates. Since 1976, every U.S. president has “I listened to ‘Between the World and officially designated the month of Me’ on audio, and it was an incredibly February as Black History Month, moving experience,” said Hohmeyer. according to the History Channel. The “Coates wrote this book ostensibly for annual celebration marks the achieve- his son, and the experience he will have ments of African Americans and recog- growing up as an African American nizes their central role in this country’s male in this country. It is at once reflec- history. tive, sad, and inspiring. While there is The Westfield News asked several no wrong way to read this book, listen- librarians at the Westfield Athenaeum to ing to Coates himself speak the moving share their ideas on books to read – and words he has written for his child makes the selections are varied from personal the book even more powerful.” experience to fictional tales of fantasy. Hohmeyer added the book is a “quick Kat Good-Schiff, reference and local and yet necessary read.” history librarian, said her choice is Olivia Eberli, head of youth services “Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi. and young adult librarian, has two rec- “Similar in scope to Alex Haley’s ommendations for young adult books – State Rep. Kelly Pease, Mayor Donald F. ‘Roots,’ Homegoing traces the lives and “Children of Blood and Bone” by Toni Humason Jr. and state Sen. John C. Velis met Lisa Okscin, president of the Westfield descendants of two sisters over 300 Jan. 25 to discuss budgets, COVID and more. Taxpayers Association. (SUBMITTED PHOTO) years, one who grows up in west Africa See Athenaeum Events, Page 3 (DONALD F. HUMASON JR PHOTO) Schools, businesses work together despite COVID limitations By AMY PORTER aviation. The students met Airport can do a virtual field trip. The muse- get paid internships to work on job Staff Writer Manager Chris Willendor and heard um has also provided tickets to each readiness skills. WESTFIELD — The Westfield how he got involved in aviation; of the students to visit in person. WTA Career Technical educator Education to Business Alliance took a virtual tour of a flight simula- Jonah Badiab of the MassHIre Peter Taloumis said the cooperative (WE2BA) met virtually in the early tor, and “walked” over with Career Center in Westfield High education program at WTA is doing morning on Jan. 26 with several Gutowski to Hangar 2 to meet with School said they are continuing to well, with 45 seniors out on co-ops dozen Westfield educators and busi- Galen Wilson and the Westfield offer resume and job search services in local businesses, and five on ness leaders to discuss ways to con- Tech aviation students. to students. He said he is also coor- internships. He said another four or tinue working together to provide Gutowski said he received thank dinating with military partners to five are ready to go out on place- opportunities for Westfield students you emails from each of the stu- help students take the ASVAB exam. ments. despite COVID limitations. dents. Next week, he will be doing There are paid teaching intern- One COVID-related opportunity English Language Supervisor another virtual tour with the 250 ships, funded by the Department of came along through Baystate Health Mary Keane spoke about several sixth graders who didn’t attend the Elementary and Secondary with students assisting from home Adopt a Classroom projects that first one. He said one advantage of a Education available for students on telemedicine work, Taloumis were done as virtual tours, giving virtual tour is “there was no way we who have demonstrated an interest said. students the opportunity to enter could have 250 kids go through the in teaching at two of the elementary Superintendent Stefan areas they would not have been able airport and hangar.” grade students and their teacher schools in town, Badiab said. Czaporowski said that COVID clo- to access in person. Science and Technology Megan Hysler will spend one ses- Badiab said the Career Center is sures are limiting opportunities Wright Flight president Mike Supervisor Lauren Figy talked about sion virtually touring the space starting to look for summer intern- somewhat, but the district is inter- Gutowski said his experience with another upcoming Adopt a exhibit at the museum and the next ships in Westfield, and asked busi- ested in working with any business remote sixth grade classes virtually Classroom partnership with the building their own straw rockets nesses who may be interested to who would like to work with their touring Barnes Airport was a great Amelia Park Children’s Museum. with materials provided by the contact him. In a collaboration with students, and said any businesses opportunity and demonstrated to Remote Franklin Avenue and museum.