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, FEBRUARY JUNE 27, 2017 24, 2021 VOL.75 cents 90 NO. 46 Football, cheerleading and track & field are a go By AMY PORTER play. One was received from School Yesu. “There’s nothing that I hold the high schools. He said they were Staff Writer Committee member Ramon Diaz, more dear than the health and well- dealt with appropriately, and there WESTFIELD — On Monday, Jr., who could not attend the meet- being of my two sons who are in the had not been a lot of spread and Feb. 22, the School Committee ing, but said while he supported Westfield High School football pro- transmission because of them. reconsidered its decision to cancel waiting a week on the decision, he gram. If I felt there was any risk of However, he said those cases Fall 2 sports, allowing football, would vote for the season to begin. them getting sick or hurt, I wouldn’t involved a lot of contact tracing and cheerleading and track & field Westfield High School Coach support them moving forward, but I quarantines. “Last go round, 60 let- March 1 through April 25. Rob Parent, who called in during do. I’m confident that the coaching ters went out,” he said, adding it’s a The decision, not an easy one for public participation, thanked the staff can move the season forward high risk activity, but not his deci- several of the members, was based committee for reconsidering. He safely,” he said. sion. on letters and phone calls they said he had gotten a lot of phone than on the field,” he added. Public Health Director Joseph Committee member Cindy received individually, along with calls and emails from athletes ask- Parent said the School Committee Rouse was reluctant at first to give Sullivan, who had voted at the last half a dozen emails and phone calls ing what they did wrong. “They did gave them a chance in the fall when his opinion. He said the numbers of meeting to hold the season, said she at the meeting. nothing wrong,” Parent said. “Some they held 15 practices with no COVID cases are going down, and appreciated all the emails and the The emails were from parents and students only participate in school COVID cases. “I’m asking you to vaccines are going out. phone calls. “I’m moving forward former players, who talked about because of sports. They need to get give us a chance,” he said before the He said everybody felt athletics with supporting Fall 2 athletics; the the mental and physical health ben- good grades to participate. Not vote. could be done safely at the school, efits of allowing students athletes to allowing them to play affects more Also calling in was parent James but they had cases in sports teams at See Fall 2 Sports, Page 5 University Union president reports four reviews COVID-19 early teacher new cases retirement bill this week A member of Crossfit TLA in Southwick does 22 pushups Feb. 22, 2021 to raise proposal By PETER CURRIER awareness of the veteran suicide crisis. (CROSSFIT TLA PHOTO) Staff Writer By AMY PORTER WESTFIELD — Westfield State Staff Writer University reported four new Crossfit TLA raises awareness, WESTFIELD – During the Feb. 22 Westfield School COVID-19 cases this week to bring Committee meeting, Westfield Education Association the semester total to 24 confirmed president Lori Lyncoski reviewed a new bill proposing a cases. funds for struggling veterans retirement enhancement opportunity for teachers. All four cases were Westfield State The bill, SD.1111, which was students. For the second week in a By HOPE E. TREMBLAY presented to the legislature by Sen. row no university employees have Editor John C. Velis (Second Hampden tested positive for COVID-19. SOUTHWICK – Crossfit TLA owners and Hampshire) on Feb. 11, allows Twenty-two of the 24 cases at Leighton and Richelle King and their teachers at a certain longevity to Westfield State so far have been stu- gym members are helping struggling retire early, by adding five years to dents. Just two cases have been found veterans and raising awareness of veter- their age and five years to their among school employees and 1,571 an suicide. years of service. tests were administered this week as Crossfit TLA hosted a fundraiser Before the presentation, part of Westfield State’s mandatory Monday through official22wod.com to Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski said the new bill has weekly testing program. benefit Operation Ward 57’s Service the possibility of passing or not passing. Lyncoski agreed. While the number of cases rose Dog Assistance Program and Honor & She said the docket numbers have been filed. She said the from just two last week to four this Courage Program. According to numer- whole idea behind the proposal is three-pronged, and week, the rise should not be consid- ous veteran organizations, every 22 min- would give compromised teachers the opportunity to ered statistically significant. The per- utes a veteran takes his or her own life. retire early. cent-positivity rate this week was just According to its website, one of the Lyncoski said the proposal would not have a negative 0.255 percent. The semester positivi- main goals of Operation Ward 57 has financial impact on the health care costs in the district. “In ty rate is justy 0.376 percent. Both been to provide continued support to order to participate in the retirement plan, we would have figures are well below the local and veterans recovering in the hospital as to pay it forward. It’s not going to have an impact on the national averages. well as continue that support once they local, it’s going to have an impact on the state, but they Residential students who tested leave and go home for as long as they pay less than one percent (of health care costs),” she said. positive will be quarantining in and their families are in need. “We also Lyncoski said the cost savings for the City of Westfield Lansdowne Place on Thomas Street want to continue to give our heroes a would come from offering teachers at a higher pay grade until they are cleared to return to ‘sense of purpose’ and ‘we still need an incentive to retire, which would result in savings in campus. you’ mentality. Our role has been to pro- compensation for new hires. Just 750 Westfield State students vide additional support through advoca- As an example, she said a median retirement value for returned for in-person learning in the cy, education and promotion of their a teacher with 23 to 25 years, including health benefits Spring semester. circumstances,” sates the site. and the unfunded liability is $201,000. A median new hire King said the cause hits home. value for a teacher including salary, health benefits and “The reason we decided this was unfunded liability is $87,000 and they won’t have longev- something we wanted to support was ity for 15 years. because of my own personal relationship “This is showing where there can be cost savings for the with this issue,” he said. “I am a Marine City of Westfield,” Lyncoski said. veteran of the Iraq war. I have battled my “Our compromised teachers on the top steps are going own personal demons as many of us do. Crossfit TLA owner Leighton King and to be able to buy time to get out and keep themselves And if there is anything I can do to help youth members show off their muscles healthy and out of harm’s way. Teachers who are not WESTFIELD STATE during a fundraiser to benefit veterans UNIVERSITY See Crossfit TLA, Page 3 Feb. 22, 2021. (CROSSFIT TLA PHOTO) See Teacher Retirment Bill, Page 3 Submission deadline nears for Teen Board’s ArtsFest 21 By LORI SZEPELAK Three winners will be chosen – the newest member of the Teen munities, and is a great way to Correspondent one for each age category – 13 and Board, is encouraging others to get understand/open your eyes up to GREATER WESTFIELD — younger; 14-18, and 19 and older, involved and share their artwork. some of the issues (involving food Capturing the relationship between and winners will receive up to $75 “I am participating in ArtsFest insecurity) that might be prevalent health and food insecurity is the in gift cards. because I love to create art and if my in your own town,” said Marino, theme of ArtsFest 21, sponsored by All art pieces must be submitted art can influence people to help oth- who has served as president of the the Teen Board of Rachel’s Table. electronically at HTTPS://FORMS. ers, I think it makes it even more Teen Board for the last two years. Artists of all ages are encouraged also hope to create a dialogue among GLE/FPCEVGJ8USRYWMSS5 special,” said Hitchcock. “I strongly Marino noted that ArtsFest 21 will to express what that theme means to our local artists and greater commu- and are due by March 10. All entries encourage others to participate as educate young people and adults them through paintings, graphic art, nity about food insecurity and com- will become the property of the well because it is important to learn that one in five families experience poetry, song, small sculpture, story- pel them to take action against it.” Jewish Federation of Western about what others are going through food insecurity.