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TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 TUESDAY, JUNE SATURDAY, JULY27, 22,2017 2017
State budget what city officials expected Kayaking is part of the Westfield Public Schools Summer EDventure experience. (Submitted photo)
UMASS students demonstrated bird banding at the Highland program last week. (Submitted photo)
Summer EDventure programs being held at Highland Elementary, South Middle School By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – Westfield Public Schools are running two Title I programs this summer at Highland Elementary and South Middle School. These two “Cadillac” programs are highly ranked by children, parents, and staff, according to Christopher Rogers, administrator of student interventions who is overseeing both programs. The Summer EDventure at Highland Elementary under site supervisor Kandy Kocol runs from July 5 through August 3, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. In partnership with the Connected Learning Afterschool and Summer Partnership (CLASP) and the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, it is designed to engage K-6 students with outdoor activities, cooperative games, sports, art projects, guest speakers, field trips and scientific experiments. Literacy, math, science and writing are integrated throughout the program to support project –based learning. Incoming students in grades K-4 participate in a nature and fitness curricula and incoming grade 5 and 6 students participate in the ecosystem/service learning and fitness curricula. 270 students, a record in terms of enrollment are participating in the free program. The students were recommended by their schools as needing some additional support to improve their literacy and essential learning skills, and include students from the English Language Learners (ELL) program. Transportation to the program is free for students that need it, as are lunches through a Food Services grant. This year, in collaboration with the special education
Teambuilding activites at the South Middle School Outdoor EDventure program. (Submitted photo) department and its summer program, the district added two elementary special education classes to create an even more inclusive program where the students work and learn alongside their grade level peers. Rogers said the students are almost fully integrated into the program. “We are really excited about it,” he said, adding that it is part of a push across the district to become more inclusive. See EDventure, Page 8
All-abled playground being pursued by city By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD—The community development office, along with the commission for citizens with disabilities, is looking into making an all-abled playground in the city. The playground, if approved by Mayor Brian Sullivan and city council, will be done through the already-existing Hampton Ponds playground, according to Peter Miller, director of community development in the city. He said that the idea came after Mandi Riel, a parent of two children with disabilities, had approached the commission for citizens with disabilities about the idea. Riel said that the idea came A photo of Reese after she noticed her daughter, Rodriguez, submitted See Playground, Page 7 by Mandi Riel.
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–Gov. Charlie Baker signed the state budget this week and according to Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan, the funds for the city were as expected. Sullivan said that the budget, along with chapter 90 funding, was what city officials had anticipated. Now, he said, the city will look to manage the budget while focusing on road infrastructure and attempting to keep tax increases down for residents. “All our numbers we used to build our budget seem to be exactly what we anticipated,” Sullivan said. “The budget was built on need and I’m confident it’s what people looked for,” he added. According to Sullivan, Westfield will receive an Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan estimated $38.7 (WNG file photo) million from the state budget, “adjusted from assessment.” Of that total, $34.32 million is in chapter 70 funding. According to the Massachusetts Department of Education’s website, “[t]he Chapter 70 program is the major program of state aid to public elementary and secondary schools.” In addition, Sullivan said that the city is expected to received $1.224 million in chapter 90 funding, which is money used for projects like road infrastructure. This money is not part of the $38.7 million estimated budget. Sullivan said that the chapter 90 funding will go toward the ongoing city efforts to improve infrastructure, and will include projects on Granville Road and portions of North Road and Montgomery Road, among others. Also in the budget was $50,000 that was allotted for Westfield’s 350th anniversary celebration, which Sullivan said was the only supplemental funding that passed. Sullivan said that he credits Sen. Don Humason and Rep. John Velis for this.
This Sunday’s event at Whalley Park will be in effort to continue the fundraising for preserving the North Pond property. (WNG File Photo)
community to support the cause. “Hopefully it will bring in some money and keep the momentum going,” said North Pond supporter Dennis Clark. A $10 donation is required to enter the event. With all the proceeds going towards Save North Pond, that will also include the costs from beer/wine, food,
By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent WESTFIELD – As Gov. Charlie Baker signed the FY18 budget into law on July 17, one of the line items that Sen. Don Humason proposed into the budget was approved by Baker. Humason proposed a study to be conducted on the Massachusetts Turnpike, specifically examining the costs and economic impacts of adding an interchange between Exit two (Lee) and Exit three (Westfield). Currently, the distance between those two exits is about 30 miles. According to a statement from Humason, that is nearly a quarter of the total 138 miles that the Mass Turnpike spans from Boston to the border of New York.
See North Pond, Page 7
See Sen. Humason, Page 7
North Pond fundraiser to feature live entertainment By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – On Sunday July 23, the Save North Pond Band Jam at Whalley Park will be taking place from Noon until 5 p.m. Since North Pond supporters and Franklin Land Trust are continuing their efforts to raise $5 million until June of 2018 in order to preserve 147 acres of North Pond, the event is yet another opportunity for the
Sen. Humason explains details of Massachusetts Turnpike study