Search for The Westfield News
WEATHER TONIGHT A few clouds. Low of 32.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 275
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016
“You can’t be a full participant in our democracy if you don’t know our history.” — DAVID MCCULLOUGH
75 cents
Westfield schools to hold charity event for disadvantaged families
Cindy Lacoste, Commander of American Legion Post 124, leads her Color Guard. See additional photos Page 7. (Photo by Don Wielgus)
Massachusetts honors veterans with parades, Statehouse tribute BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts is paying respect to the nearly 400,000 veterans who call the state home. Veterans Day parades are being held Friday in a number of communities and Republican Gov. Charlie Baker helped lead a Statehouse ceremony that included a presentation of roses to Gold Star families. Enoch "Woody" Woodhouse, a World War II veteran and Tuskegee Airman, delivered the keynote speech. State Secretary of Veterans Services Francisco Urena said it was a day to recognize the sacrifices made by members of the armed forces and their families. The Registry of Motor Vehicles announced Friday that it was making duplicate driver's licenses and identification cards that include a "Veterans Indicator" symbol available to eligible veterans at no cost. They can be used to obtain special services available to veterans.
Westfield Marine Corps League, 141 leads the Veterans Day Parade. (Photo by Don Wielgus)
Local girl competing in Miss Massachusetts pageant By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent WESTFIELD – A Westfield resident is getting ready to be on the big stage next weekend. Brianna Marie Sanchez, who currently attends Holyoke Community College, has been selected to participate in the Miss Massachusetts USA 2017 Pageant at the Lowell Auditorium. The competition starts on Nov. 19 and ends on Nov. 20. Along with the other participants, Sanchez will be judged in swimsuit, evening gown, as well as a personal interview. The winner of Miss Massachusetts USA will then represent the Commonwealth at the Miss USA Pageant coming up in 2017. For Sanchez, this has been a dream of hers since she was young. Sanchez says she remembers being a chubbier girl at a young age. As she got older, Sanchez began to take care of herself by exercising and having good nutritional habit in order to build her selfesteem. Brianna Marie Sanchez, pictured in the middle, is seen with the Westfield American Hispanic Association. (Photo from Brianna Marie Sanchez.) Brianna Marie Sanchez, pictured in the middle, is seen with the Westfield American Hispanic Association. (Photo from Brianna Marie Sanchez.) “I really want to be a role model for my little sisters,” said Sanchez. With the change, Sanchez never thought of entering herself into a pageant, but she received a great deal of support from family and friends. “People kept telling me, “You should be in an audition,”” said Sanchez. That is exactly what she did.
Brianna Marie Sanchez, pictured in the middle, is seen with the Westfield American Hispanic Association. (Photo from Brianna Marie Sanchez.) Sanchez went up to Boston for an audition, and sure enough, they were interested. But, in order to officially be in the Miss Massachusetts pageant, Sanchez had to come up with enough money. A majority of Sanchez’s fundraising came from the generous sponsorship she received from local organizations. The Westfield Police along with the Westfield American Hispanic Association, as well as contributions from friends and family, helped her solidify her spot in the pageant. With just a week before the pageant, Sanchez is still doing minor things to prepare herself that could make a big impact. She is working
hard on her fitness, going over countless times on how to properly walk on the stage, as well as preparing what to say during her interview. Nevertheless, Sanchez is quite humbled by the opportunity and is aware of all the other women that were selected. “It’s really nerve-racking to be up next to a bunch of beautiful girls,” said Sanchez. “It is very exciting.” Sanchez is encouraging anyone interested in attending the competition to come out to Lowell and check it out. If you wish to support Sanchez next weekend, tickets to both days are available by calling 781-3213500.
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent WESTFIELD–The Westfield School System, in conjunction with the Westfield Food Pantry, Westfield State University and their radio station WSKB 89.5FM, will be holding a food drive Nov. 14, to help provide Thanksgiving dinners to families in need in Westfield. School superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, along with several WSKB radio personalities, will be at the Tiger’s Pride Restaurant at Westfield Technical STEFAN Academy from 6 a.m. to 12 p.m. broad- CZAPOROWSKI casting live to help raise awareness and gather food. They are looking for a variety of food donations, as well as gift cards to local grocery stores to help meet demands. Westfield Technical Academy WTA official logo “We have a significant number of students and families that are economically disadvantaged and may not have what’s needed,” Czaporowski said. “We currently have 35 requests for dinners but we expect it to go up.” Czaporowski said that they are looking for traditional Thanksgiving food donations, including turkey, stuffing, potatoes, desserts and canned goods. Additionally, if gift cards are donated the group will go out and purchase whatever else is needed. Czaporowski said that if the drive comes up short, the Westfield Food Pantry promised to fulfill the rest of what is required. However, if the food drive exceeds expectations, then the excess will be given to the Westfield Food Pantry. In addition to donations for Thanksgiving, Czaporowski said that they will be accepting other food and toiletry donations due to the year-round need of many families and students. Czaporowski said the project is being headed by Westfield Ward 2 City Councilor Ralph Figy and his wife, Sue, who will be helping to keep the project on task. For those who want to donate, stop by the Tiger’s Pride restaurant between 6 a.m. and noon. And if you want to help in other ways or cannot make it to donate at that time, contact Czaporowski at suptofc@ schoolsofwestfield.org and see what RALPH FIGY you can do to help.
Charter school backers regroup after stinging setback By BOB SALSBERG Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Charter school proponents are regrouping after the lopsided defeat in Massachusetts of Question 2, a ballot initiative that would have allowed the schools to expand their presence beyond existing state caps. More than 6 in 10 voters rejected the proposal, according to unofficial returns from Tuesday's election. And some of the widest margins of defeat came in the very cities where supporters had hoped to increase charter school options for families whose children attend underperforming or failing schools. The measure was defeated 62 percent to 38 percent in Boston and by a slightly smaller majority in Springfield. Backers spent more than $24 million in the unsuccessful effort, a record for any ballot question in state history. The loss was a blow to charter school supporters not only in Massachusetts but also around the country. They blamed the setback on the intransigence of teachers unions, which contributed the bulk of the $14 million spent opposing the measure. "The unions will continue to fight for the status quo, locking kids in schools that aren't meeting their needs," said Tillie Elvrum, president of Washington, D.C.-based PublicSchoolOptions.org. "But we will be ready to mobilize in state houses across the country to advocate for our children's education because we know them best." Unions and other opponents of Question 2 argued that charters — public schools that operate independently from local school districts — drain already limited financial resources from traditional schools and fail to adequately serve students with special needs or language barriers. About 4 percent of Massachusetts students attend charters, with another 32,000 on wait lists. The setback also was stinging for the state's popular Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, who appeared in radio and TV ads and even campaigned door-to-door in support of the question. Baker avoid pointing fingers after the vote, instead focusing on other ways the state might lower a stubborn academic achievement gap between students in urban schools and those See Charter Schools, Page 8