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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
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Note: In observance of Memorial Day, The Westfield News will not publish
Monday, May 29.
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 126
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FRIDAY, MAY 26, 2017
Congamond Lake use policy change discussed Lift For The 22 fundraiser set WESTFIELD – Lee Clink is on a mission – to help veterans. Clink is organizing a 5K Run/ Walk on June 25 with proceeds to benefit the nonprofit organizations Lift For The 22 and Friends of the Springfield Veterans Center. “On average, 22 veterans commit suicide every day due to a flawed transitional system when they return to civilian life,” said Clink. The inaugural 5k Run/Walk last year was to generate funds to provide veterans with gym memberships. This allowed veterans a positive outlet to meet other veterans along with the ability to work through their problems in a positive way, all in an effort to help keep any veteran from ever thinking about suicide. “We had great success raising money for this cause and on top of that we were able to secure 66 gym memberships for local veterans, ” said Clink. This year the funds raised will go to the local Springfield Veterans Service Center, which has a wealth of services for current and former service members, as well as the bigger Lift For The 22 organization. Ultimately, Clink would like to see a local chapter of the Lift For The 22 organization based in Westfield. “I’ve always supported veterans and feel confident about Lift For The 22,” he said. Clink knows the importance of being active in sports and staying in shape. “Putting on head phones and running is a great way to relieve stress,” said Clink. “What started off small has begun to be quite the undertaking as Westfield has really shown their support,” said Clink. “Every day I see more and more support from residents that I don’t even know wanting to help advertise by bringing flyers to their work or their gyms.” Mayor Brian Sullivan and State Rep. John Velis are also supporters of Clink’s endeavor and will be participants in the event. “The run will be a community event that includes veterans,” said Sullivan, adding, “Westfield is historically supportive of our veterans and I know will get behind the cause.” Velis echoed those sentiments. “This event should be well attended because of the cause,” said Velis. “It’s all about helping veterans.” The day long event will be held at the Elks Lodge at 56 Franklin St. beginning at 9am. An after party will follow with music, along with hot dogs, hamburgers and beverages for purchase, served by Elks volunteers. Event
Gateway staff members Daniel Shea, Catherine Bishop, Gail LaBonte, Tasha Hartley, Wendy Koivisto, Holly Whitaker, and Beth Harmon. (Photo by Brennan Foley)
Gateway School Committee hosts Staff Honors Reception By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – As is the custom, the Gateway Regional School Committee hosted a reception Wednesday for retiring staff members and teachers and for those that earned recognition outside of the district. The reception took place in the central courtyard at the school, with refreshments donated by committee members. Honored were Gateway cafeteria manager Tasha Hartley, Littleville Elementary cafeteria manager Wendy Koivisto and Chester Elementary cafeteria manager Holly Whitaker for earning their Level 1 certifications from the School Nutrition Association this year. “This certification shows their commitment to school nutrition and helps them stay current on the ever-changing school nutrition scene,” said Food Services director Wendy McCaul. High school mathematics teacher Cheryl Wright was honored for receiving an “Unsung Hero” award from St. Michael’s College. Gateway 2016 graduate Brennan Foley nominated Wright for the award through his college’s Teacher Recognition Program, which honors the teachers who gave their students the academic skills and moral support necessary to be successful in post-secondary pursuits. In nominating his teacher, Foley wrote, “She is always concerned about us as people and not just students. We got way more than a great education. We got a great friend,” he said. High School chemistry and physics teacher Dan Shea was recognized as a finalist in the Pioneer Valley Excellence in Teaching Awards. In addition to preparing Gateway students to be competitive in science at the college level, Shea provides guidance and mentors new teachers. He is also an advisor to Gateway’s “As Schools Match Wits” team. Outside of Gateway, he directs the Camp H. A. Moses Scout Reservation in Russell, and participates in leadership training for young men in scouts through NYLT. Retiring this year is Cat Chapin Bishop, who has taught high school English at Gateway for 12 of her 13 years of teaching. Bishop also served as a newspaper and GSA advisor. Among her favorite memories, Bishop wrote: “Letting the babble of voices wash over her as four different groups of student actors all rehearse Shakespeare in her classroom – at the same time,” and “hearing the silence in the
See Lift For The 22, Page 3
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – During their meeting on Thursday evening, the Lake Management Committee discussed a topic that generated a number of residents to attend. On May 18, Southwick Police Chief David Ricardi announced on the department’s Facebook page that there had been a change in their enforcement policy for personal watercraft and jet skis on North Pond. In the post from Ricardi, it says, “Personal watercraft and jet skis are no longer prohibited on the North basin (North Pond) of Congamond Lake. As the result of a recent decision received from the office of the Environmental Police, personal watercraft and jet skis are now allowed to be used on North Pond section of the Congamond Lake.” At the meeting on Thursday night, Nicholas Graveline, whose parents have lived on North Pond for several years and jet ski through North Pond to get to the other bodies of water, backed up Ricardi’s findings and change of policy. “I think we need to respect the Chief (Ricardi), that’s his ruling,” said Graveline. The Massachusetts Environmental Police, who control the law on bodies of water within the state, informed Chief Ricardi that, under Ch. 90 law, in order to have jet skis, the specific part of the See Policy, Page 3
Southwick Police announced last week that there was a change in their enforcement policy for personal jet skis and watercraft. (Photo from Southwick Police Department)
See Reception, Page 3
Boston’s ‘First Lady of Cabaret’ Carol O’Shaughnessy to headline ‘WOW! … It’s Cabaret’ on June 2 By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – Westfield on Weekends (WOW) presents “Up Close and Unpredictable” starring Carol O’Shaughnessy on Friday, June 2 at 8 pm in the Great Room of the Westfield Senior Center, 45 Noble Street in Westfield. For the second performance in the “WOW!… It’s Cabaret” musical series featuring professional cabaret artists, the Great Room will be transformed by theatrical curtains, lighting and sound, tables and chairs into an intimate club-like atmosphere. For her show, Carol O’ Shaughnessy, who has been dubbed “Boston’s First Lady of Cabaret,” will mix music, impressions and
“Boston’s First Lady of Cabaret” Carol O’Shaughnessy comic characters, like “Mama Scugliachi.” O’ Shaughnessy was also a popular fixture on the bill during the cabaret series at the for-
mer Piccolo’s restaurant in Westfield. Her songs come from the Great American Songbook and Broadway, “from Sinatra to Sondheim,” she said. “Cabaret will make you laugh and cry. It’s a very intimate thing. It’s sort of small Broadway. People who attend become part of the show, there is no fourth wall,” O’Shaughnessy said. She said she doesn’t always know herself what she is going to do until a few days before, saying she is unpredictable. “I like going to a show not knowing what to expect. I want to be entertained,” she added. With several awards to her credit including Boston’s “Cabaret Entertainer of the Year,” she has taken her one-woman shows from
Town Hall in New York City to Boston’s Jordan Hall, The Regattabar Jazz Club, Scullers Jazz Club and Club Café. She has also appeared with such stars as Joan Rivers, David Brenner and Pat Cooper; and as an actor, has portrayed “Mama Morton,” the showstopping prison matron in the musical Chicago for the Worcester Foothills Theatre Company. She has also taken her shows abroad to Europe and South America on cruises and with RSVP. Her pianist/arranger Tom LaMark is a respected musician in the Boston area, who has accompanied such notables as Aretha Franklin, Donna Summer and the Smothers Brothers. and has played with such jazz greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Phil
Woods and Buddy Rich. The Tom LaMark Orchestra frequently performs at The Ritz Boston Common, The Four Seasons Hotel, The Seaport Hotel, The Boston Harbor Hotel, The Copley Plaza and The Taj Boston. O’Shaughnessy and LaMark have performed together for twenty years, and have made three CD’s, “The Way I See It,” “Live at Scullers,” and “Ring-A-Ding-Ding: The Music of the Rat Pack.” They are currently working on a fourth CD of Christmas music, and are in the process of choosing songs. “This guy, he’s the top,” she said of LaMark. “Here’s the deal. Friday night, See Cabaret, Page 3