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 FRIDAY,TUESDAY, FEBRUARY JUNE 27, 20175, 2021 VOL.75 cents 90 NO. 30 School COVID notifications up to individual districts By HOPE E. TREMBLAY the school year we were told we cases in my child’s school.” Editor should be reporting COVID cases to Willard said contact tracing is WESTFIELD/SOUTHWICK – families.” performed for every positive case in With students returning to school in Whenever anyone within the dis- partnership with the town’s health person, reporting COVID numbers trict – student or staff – tests posi- officials. is becoming even more important in tive, all district families and staff are In Westfield, Superintendent schools. notified via an emailed letter after Stefan Czaporowski said families How that data is shared with the any close contacts are notified. and staff are alerted to positive cases school community and general pub- Willard said while the district can- within specific schools, but not dis- lic, however, is up to each district. not provide specifics of the infected trict-wide. The Department of Elementary person, it can share which building Southwick-Tolland-Granville and Secondary Education (DESE) the person works or attends school Regional School Superintendent issued reopening guidelines for in and if the person was remote or “While we have students in ses- schools across the Commonwealth inside a building while positive. sion, we notify close contacts with a last summer, but its guidelines for Willard said STGRSD goes a step personal phone call and then send notification of positive cases is near- STEFAN JENNIFER further and posts weekly COVID out a follow-up letter,” Czaporowski ly nonexistent. CZAPOROWSKI C. WILLARD updates on its website, including the said. “We only notify community “Districts are required to report and whether districts notify their reports out to the public and district number of positive tests, negative members of a specific building that positive cases to us if the individual school community, including fami- families as cases are known. tests and numbers of people in quar- there was a positive case and that was inside a school building within lies, is up to the district.” “I meet with the Southwick Board antine. they would have received a phone seven days of testing positive,” said At Southwick-Tolland-Granville of Health, public health nurse and “I’m a believer in transparency, call if they had been considered a DESE Media Relations Coordinator Regional School District, district lead nurse every week,” especially during COVID,” she said. Jacqueline Reis on Feb. 3. “How Superintendent Jennifer C. Willard Willard said. “At the beginning of “As a parent, I want to know about See Notifications, Page 3 Commission Orange Street fire grants first displaces 12 people By PETER CURRIER fortune teller Staff Writer WESTFIELD — Firefighters responded to a two-family home at 56 Orange St. early Thursday morning after multiple license callers reported a structure fire. By AMY PORTER Deputy Fire Chief Benjamin Warren said Thursday that 12 Staff Writer people were safely evacuated from the home and no injuries WESTFIELD — On Feb. 3, the were reported among civilians or firefighters. Firefighters were License Commission issued a fortune called to the house just before 1:30 a.m. Feb. 4 for an attic fire. teller license, its first, to Brandy Latshaw Warren said the fire was knocked down within 30 minutes of of Granville Road who has an online their arrival. psychic and tarot reading business under Westfield Athenaeum librarians deliver a variety of materials to city In addition to the 12 residents, Warren said a number of pet the name of Jasmeine Moonsong. patrons unable to travel to the library. (SUBMITTED PHOTO) birds and lizards were also saved from the structure fire. “I think it’s cool that I was the first to Westfield’s Animal Control responded and transported the ani- get a fortune teller license,” Latshaw mals to the Westfield Regional Animal Shelter. said, adding that when she went to apply, The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, but office manager Kimberly Sienkiewicz Athenaeum reaches out Warren said it is not considered to be suspicious. found the old license on the books for fortune telling. The license cost $2, “because it’s so old,” Latshaw said, with deliveries for those thanking Sienkiewicz for helping her. “She’s great. I’m so grateful to her.” Sienkiewicz said when they received who are homebound an inquiry about a fortune teller license, she spoke to the Law Department and By LORI SZEPELAK one’s order will arrive. learned that the City of Westfield does Correspondent “You can leave anything you are indeed license fortune tellers and it is WESTFIELD — Becky ready to return in your delivery spot under the authority of the Westfield Blackburn, public services librarian and the librarian will return it for License Commission. at the Westfield Athenaeum, reminds you,” said Blackburn, adding it is a city patrons that outreach services no-contact service. “If you would See License, Page 3 are offered free for persons unable to like to keep an item until the next travel to the library. month it will be renewed.” “Whether you are recovering from Blackburn noted that patrons will surgery, lack transportation or some not be charged overdue fines as a other reason, we will bring books, homebound patron, however, lost or movies, music, and magazines to damaged items will be charged to you,” said Blackburn. the patron. A fire broke out at 56 Orange St. in the early morning of Feb. Blackburn said the process for For city residents who do not have 4, 2021. (HOPE E. TREMBLAY/THE WESTFIELD NEWS) ordering library items is simple – a library card, the outreach librarian start by calling the outreach librarian will fill out the application during at (413) 568-7833, ext. 111. the initial conversation and bring a “They will talk to you about what new card to one’s first delivery. Westfield has third you like to read, or watch or listen to There is no fee to receive a library (or all three) to determine what and card. how much to bring you every “Patrons can request books, audio- straight week of falling month,” said Blackburn, adding that books, magazines, music CDs and deliveries can be made once a DVDs,” said Blackburn, adding, month. “You are welcome to receive deliv- COVID case counts “You can work with the librarian eries as long as you need or want By PETER CURRIER Brandy Latshaw of Westfield, who does to personalize your order, we can get them.” Staff Writer psychic and tarot readings online as almost anything for you,” she said. For more information on all of the WESTFIELD- The Health Department reported 101 new Jasmeine Moonsong. (PHOTO On delivery day, patrons receive a Athenaeum’s offerings, visit wes- COVID-19 cases in Westfield to bring the pandemic total to SUBMITTED) call noting a one-hour window that tath.org. 2,347. The 101 new cases marks the third straight week that numbers have fallen, after a pandemic-peak of 247 cases in one week in January Science and Engineering Fair goes virtual in the wake of Christmas and New By Amy Porter This year, students will be submitting five-minute videos, Year’s gatherings. Staff Writer which will initially be judged inhouse, Figy said, adding The Health Department also WESTFIELD – As with almost everything these days, the that after the initial judging, those students moving on to reported that 160 people were in annual science and engineering fair at Westfield High regionals will get feedback from interested industry part- isolation with active cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday, Feb. School, which is scheduled for Feb. 9, will be different. ners in town. Regionals will take place over the week of 3. “It’s very different this year. We are embracing the curve March 12, and are being run by Smith College again this Three additional COVID-19-related deaths were also report- ball of COVID. What we are doing is a virtual fair,” said year. The award ceremony for regionals is March 20. ed, bringing Westfield’s pandemic total for deaths to 95. Science, Technology and Engineering Supervisor Lauren Currently, there are 161 students registered to participate The lowering case counts come just days after the opening of Figy. from Westfield HIgh School and Westfield Technical the first major mass vaccination site in the area. The Eastfield She said normally, students would be exhibiting their Academy. While there are some freshmen participating, the Mall in Springfield, in addition to being a mass COVID-19 projects in the gymnasium, and the school would have over fair was geared to tenth through twelfth graders this year, testing site, now also has a mass vaccination site in one of its 100 judges, many from the community, interviewing the vacant department stores. The site opened on Feb. 1. students and scoring the projects. See Science and Engineering Fair, Page 3 People aged 75 and older are now eligible for the vaccine in Massachusetts. Have you been thinking about switching to WCF but still have questions? ONLINE WORKSHOP Join us for a review of the basics and streaming with plenty of time for Q&A! SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6 9-10:30 AM JOIN US ONLINE HERE: bit.ly/wcfworkshop whipcityfiber.com | 413-485-1251 PAGE 2 - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2021 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Pictured are Alan Ardito, Trail member and honor guard officer of the Agawam Veteran's Cementery, Mark Fedora, co-chaIrman, Eric Forish, president of Forish Construction, Brandon S.