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, DECEMBER 28, 2019 VOL. 88 NO. 306 Westfield to have its second First Night celebration By PETER CURRIER anniversary, the City of Boys and Girls Club complex with a free skate in the Amelia Staff Writer Westfield will have its second with some activities taking Park Ice Arena. That will be WESTFIELD — Following ever First Night to bring us place inside the Children’s the first of two free one-hour the well-received inaugural into 2020. Museum as well. skating sessions. The second First Night celebration that The event will again take The first events for the First skating session begins at 5:30 kicked off the Westfield 350th place in the Amelia Park and Night will begin at 4:15 p.m. p.m. The rest of the events in the complex begin at 4:30 p.m. with activities taking place in all three buildings. Kaitlin Sicard of the Children’s Museum said that there will be face painting, a bounce house, short films and cartoons for kids, and arts and crafts between the Museum and Boys and Girls Club Michael R. Knapik makes some noise during last year’s First gym. Night event. (File Photo) In addition, local magician dance party. She added that the fire- Jeff Kempton will be per- All activities will end at works were purchased with forming magic for those who 6:30 p.m. so that people can leftover funding from the attend. gather outside the Boys and Westfield 350. In the Amelia Park Ice Girls Club for a fireworks Brown advised that handi- Arena, there will be an show at 7 p.m.. capped parking would be unnamed movie being pro- Kellie Brown, director of available at Amelia Park on jected on the wall of the operations for the Greater the side that faces the Boys building. Those who take part Westfield Boys and Girls and Girls Club. Fall over in the free skates can skate Club, said that the fireworks parking will be available at with Boomer, the mascot wouldn’t be quite as big as the old lumber yard. Brown from the Springfield last year’s, but that it would also asked that nobody bring Families gather around a firepit to make s’mores at the city’s first First Night celebration. Thunderbirds hockey team. still be an approximately 15 pets or smoke on the premises This year’s First Night is Dec. 31 at the Amelia Park complex. (File Photo) There will also be a glowstick to 20 minute show. during the events. All-Stars Dance Center holiday dance spectacular this Sunday By AMY PORTER family-friendly show. Dan ond year they’ve done the classes for those who don’t Staff Writer Kane singer Sophie Lawry program, and last year, the want to make a commitment WESTFIELD — The All- will be bringing her guitar, whole back of the truck was for a whole year. Stars Dance Center is hosting and leading carols. The filled. She said it’s a good Starsiak said the ten-week a free holiday dance spectac- Grinch will also be making a opportunity for out of town series is based on a book ular this Sunday, from 2 to 4 special appearance. family members to see their which all the dancers receive. p.m. at St. Joseph’s Rectory, “It’s a super fun family day relatives dance, and also for Currently, they are four weeks 73 Main Str. to get out,” said All-Stars community members and into the Nutcracker. Coming In lieu of an admission fee, Dance Center Owner-Director interested children to watch in the spring will be a fairy they are asking for two non- Kim Starsiak. the show. garden series. perishable food items, which Staff will have an ugly The All-Stars Dance Center For more information, call will be loaded into a truck sweater contest, and some has been in business for the All-Stars Dance Center at and delivered to the Westfield competitive dance teams are 25-years in Westfield, the last 413-572.-122, or email kim@ Food Pantry right after the running a bake sale with pro- 12 in its studio above Roots allstarsdancecenter.com. show. ceeds going to the food pan- gymnastics at 209 Root Road. “Please consider joining us Both recreational and com- try, and leftover baked goods Starsiak said the Center is as we support our wonderful petitive dancers will be per- delivered to the homeless still taking new students up to community and dance into forming in their best shelter. the first week in February. the New Year,” Starsiak said. All-Stars dancers in pjs at last year’s holiday spectacular. Christmas jammies in this Starsiak said this is the sec- They also run 10-week dance (Photo submitted) Woman seeks to spread kindness throughout the city By LORI SZEPELAK who would be interested in Dubilo said that now at 74, relationships could be trans- Correspondent joining a exploratory/steering she has the time to devote the formed into healthy ones.” WESTFIELD — Susan committee. resources and time to create Dubilo noted her program Dubilo is confident that her Dubilo, a retired psychiat- “community action teams” of is a “teach adults first decades of research and clini- ric nurse who came to adults who can then become approach,” adding the pro- cal training can help trans- Westfield five years ago, said role models for others – espe- gram includes the “hot and form communities into Mister she is hopeful that her Lifting cially young people. timely issue” of bullying. Rogers’ neighborhoods. Up Lives! program that was “I learned early in my “Once adults master the With the recent movie first mapped out in 2011 at career as a psychiatric nurse issues, they become role mod- release of “A Beautiful Day in the American Public Health that emotional nurturance vs. els and can educate others,” the Neighborhood” starring annual convention in abuse and neglect were major she said. “I believe my project Tom Hanks, Dubilo is hope- Washington, D.C., will be factors in the world of mental presents an easy, understand- ful that the message of welcomed by city parents, health illness,” said Dubilo. able way to create the kind of “always be kind” that was a business and church leaders, “In both my academic studies world we all want and need.” mantra of Fred Rogers will school officials, and health and my actual practice with One of her first objectives resonate with community care professionals. people of all ages within a in the new year is to meet leaders. “Lifting Up Lives! is all great variety of settings over with mayor-elect Donald “I would like to see a com- about helping people to learn many years, two things Humason, Jr. once he takes munity wide program that is how to build a comprehen- became crystal clear. office. infused with the kindness that sively healthy community Destructive interpersonal “I offer this program basi- was heralded by Mr. Rogers,” filled with kindness where relationships happened in cally free because it’s about said Dubilo, who is currently any type of abuse or bullying people’s lives that sadly much more than money to reaching out to colleagues has a hard time surviving,” Susan Dubilo, RN, BSN, MA, hopes to implement her Lifting caused serious harm. and the general public to see said Dubilo. Up Lives! program in Westfield. (Submitted photo) However, present and future See Kindness, Page 2 POWER YOUR NEW YEAR with Gigabit internet PAGE 2 - SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2019 WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM THE WESTFIELD NEWS Love letters wanted Christmas tree drop-off sites announced NORTHAMPTON — Texts, or Instagram posts you email your submissions to WESTFIELD - The rate count on how many any debris. Academy of Music Theatre is feel fall into the category of a [email protected] City will be providing res- trees are collected, to Drop off areas at each accepting submissions from modern age “love letter” with the Subject Line “Valley idents drop off locations ensure that there is space location will be clearly the community for the next Letters do not need to be “tra- Letters Project Submission_ for their Christmas Trees for further drop offs. All marked. installment of Valley Voices ditional” – they could be writ- First Name_Last Name. In this year. trees will be chipped, and Residents will be able to Letters Project: Live on ten to a human, an animal, an the body of the email please The City will again repurposed; therefore we dispose of their trees at Stage. The theme for the April idea or a concept. (Ex: “A include a brief explanation of monitor the sites so that ask that the trees are free these locations from Jan. 2 18 performance is “Love Love Letter to my LGBTQ the background of the letter, we are able to get an accu- of lights, ornaments, and - 15, 2020. Letters: An open-ended community” or “ A Love text, or tweet. Please include exploration of love and how Letter to my future self”). The your first and last name and it’s expressed through word.” letters and media pieces, if your contact phone number. If Drop off locations and hours are as follows: We are asking community chosen, will be featured in the you only have access to origi- Location Time / Details members to submit any or all performance on April 18 at nal copies of historical letters, City Hall Back parking lot of the following: 1.