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WEATHER TONIGHT Clear Skies. Low of 54.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 257
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016
Companion Program clients look back on their time as volunteers
North Elm Street corridor completed By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – On Friday afternoon, Mayor Brian P. Sullivan, Westfield Public Schools Superindent Stefan Czaporowski and City Engineer Mark Cressotti did a final inspection of the traffic light at North Elm Street and Notre Dame Street, to check on the flow of traffic at the time the high school let out. Also at the meeting were representatives from Balthazar Construction, who did the most recent construction, VHB Engineering Consultants and Tighe & Bond. The group found the flow had much improved, although Cressotti said following the review that he is going adjust the signal phase extending time for the Notre Dame left turn east-bound traffic between 2:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. See Corridor, Page 3
Early Voting starts today By AMY PORTER Correspondent For the first time, Massachusetts voters will be able to cast their ballots before Election Day, at their own convenience. This year, residents have the option to cast their State Election ballots at an early voting location in their community, by mail, or at their polling place on Election Day. The early voting period will begin on October 24 and end on November 4. To See Early Voting, Page 3
The Westfield News will run its masthead in pink, in recognition of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Cheering on the Westfield Youth Cheer squads were Junior coach Amy Lefebvre, Christine Medina, and Junior coach Shelley Coach.
Westfield Youth Cheer takes ‘clean sweep’ By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD — More than 2,500 area residents were in the stands Saturday cheering on their favorite teams in the 2016 Western Mass Cheer Exhibition at West Springfield High School. When the day featuring more than 600 cheerleaders was done, Westfield Youth Cheer had taken a “clean sweep,” according to Kim Starsiak, Cheer coordinator. “The girls and boys are so over-the-top and excited, I’m not sure who is happier, the kids or the parents,” said Starsiak. The primary goal of the Westfield Youth Cheer Program, a subdivision of Westfield Youth Football, is to support and unite the community, according to Starsiak. Girls and boys in Grades 1 through 8 rehearse twice a week to fine tune their skills when cheering for the Westfield Youth Football
games. Children cheer at all home games which are played at Bullens Field as well as away games in the surrounding towns. During the exhibition, Starsiak said that the hugs and tears of joy from the kids and parents was a “sight to be seen.” Fifteen squads from across the region showcased their four-minute routines in the pee wee, junior and senior categories, and the Westfield team was presented the Megaphone Award along with the Spirit Stick which was a “clean sweep.” “Unfortunately, one team cannot be awarded both so Westfield chose to give up the Spirit Stick and keep the Megaphone Award which entitles us to be the host for the 2017 exhibition,” said Starsiak. Starsiak noted that the girls and boys received the awards for several reasons, See Cheer, Page 3
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent WESTFIELD – At the Westfield Senior Center, the Companion Program offers a number of ways for elderly in the city of Westfield who are 60 or older, to be assisted. If an elder is interested, Companion Program Director Fran Aguda tries to find a volunteer who would match well with the potential client. If the two people seem like a good fit for one another, a volunteer can transport the client to go grocery shopping, do errands and medical appointments. Friendly visits are also included which involve seniors who are home-bound and would like someone to spend time with them. According to Aguda, the Companion Program has been around for about 28 years. When the program first started, there were just 25 clients. Now, Aguda says she has 200 people in the program. “The whole idea behind this program is helping someone who is wishing to stay home as long as possible,” said Aguda. See Volunteers, Page 6
Fran Mahoney was a volunteer until 2015 and just recently began a client for the Companion Program. (Photo by Greg Fitzpatrick)
Couples sought for Westfield State study
Melissa Ray, Sara Cauley, and Kristina Tilli are research assistants at the Relationships and WellBeing Lab at Westfield State University. Currently, couples are sought for a study on personality and relationships.
By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD-Couples in a romantic relationship for more than six months are sought for a unique study examining personality and relationships that is underway at Westfield State University. The Relationships and Well-Being Lab within the Psychology Department is recruiting 50 couples – 18 years of age and older – who will first complete an online survey and then participate in a conversation with their partner with research assistants. The approximately
Bicycle Giveaway planned as part of Rag Shag Parade WESTFIELD — Children of all ages are invited to wear their Halloween costumes on Friday Oct. 28 for the annual Charles J. Morse Memorial Rag Shag Parade, hosted by the Westfield/West Springfield Lodge of Elks #1481. The parade, named for the long-time member of the lodge who organized the parade for many years, will step off at 6 p.m. from the Elks’ Washington Street parking lot. Accompanied by a city fire engine, the See Rag Shag Giveaway, Page 6
one-hour conversation will take place in Wilson Hall, Suite 117. Couples will be compensated for their participation in this study which is based on previous research from an independent study completed by Sara Cauley, supervised by Dr. Joseph Camilleri and Dr. Rebecca Burwell. Cauley graduated in May; however, she is continuing to work on this project to build off of her independent study work. “Gaining adequate research experience is essential for reaching my goal of getting into a Clinical Psychology Ph.D.
Award-Winning Author To Visit City Nov. 3
Linda Campanella will visit Blue Umbrella Books Thursday, Nov. 3.
FALL SPECIAL! 99 Springfield Rd. Westfield, MA 413-568-2200 expertfitnesshc.com facebook.com/expertfitness
By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD-Linda Campanella, author of When All That’s Left of Me Is Love: A Daughter’s Story of Letting Go, will be visiting Blue Umbrella Books on Nov. 3 for a book talk and signing. The public is invited, and copies of the award-winning, lifeaffirming story of a daughter’s undying love for her dying mother will be available for purchase at the 6 p.m. event. In a book she says wrote itself in the weeks following her mother’s death, Campanella provides intimate testimony affirming the enormous joy and unexpected gifts one can experience by choosing to embrace life in the face of terminal illness. The book See Author, Page 6
program which I am currently applying for,” said Cauley. In the new study, researchers are interested in understanding the degree to which couples know each other and how personality contributes to relationships and communication. “In studies conducted on a college campus, typically an undergraduate sample is used,” said Cauley. “We want our data to reflect the general population.” Cauley noted that couples participating See Couples Sought, Page 3
Westfield Mother featured in Today Show segment tomorrow Tuesday, October 25th -The Today Show (NBC) - 8am will be airing a segment on Heart Health & Safety - with Jenna Bush Hager. Susan Canning of Westfield will be featured to discuss her experience of losing her son at the age of 19 as a result of a heart condition. Ms. Canning has worked tirelessly to educate our community on the prevention and training of sudden cardiac arrest.
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