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WEATHER TONIGHT
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
Mostly cloudy. Low of 23.
www.thewestfieldnews.com TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2015
VOL. 84 NO. 081
WESTFIELD – Westfield State University has hired educator, administrator, and practicing physician assistant Jennifer Hixon, D.H.Sc., PA-C, to develop a new Master of Science in Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program. Hixon’s appointment is the first step in Westfield State’s establishment of a proposed Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, which, if approved, will be the first and only public graduate PA program in New England. Experts in the health care field project significant shortages of primary care providers, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment for physician assistants will grow by 38 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than average[1]. Forbes.com named it the most promising job of 2015[2]. Hixon is widely-known in western Massachusetts as the founding program director of the Bay Path University Physician Assistant Program where she was responsible for developing all aspects of the program including curriculum development, facilities management, and faculty recruitment, key elements required for the successful completion of the American Review Commission-PA (ARC-PA) Provisional Accreditation Process. “Establishing a public PA program is a personal passion and I am eager to begin developing the roadmap at Westfield State that will provide a comprehensive yet affordable pathway for students,” said Hixon. See Hixon, Page 3
ALLISON RONCONE A lot more than I should. I use it to stay connected.
CLAIRE KOTOWICZ I don’t own a computer or smartphone. I have no new electronic gadgets and get my news by television.
BARBIE RANNO I use my personal social account a lot and I’m just getting started into it for my business.
TOM KEENAN Only about ten-percent and it’s for promoting projects I’m involved in. It keeps my name out there.
TINA GORMAN
TINA STEVENS I use it regularly, but it’s getting more challenging with more outlets and volume.
PHOTOS BY FREDERICK GORE
Westfield State students buzz off hair for cancer WESTFIELD – For the second year in a row, Westfield State University students will participate in One Mission: The Kid’s Cancer Buzz-Off, a fundraising project that benefits pediatric cancer patients, their families, and cancer research. Students will raise funds for a month and conclude with a ceremony on Sunday, April 12 at 1 p.m. in the University Hall lobby in which participants shave their heads. The organization One Mission spreads the donations in four ways: by giving smiles, including decorating hospital rooms, giving comfort by providing caregiver relaxation, giving assistance to individual families and research grants, and giving support by providing education and outreach programs.
JENNIFER HIXON, D.H.Sc., PA-C
— Rene Descartes
Board to focus on levee safety, not politics
“How much do you utilize social media?”
PAM GENTILE I don’t use it at all. I’d rather do other things.
reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries.”
75 cents
ON THE STREET
WSU hires Hixon
“The
See Buzz-Off, Page 3
By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Flood Control Commission allowed public comment on a proposal to construct a playground on Ponders Hollow Road that is bisected by the Little River levee last night, but made clear that its only interest is ensuring the integrity of that floodcontrol structure. The Flood Control Commission discussed the proposed Ponders Hollow Park and the possible impact of that project on an 800-foot section of the 2,500-foot-long Little River levee. Michael Bachand, Army Corps of Engineers levee safety manager, outlined several permitting options for the city to proceed with construction of a playground, options dealing with levels of disturbance of the levee structure. The Army Corps of Engineers has 61 levee systems across New England. Options with low impact, such as clearing the levee of brush and trees, can be reviewed and permitted at the Army Corps of Engineers regional level, while other options, including relocating the levee, would require permits issued from the headquarters in Washington, D.C., Bachand said. Bachand said the “biggest concern of the Army Corps of Engineers with this levee is that we can’t see what is going on” because the structure has become overgrown with vegetation. “The Corps position is that we have seen a number of communities wanting to use levees for recreation,” Bachand said. ”We have no objection to passive use. Our main concern is that the levee is functional. “We’re OK with a recreational element if it’s done responsibly and as long as it’s maintained,” Bachand said. “We want the city to clear the levee.”
“The regulation and engineering requirements can be substantial depending on the option the city selects to pursue,” Bachand said. Mayor Daniel M. Knapik has proposed construction of playing fields on city-owned property as part of the conversion process which will allow the city to use a section of the Cross Street Playground for construction of an elementary school at the corner of Cross and Ashley streets. The Ponders Hollow property is currently controlled by the Westfield Fire Department and was donated to the city for construction of a fire training facility, a project which has not happened because of fiscal constraints and the availability of state-operated training facilities. Knapik said Thursday that the city is currently negotiating with Fontaine Brothers, Inc., the Springfield-based general contractor originally hired to construct the proposed 96,000-square-foot elementary school. The construction has been delayed for three years by court challenges and the city has to seek a new construction contract. “So we’re in the process of negotiating a payout to Fontaine Brothers for the services they rendered and the material they purchased for the school project,” Knapik said last week. “We’ll be taking possession of the steel, bricks and kitchen appliances which will be stored on city property.” Fontaine Brothers received the contract on August 24, 2012, but City Purchaser Tammy Tefft stated that the city was informed by the Office of Attorney General that that contract is now void. “Due to the amount of time since the contract was awarded and stopped, it’s in the best interest to rebid the project,” said Tefft. “So we have to do it See Levee, Page 3
Get ready to Light It Up Blue April 2 for Autism Awareness Day By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer Westfield and Southwick are joining communities around the globe in recognizing World Autism Awareness Day April 2. Westfield Public Schools and City Hall are supporting the Western New England Walk Now For Autism Speaks through Dress Down and Blue fundraisers. For a donation to team Ryan’s Rally For Autism, municipal employees can dress down Thursday and wear blue, the recognized color of Autism Speaks and autism awareness, also recognized by the puzzle piece symbol. City Hall will once again participate in Autism Speaks’ Light It Up Blue campaign by changing the building’s spotlights to the color blue. Southwick Town Hall and Southwick Police Department will also be bathed in blue Thursday.
Town Hall will also Dress Down and Blue and challenged the SouthwickTolland-Granville Regional School District to do the same. Dress down organizers Cindy Pendleton and Victoria Hickey hope all Town Hall employees will participate. Southwick employees are also forming a walk team and hope to participate in the walk, which takes place Sept. 26 at Stanley Park. Teams can register now at www.walknowforautismspeaks. org/wne. Southwick and Westfield will join historic and iconic landmarks going blue April 2, including Niagara Falls, the Taj Majal and the Sydney Opera House. Autism Speaks was founded in 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, grandparents of a child with autism. In the past 10 years it has grown into the world’s leading autism science and advocacy organization. Last year, the Western
New England Walk raised more than $160,000 and drew more than 100 teams, and grants were given locally to Community Resources for People with Autism and the Greater Springfield YMCA’s special needs aquatics program. Autism Speaks’ web site, www. autismspeaks.org, has information on autism spectrum disorders and resources, including kits on everything from potty training to getting a haircut. Autism Speaks is also expanding its resources for people with autism transitioning into adulthood. To support World Autism Awareness Day April 2 – and Autism Awareness Month in April – wear blue, purchase a blue light bulb at Home Depot and light your home or office blue. Autism Speaks is encouraging everyone to take pictures of how you Light It Up Blue and post to social media with the hashtag #LIUB.
Two young members of team Ryan’s Rally for Autism help Mayor Daniel M. Knapik support World Autism Awareness Day last year. This year, the city will again show its support by lighting Westfield City Hall blue April 2. (File photo)
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