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 MONDAY,TUESDAY, APRIL JUNE 27, 19, 2017 2021 VOL.75 cents 90 NO. 91 Superintendent asks city to restore critical positions with $2.3M increase By AMY PORTER uled for May 4 to review the budget home, particularly given the COVID expanding learning options and Staff Writer line by line. pandemic. “A lot of students are increasing the number of learning WESTFIELD – Superintendent Czaporowski said the FY22 bud- coming in with high needs, and we experiences that are rigorous and Stefan Czaporowski and his admin- get is the start of a new three-year want to meet those needs,” he said. relevant. istrative team presented an FY22 plan for the district. He said there Included in the budget is an New and restored positions budget overview to the School are three main strategic objectives in increase in social emotional support include restoring an English lan- Committee at a special meeting on the new plan, the first of which is for students and strengthening of guage coach and assistant elemen- April 15. The district is asking for a strengthening the school environ- academic supports to address skills tary principal, and adding four full- $2.3 million increase from the city ment and culture that celebrates gaps. Czaporowski said the district time specialist positions, a full-time to restore critical positions and diversity and responds to the social has been hearing this as a need from English as a Second Language building-based cuts that were made emotional experience of every stu- the state department of education teacher split between Highland and STEFAN CZAPOROWSKI last year. dent and family. and from all districts everywhere. Westfield Public Schools Another special meeting is sched- Czaporowski said this goal hits The other strategic goals include See School Budget, Page 5 Superintendent Westfield Pride Homebound vaccine Alliance seeks program stalled public input after J&J pause By LORI SZEPELAK By PETER CURRIER Correspondent Staff Writer WESTFIELD — Organizers of the SOUTHWICK- The Board of Health and Council on Westfield Pride Alliance are welcom- Aging’s Homebound Vaccine Program efforts were ing area residents to attend a general stalled at the last minute last week after the FDA and interest Zoom meeting on April 28. CDC recommended a nationwide pause on the use of the Persons interested in participating Johnson and Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine. in the 6:30 p.m. meeting are asked to A convoy of police cruisers, firetrucks, and ambulances drove past Baystate Health Director Tammy Spencer said that the recom- register through the link – https:// Noble Hospital while blaring their sirens to give thanks to those on the front mendation came one minute after she had gone to the forms.gle/v28Uxp7D7KzT4HVJ8 lines of the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020. (PETER CURRIER PHOTO) Commonwealth Clinic to pick up 50 doses of the J&J “Pride means so many things to so vaccine for the homebound program. many people regarding their lives, The CDC and FDA recommended the pause, which has jobs, families and relationships,” said since been adopted by all 50 U.S. states, after at least six Kathi Bradford, one of four commu- Baystate Noble president cases were discovered in which women developed blood nity members who met to raise the clots within weeks of receiving the single-dose vaccine. Progress Pride flag at City Hall last All of the women were between the ages of 18 and 48. June. “Support of and by our says there is a ‘strong The six cases of blood clots were reported out of more LBGTQIA+ community and the many than six million people who have received the J&J vac- allies here in Westfield supports the cine in the U.S. so far, though officials have said there diverse and inclusive tapestry that is could be more cases that have not yet been reported. At least one of the women has died due to the blood clots. our city.” bond’ with community Spencer said she was still able to pick up the 50 doses Bradford noted while the group cur- and have them stored until further guidance is given on rently does not have a board of direc- By HOPE health needs. how, or even if, they will be able to use them. The J&J tors, this year’s first conversation E. TREMBLAY “It’s been a gradual vaccine can be stored at normal refrigeration tempera- about celebrating “Pride in Westfield” Editor change to the way we tures for up to 90 days. The Moderna and Pfizer- resulted in a plan to bring more com- WESTFIELD – serve the community and BioNTech vaccines require temperatures that are far munity members together to expand Baystate Noble Hospital do business,” Bryant said lower than what can be achieved by a normal refrigerator the group, and to develop plans for the has continued to care for of the transition from patients throughout the Noble Hospital to or freezer. coming months by outreaching to “We were hoping to get it done before the Big E so we more volunteers in the city. COVID-19 pandemic, Baystate Noble. connecting with them A larger network of could have paramedics available to help administer the Currently, Bradford is working shots,” said Spencer. alongside Dennis Akin, Chris Clark, and the community, physicians helps patients which President Ron see the right doctor when The West of the River Collaborative COVID-19 and Kristen Mello and using a Vaccine Clinic, the vaccine site on the grounds of the Big Facebook group – Westfield Pride Bryant said is what they they need a specialist, do best. and the implementation E, is scheduled to open tomorrow, April 20. Spencer said Alliance – to share news about upcom- that Southwick Fire Chief Russ Anderson said that she ing events. “At Baystate Noble, of electronic medical we have great relation- record makes providing could use some of his paramedics for the homebound ships with our patients,” program. She said that their paramedics will also have to See Pride Alliance, Page 5 Ron Bryant, president of services easier. said Bryant, praising Baystate Noble Hospital. Bryant said Baystate be used for the Big E site, but she is not worried about not staff. “Healthcare work- Noble’s on-site services having paramedics available to administer the shots when ers – especially when COVID hit the area. He have changed, with the the program is restarted. you go through some- said changes to the hos- elimination of some ser- The Homebound Vaccine Program is designed to get thing like this – are pital and having that con- vices that patients can COVID-19 vaccines to people who are physically unable extraordinary people that nection to Baystate still access through the to get out of their homes to get the vaccine at a clinic or are willing to step-up for Medical Center and the Baystate network as well mass vaccine site. Spencer and Council on Aging Director their community.” entire health system as additional services, Cindy Sullivan were going to drive around Southwick Bryant said because enabled patients to be including expanded with paramedics to administer shots to the homebound. Members of the Westfield Pride Baystate Noble is part of seen quickly, whether emergency room service. Should the J&J vaccine no longer be permitted, they Alliance have used the Progress the Baystate Health they were at Baystate Bryant said the Noble will need to use one of the two-dose vaccines, which Pride flag by Daniel Quasar during System, it was able to Noble for COVID- means they will need to run the program again for the Pride Month. (SUBMITTED PHOTO) adapt quickly when related concerns or other See Hospital, Page 5 same people several weeks after the first dose. Writers’ series: Lessons Staples Connect donates school supplies By AMY PORTER bags containing items such as crayons, rulers, Learned During COVID Staff Writer folders, pens and pencils. He said he would be WESTFIELD – Westfield Public Schools inviting the principals to come in and take what By LORI SZEPELAK for the Holyoke Transcript- Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski was excit- they need for their schools. This is the second Correspondent Telegram and the Springfield ed about a donation of school supplies dropped donation this year from the store to Westfield (Editor’s note: With the Republican. off by Staples Connect, the working and learn- Public Schools. COVID-19 pandemic one- She is a member of Our ing store at 273 E. Main St. in Westfield. Trzepacz said in store they asked customers year mark already observed, Lady of the Blessed Czaporowski said Staples General Manager if they would like to purchase a care package we asked members of the Sacrament Parish in Sovany Trzepacz and Sales Manager John for the schools. “This is all people giving WhipCity Wordsmiths to Westfield. Borgatti Apri 15 brought in the donations from share their thoughts on how Her submission is titled employees and customers in pre-packaged See Supplies, Page 5 their lives have changed – “Lessons Learned During perhaps forever – and as COVID.” always – their insight into Lessons Learned During Iris Alderson is an inspira- every day life is illuminating. COVID tional writer and a member Today’s submission in the In 1788, Scottish poet, of the WhipCity Wordsmiths. ongoing writers’ series is by Robert Burns wrote “Auld (MARK M. MURRAY PHOTO) Iris Alderson.) Lang Syne,” a popular song changed.