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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
“A great man is one who leaves others at a loss after he is gone.” — PAUL VALERY
www.thewestfieldnews.com 75 cents
MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2016
VOL. 85 NO. 132
Andrew Burrage receives Bronze Tablet at WHS senior assembly By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – Awards were bestowed, staff and teachers thanked, and creativity shared at the Westfield High School senior assembly on Friday morning. Student Council president Andrew Burrage received the Bronze Tablet award. Burrage was one of three finalists announced in May. The other two finalists were Daniel Gosselin and Anthony Riga. The Bronze Tablet is awarded annually at the senior assembly to that member of the graduating class “who has done the most for the welfare, good name, and progress of Westfield High School.” The senior class voted on the list of 24 semi-finalists who were nominated by the faculty. During his speech to the class, Burrage, who will be attending Providence College in the fall, made some fun of the high school’s issues, referring to the “built-in sauna on the third floor, the free petting school of insects, and clocks that have the ability to stop working” at will. “Let’s live in the moment and enjoy each other for one last time,” Burrage said. Other speakers at the assembly included Mayor Brian P. Sullivan, who was introduced as a 1981 Westfield High School graduate. “I will save the 3-hour speech for tonight,” he said, referring to Friday night’s graduation. He told the students to applause that he obviously needs to put a P.A. system and air conditioning in the city budget. The assembly began by Principal Dennis Duqette asking for a moment of silence “for those who could not be here with us today.” The solemn moment was following by the singing of the National Anthem by senior Madeline Lukomski, accompanied by senior Nathan Dargie on keyboards.
WHS Student Council president and graduating senior Andrew Burrage receives the Bronze Tablet Award from Class of 2016 advisors Merylinn Asselin and Kristin Puleo. (Photo by Amy
Chairman of the Fire Commission Albert Mascriadrelli and Fire Chief Mary Regan with the design. Photo credit: Amy Porter.
Duquette then recognized the Pro Patria seniors who have committed to service in the Armed Forces. Recognized were Zachary Albano, Virginia Military Institute Marine Corps ROTC, Christopher Crean and Connor D’Onofrio, U.S. Marine Corps, Emily Cyrankowski, U.S. Air Force, Madison Eline, Norwich University Army ROTC Corp of Cadets, Christopher Hale, U.S. Army, Benjamin Jury, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colby Lurgio, Brendan Paradis, Matthew Reynolds, and Imalay Vargas, U.S. Air National Guard; Michaela Neuzil, Westfield State University Army ROTC, Kyle Priest, Taylor Smith, and Joshua Weaver, U.S. Army National Guard. Senior Class officers Devon Kurtz, president, Kelly Michonski, vice president, Morgan Sanders, secretary, Michael Visconti, treasurer and Eileen Fitzgerald, historian took turns at the podium, recognizing people who had been instrumental to the success of their class. Gifts were given to school administrators, guidance counselors, secretaries and custodial staff. Westfield High School retirees were acknowledged and thanked. Retiring business teacher Dana Geis was thanked for being the commencement speaker at graduation. Also recognized were parent volunteers to the senior class, who were called up one by one and given hanging baskets of flowers. The parents were surprised and moved, commenting as they passed how unexpected the honor was. Singled out for recognition by Eileen Fitzgerald was Vice Principal Jack Dougherty, who she said had been the sole administrator consistent through their four years at Westfield High School. Dougherty also had a featured role in the senior skit, where his long suffering was parodied by Nathan Brady. Also featured in the skit was Principal Duquette, who was portrayed by Daniel Gosselin wearing a bald cap and carrying a stuffed puppy in honor of Jake the dog.
Porter)
Westfield Fire Department gets new station By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–Firefighters get a long-overdue new station at Little River Road.Little River Fire Dept Sub Station City Council unanimously passed the allocation of $2.06 million to complete the total amount needed to build a new fire department substation on Little River Road. The total cost of the project is estimated at $2.68 million. Construction will begin soon, and is expected to take nine months. “It’s been a long time coming,” Fire Chief Mary Regan said. “We know exactly what our costs are going to be. We believe we have enough money to fund the project without asking for additional funds.” According to Regan, the project was initially pitched to the Mayor’s office in 2001. And although the cost is high, the money allocated is coming from the “ambulance designation fund,” and can only be used for particular projects. “I think it’s expensive, but we have the money and we can’t use it for anything else,” At Large City Councilor David Flaherty said during his finance committee’s meeting discussing the project. The current station was built in 1973 and has no air conditioning, one bathroom, needs windows replaced and needs roof repair. Additionally, the station can currently only house two crew members, so if they go on a call, then the station must be shut down. And according to City Council, this happened 500 times last year alone. See New Station, Page 3
See WHS, Page 3
Helping hands needed at pancake breakfast
Kasie Provencal and Kate Phelon are coordinating logistics for the 39th annual Westfield Chamber Pancake Breakfast.
By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD-The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce’s annual pancake breakfast is local business owner Kasie Provencal’s “favorite event” of the year. “The pancake breakfast is fun, family oriented, and community based which is important to me,” said Provencal. She is the owner of Pro Tours & Cruises in Southwick and is serving as the volunteer chair again this year. Now in its 39th year, the pancake breakfast is considered a “well-oiled machine from the Chamber’s events committee,” according to Kate Phelon,
executive director, adding, “We are always in need of more volunteers to help make the load lighter for everyone.” Provencal echoed those sentiments. “It’s such a fun morning,” said Provencal. “We start setting up at 6 a.m. with the tables, chairs and grills and start serving at 7.” The pancake breakfast is planned July 14 from 7 to 11 a.m. on the lawn of the South Middle School, 30 West Silver St. In the event of rain, the breakfast will be conducted in the school’s cafeteria. Volunteers are needed from 6 a.m. to noon. Four volunteers who relish their role
as pancake flippers are Russ and Justin Klaubert of Air Compressor Engineering, Mark Perez of East Mountain Country Club, and Dan Burack of Tekoa Country Club, according to Phelon. In addition to the pancakes, patrons will receive two sausage patties with syrup and butter. Beverages offered for breakfast include orange juice, coffee and milk. “We especially thank Manny Sardinha from Dunkin’ Donuts for his generous donation of coffee and cups,” said Provencal, adding that Walmart, Mayor Brian Sullivan, and Mike Dion from See Help, Page 3
SUNDAY’S CHILD: Veronica needs a home Sunday’s Child is a monthly column featuring a child currently in foster care awaiting adoption Veronica, sixteen-years-old, is a sweet girl of Hispanic descent. She is very shy with new people however once she warms up to you she is very engaging! She is inquisitive and loves to learn new things. Veronica is very loving and compassionate, and is willing to help anyone that is in need. Veronica is diagnosed with mild mental retardation and attends school in a specialized classroom. At school, she has been learning how to cook and enjoys making breakfast for everyone. The school has a couple of dogs that attend daily and Veronica enjoys seeing and patting them when allowed. Veronica loves playing with
her iPod and listening to her music. She is the first person to be dancing to the songs at adoption parties. Veronica, like most teenagers, is longing for a cell phone with Wi-Fi on it. Her favorite TV show is ‘Sponge Bob’ and she loves watching movies. Veronica loves to laugh at comedy movies and her laugh is infectious! Veronica will often coordinate her outfits to match, all the way down to the hair elastics in her hair. She had watched her American Girl Dolls get their hair done at the local store and has since tried the styles on her own hair. Veronica i would do best in a single or two-parent female family, without other children, or with older female children. What does Adoption Cost? It costs little or nothing to adopt a child from foster care. Unlike international or private adoptions, there is no adoption agency fee. There are also a number of free post-adoption support services available to families
statewide, including support groups and respite care. Children with special needs who are adopted from the foster care system are eligible for ongoing financial and medical assistance after adoption. These children are also eligible for a tuition waiver to attend a Massachusetts state college or university. Veronica is one of over 600 children in Massachusetts foster care, waiting for adoption. If you’re 18+, have a stable income, and room in your heart, you may be just the right parent to adopt Veronica or another local child. You can be single, married, or partnered; LGBT; experienced or not; a renter or homeowner. To learn more about Veronica, and about adoption from foster care, call the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) at 61754-ADOPT (617-542-3678) or visit www.mareinc.org. The sooner you call, the sooner a waiting child will have “a permanent place to call HOME.”
VERONICA