TONIGHT: Showers late. Low of 47. The Westfield News Search 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 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2019 VOL. 88 NO. 232 Deadline nears to purchase Park of Honor flags By LORI SZEPELAK Flags are now available for pur- camp scholarships to local youth,” Correspondent chase until Oct. 18 by sending a said Brown. “There is no financial WESTFIELD — Keepsake flags check for $30 for one flag or $100 for requirement for these scholarships, will once again grace the front lawn four flags to Westfield Kiwanis only that a parent or grandparent has of the Westfield Middle School next Foundation, P.O. Box 773, Westfield, served.” month during the Kiwanis Club of MA 01086-0522. A form on the Row upon row of 3’ x 5’ American Westfield’s annual “To Serve and Kiwanis Club website must be com- flags will be on display from Nov. Protect Park of Honor.” pleted and included with the check. 2-30. A brief ceremony to kick off the “It is a way to recognize and honor “I have two brothers that served in Park of Honor will be observed Nov. those military personnel that are serv- the military and currently my son and 2 at 11 a.m. ing or have served our country, along nephew are firefighters and they have Area residents are welcome and with the police departments, first been honored with a flag in the Park encouraged to walk among the flags responders and fire departments that of Honor,” said Sposito, who has during the month’s presentation, protect our community every day,” been a Kiwanian for nine years. reading names and other information said Frank Sposito, incoming “Looking at the flags standing tall is about the honorees. Kiwanis president. such a beautiful sight.” Individuals who purchase a flag Individuals, families and business- Kellie Brown, outgoing Kiwanis can retrieve it on Nov. 30 from 10 – es can sponsor a flag in honor of president, is hopeful that area resi- 11 a.m. at the Westfield Middle someone, past or present, and each dents will once again support the School or after that date at the Boys flag will be displayed with a ribbon Park of Honor. & Girls Club of Greater Westfield. containing information about the per- “We sold 103 flags last year and For more information on the Park Flags are now available for purchase for November’s To Serve and son each flag honors as well as the with the monies raised over the past of Honor and a form, visit https:// Protect Park of Honor, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Westfield. sponsor’s name. two years we gave out $5,000 in www.westfieldkiwanis.org. (Submitted photo) L&O recommends spending for Franklin Ave school study By AMY PORTER good about reimbursables,” he said. through it, and help them choose a Staff Writer Sullivan also said they have done a project manager and designer. WESTFIELD – The Legislative & lot of community outreach for the “Feasibility gets you to where you Ordinance committee, chaired by project, and the support is “phenom- want to be,” Tefft said. Ward 6 Councilor William Onysk,i enal.” He gave credit to Tefft said at the end, they will has recommended a $900,000 bond Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, know whether the expansion will order for a feasibility study for the Purchasing Director Tammy Tefft, include renovation, an addition, or Franklin Avenue Elementary School Chief Financial Officer Ronald R. rebuild of the school, and will also expansion on a vote of 2 to 0, with Rix and the Law Department for get- have a 25% design. Councilor Michael Burns in atten- ting the city to this point. He said Onyski asked whether halfway dance at Tuesday’s meeting. Tefft and Rix met with the MSBA through the project, the MSBA Speaking to the bond, Mayor this week to talk about the study. might say no to it. Tefft said the Brian P. Sullivan said the feasibility Tefft said the MSBA was very MSBA wouldn’t invite them to do it study is the last step in getting encouraging to Westfield at the if they didn’t consider it a viable approval for the building project meeting. She said there are still a project. from the Massachusetts School few steps, including Council approv- “There are a lot of steps before Building Authority. He said the city al for the study, and added that reim- this. A lot of districts have been needs to finance the bond, but will bursement is now at 69% and they turned down,” Sullivan said. qualify for 67 to 70 percent reim- hope to get more. The feasibility Rix agreed that they would have bursement of the costs. study will take place over two years, Councilors Michael Burns and William Onyski at Legislative & Ordinance “MSBA over time has been very and the MSBA will walk them See School Study, Page 3 committee. (Photo by Amy Porter) New health care course offered at Westfield High School By AMY PORTER Community College. Labor and Workforce Development Staff Writer The grant was written by Science, Rosalin Acosta and Secretary of WESTFIELD – Westfield High Technology and Engineering Education James Peyser to partici- School and MassHire Hampden Supervisor Lauren Figy and Grants pate on the Mass. Workforce Skills Country Workforce Board have Projects Coordinator Shannon Cabinet Pioneer Valley Regional received a Youth-Works Year-Round Barry. Last year, they received a Planning Committee. Competitive grant of $55,777 for $20,000 development grant to Czaporowski said the committee, health care career exploration and explore the feasibility of the pro- which is charged with developing a training for 15 juniors and seniors. gram. This year, with the full grant, regional blueprint to increase the The students who take the course classes have begun for the 15 juniors work force for Hampden County, will have the opportunity to obtain a and seniors. identified health care as the top area Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) The idea began when in need of employees in the Pioneer credential, along with other first aid Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski Valley. Number two is manufactur- training, in partnership with Holyoke was nominated by Secretary of ing, and three is education. Internet technology is also on the list in all the categories, he said. Represented on the committee were educators, members of the business community, government, higher education, and secondary education. “This came from our work on the six-year blueprint for the Pioneer Valley to increase the work force in the three areas identi- fied as highest need,” Czaporowski said. “With the planning grant, we tin- kered to see what worked and what didn’t. This year’s pilot is more aligned to the field,” said Figy, who wrote the curriculum with WHS sci- ence teacher Kate Pawul. They have also formed a Health Care Advisory Committee for the Science teacher Kyle Kosloski trains WHS students Sita Gurung, Roji Science, Technology and Engineering Supervisor Lauren Figy and Grants Darjee, and Madison Adamczykin on how to take blood pressure. (Photo Projects Coordinator Shannon Barry. (Photo by Amy Porter) See New WHS Course, Page 3 submitted) Visit Rocky’s Fully Supplied for Fall today WESTFIELD rockys.com 2 Free St. 10.875x2 WEST NEWS 1909253_ROCKYS-OctoberFallPrintAds.indd 3 9/24/19 1:45 PM PAGE 2 - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2019 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Bella Voce Vivid performs first Cares for Thursday Cancer WESTFIED —On October 6, from 12—3 pm, join Vivid Concert today Salon & Spa and 30+ cancer survivors in celebrating “Vivid WESTFIELD - The Westfield Athenaeum presents Cares for Cancer” through Bella Voce to perform Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. in the First beauty and wellness. Hosted by Thursdays Concert Series. Basia Belz, “Vivid Cares for Lisa Woods, Teri Lafleur and pianist and composer Cancer” which will feature cus- Clifton “Jerry” Noble are Bella Voce. They perform a tom makeovers, hair styling, repertoire from Opera, Broadway, the American wig & hair piece consultations, Songbook and beyond throughout the Pioneer Valley. photographs, reiki, a raffle and This concert includes selections from the American light refreshments. Admission Songbook as well as songs made popular by the is free. Andrews Sisters. Vivid Hair Salon & Spa has Soprano LaFleur has the unique distinction of excel- been working with the local ling in the many worlds of Opera, Theatre and Music community for years. “Vivid Education. LaFleur has performed as a soloist in Cares” has supported numerous numerous venues within the Pioneer Valley and local businesses and citizens. throughout the region and is no stranger to the stage, We have sponsored Cut-a- having appeared in many principle roles in both musi- Thons and fundraisers for ani- cal theatre and in several plays. LaFleur is also a voice mal charities, suicide preven- instructor at Springfield College and maintains a very tion, Alzheimer’s, dementia active private studio as well. She is a frequent soloist awareness, and programs for at Trinity United Methodist Church, is a regular guest Lisa Woods and Teri Lafleur will perform in the first free Thursdays Concert Series at the under resourced children. performer for the Springfield Massachusetts Chapter Westfield Athenaeum Oct. 3 at 1 p.m. (Photo submitted) “Vivid Cares for Cancer” is of the Tuesday Morning Music Club and is the sponsored by Vivid Salon & Chairperson for the TMMS’s Junior Extension to her credit.