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, FEBRUARY 15, 2020 VOL. 89 NO. 040 State senator tours Peerless Precision to highlight state investments in manufacturing By PETER CURRIER Carlson, who spoke with Kirk facturing companies in in 2016 to help local manu- Staff Writer and Lesser about the impor- Billerica and Wilmington. facturers to adopt new inno- WESTFIELD — State Sen. tance of Westfield to certain The organizations received a vative technologies and to Eric Lesser, D-1st Hampshire manufacturing-based indus- grant of $928,400 in January help better guide and Hampden, and tries. 2019 from the Massachusetts Massachusetts’ investment in Massachusetts Technology “Westfield is a manufactur- Manufacturing Innovation the national Manufacturing Collaborative Executive ing town. It always has been Institute. USA program. The nearly $1 Director Carolyn Kirk toured and always will be,” said The project is an effort to million grant to the Peerless the Peerless Precision facility Lesser, who is the co-chair of develop printed electronics Precision collaboration is part Feb. 14. The tour highlighted the state legislature’s manu- that can be specially designed of more than $100 million in a project by the Westfield facturing caucus. to fit on the rounded nose funding to support similar company to manufacture The project that was high- cones of aircraft and other projects across the state. Thus printed flexible-hybrid elec- lighted during the tour is a components that would be far, the Institute has invested Kristin Carlson (left, speaking) explains different parts that tronics. collaboration between otherwise difficult to design more than $60 million in are manufactured by Peerless Precision to State-Sen. Eric The tour was led by Peerless Peerless Precision, UMass electronics around. Lesser (right) during a tour of the Westfield business Feb. 14, 2020. (PETER CURRIER PHOTO) Precision President Kristin Lowell and two small manu- The Institute was launched See State Senator, Page 5 SOUTHWICK Second teacher receives teaching excellence award By HOPE but said she particularly enjoys Carrier said. E. TREMBLAY science. Naumowicz is a devoted Assistant Managing Editor “I enjoy seeing the students teacher who Carrier said evokes SOUTHWICK – Powder explore and be curious”, she smiles from everyone in the Mill School was bustling Feb. said. building. 14 as the Southwick Regional Naumowicz said when the “She really brings joy to School marching band paraded band marched into the gym, everything she does,” she said. through the school into the she took it in stride, thinking “She cares more about kids than gymnasium to the surprise of someone else was being feted. almost any teacher I’ve met in fifth grade teacher Shannon “I didn’t think this was for my 25 years in education.” Naumowicz. me,” she said. Carrier said Naumowicz is Naumowicz was selected a Principal Erin Carrier said the kind of teacher students 2020 Grinspoon Foundation Naumowicz deserves the remember their entire lives. Powder Mill School fifth grade teacher Shannon Naumowicz is flanked by Assistant Principal Pioneer Valley Excellence in honor. “I’m willing to bet every Cherie Curran and Principal Erin Carrier, as well as students, Feb. 14, 2020 when she was Teaching Award recipient. “Her deep caring and dedica- student who has had her as a surprised with a Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Award. (HOPE E. TREMBLAY/THE Naumowicz teaches English tion for her students is the big- WESTFIELD NEWS) language arts, science and math, gest quality I see in her,” See Teacher Award, Page 5 Westfield Tech nursing assistant class honored By AMY PORTER ing the students’ certificates, the Arbors of Westfield, said Staff Writer but their “goodness, compas- she remembered them com- WESTFIELD – Seven sion, decency and human ing in as freshmen learning to Westfield Technical Academy warmth that the world is in relax and play games with the Allied Health seniors marked such desperate need of.” seniors with memory loss and their certifications as Certified Senior Savannah Shay physical impairment, and to Nursing Assistants in a mov- spoke for her classmates, say- listen to them. “You are all ing ceremony that included ing she was honored to be caregivers at heart,” Argenio candle lighting and the recita- with the six of them. She said. tion of the CNA Pledge on reflected on the 80 to 90 Before presenting the Feb. 14. hours the students put in at seniors with their pins, Recognized for their clinical sites, admitting they Baillargeon gave a rundown achievements in becoming were “absolutely terrified” at of each of their accomplish- Certified Nursing Assistants, first, and then grateful for the ments. Class of 2020 were Morgan care they were able to give. Danek is a two-year mem- Danek, Ashley Hall, Shay also recognized the ber of the National Technical Samantha Hockenberry, Allied Health teachers Honor Society and is Chrystal Lin, Julie Heather Potito, Jacqueline employed as a Resident Care McCorkindale, Jordyn Barcomb and head teacher Aide through the Arbors of Sanders and Savannah Shay. Maureen Baillargeon, pre- Westfield in the memory care In his welcome remarks, senting each with a bouquet unit. She received a silver Westfield Tech Principal of flowers from the students. medal as part of the Health Joseph Langone said the Keynote speaker Mary Knowledge Bowl Team at the school was not just recogniz- Argenio, activities director at SkillsUSA District (L-R) Savannah Shay waits as Julie McCorkindale and Samantha Hockenberry pass the flame. (AMY PORTER/THE WESTFIELD NEWS) Competition, also run by accepted into Bay Path junior at the district competi- Baillargeon; and placed sev- University in Forensic tion, and a bronze medal in enth in the state competition. Psychology. the state competition in her Danek is participating in dual Hockenberry, a two-year junior year. She is participat- enrollment at Westfield State member of the Honor Society, ing in dual enrollment at University and Holyoke is currently interning with Holyoke Community College, Community College, and has Osowski’s Family Dental. Springfield Technical been accepted at Anna Maria She participates in the dual Community College, College to become a crime enrollment opportunities at American International scene analyst, toward her WEstfield State University, College and Westfield State. goal of becoming a coroner. Holyoke College and After graduation, Lin plans to Hall, a two-year member of Springfield Technical go to college and major in the Honor Society, completed Community College which biology, with the goal of an internship with Baystate she plans to attend to com- becoming a surgeon. Noble in the Emergency plete her certification in McCorkindale has an Dept. She is also a member of Dental Assisting, toward her internship at Fort Meadow the Skills USA Health goal of a career in dentistry. Early Childhood Center. She Knowledge Bowl Team Lin, a two-year member of also competed on the which received the silver the Honor Society, is working SkillsUSA Health Knowledge medal. She is participating in as a CNA at Westfield Bowl Team at the district and dual enrollment at WSU, and Gardens. She has been a state competitions, and plans Allied Health teacher Jacqueline Barcomb, Maureen Baillargeon, Heather Potito, and key- is currently taking part in the SkillsUSA member since her to compete again this March. note speaker Mary Argenio, Activity Director at Arbors of Westfield. (AMY PORTER/THE EKG technician program at sophomore year, winning a WESTFIELD NEWS) Westfield Tech. Hall has been gold as a sophomore and See Nursing, Page 3 PAGE 2 - SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2020 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Seeking speaking skills? Toastmasters has the answer By LORI SZEPELAK inspire ‘Ideas Worth Correspondent Spreading,’” she said, adding, WESTFIELD — Erica “I feel comfortable in front of Mulinare will be among the a classroom. However, stand- members of the Prospeakers ing in front of an audience to Toastmasters Club of give a speech feels different Westfield welcoming area than in a classroom environ- residents during an open ment.” house on Feb. 20 in the Lang Mulinare added there are Auditorium of the Westfield many “components” to give a Athenaeum. speech and she felt drawn to Club president John Toastmasters to learn the best Michaliszyn will open the practices of writing and deliv- meeting with the Toastmasters ering an impactful speech. mission statement after a brief “I joined Toastmasters to meet-and-greet reception. The hone my speaking skills,” said free event is planned from Mulinare. “In the year I have 5:30 to 7:15 p.m. been a member, I feel as if I Members and guests will have improved my core com- participate in a regular munication skills.” Toastmasters meeting that Mulinare said the meetings includes prepared speeches, have also taught her to learn evaluations, and “Table control over her pace when Topics” which are impromptu speaking since she is a “fast speeches, according to talker.” Mulinare. “I have decreased my use of “Prospeakers currently has filler words, such as um and 10 members,” said Mulinare, uh,” said Mulinare. “My last who serves as the club’s vice prepared speech had zero fill- president, public relations. er words and I am proud of “We are looking to grow our that.” club and we always welcome Mulinare added she has Erica Mulinare, vice president, public relations, for the Prospeakers Toastmasters Club of Westfield, receives a certificate of new members.” learned how to structure a completion for Pathways Level 2, from John Michaliszyn, president, and Danny Rebelo, Vice President, education. (Prospeakers Mulinare, of Southwick, speech so her opening “grabs Toastmasters Club of Westfield photo) joined the club last March audience attention” – not only because one of her goals is to because of what she is saying purposes,” said Mulinare.