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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 221
“A good film is when the price of the dinner, the theatre admission and the babysitter were worth it.” — ALFRED HITCHCOCK
75 cents
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2016
Woman’s love of literature blossoms into Westfield Writers’ Project By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD-With the city experiencing a renaissance throughout the arts community, writer and researcher Gayle Gray saw an opening she wanted to explore – a group for writers. As Gray did her homework, she met Bill Westerlind, known to many in the arts community as one of the go-to people, and brainstormed what avenues might be best for writers. “Gayle is a passionate book reader and a very skilled author,” said Westerlind. “I knew a writer’s group was a project she had in mind for some
time but she needed help to get it rolling.” Westerlind added that he “loved the idea” of a local writer’s group. “Given the many talented writers in Westfield and the surrounding communities I’ve come to know through my work with ArtWorks Westfield, I decided to give her a hand,” he said, noting he would also be joining the group. Fast forward several months and on Saturday afternoon, Gray welcomed the first group of writers to the Westfield Writers’ Project at Book Club Bookstore & More! who were energized and ready to put pen to paper.
Gray said the mission of the group is to “foster the members’ literary goals through commitment, honest practice, sharing knowledge and information, positive peer review, and mutual support.” Gray explained in her introduction that writing has always been her “one true love,” and that love of writing grew from the literature her mother in particular introduced to her as a child. “The stories my parents told me about their lives and their families also led to my interests in history and genealogy,” See Writers’ Project, Page 5
Writer and researcher Gayle Gray of Westfield has launched the Westfield Writers’ Project. She reads from her writing exercise to the group.
Westfield Technical Academy receives $500,000 state grant
School Committee endorses district strategy for continuous improvement By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – The Westfield School Committee voted Monday to accept the Westfield Public School’s strategy for continuous improvement for 2016-2017, following a brief presentation by Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski. The superintendent said the district has retained the vision and strategy of last year, and during an August retreat all district administrator agreed on five areas of focus. He said administrators at each school will use the focus areas to set their goals. The five areas include developing a systematic process using data to ensure effective use of resources. Czaporowski said they will be looking at results in areas such as staff development, student growth and achievement, and where resources may be applied more effectively. “What about students that aren’t doing well,” asked School Committee member William Duval. Czaporowski said that data on students is distributed to principals and staff in the first three training days. The second strategic objective is to create a district vision and plan for integration of technology into the educational environment. School Committee member Ramon Diaz, Jr. asked about training on becoming a responsible digital citizen. WPS Director of Technology and Business Ronald Rix said the district is moving from acceptable use to responsible use in its teaching, and including information and skills on how to analyze web pages to allow students to self police. Rix also said
Historical Commission members discuss the old library use with the Select Board.
(Photo by Greg
Fitzpatrick)
Old library use continues to be discussed By GREG FITZPATRICK Correspondent SOUTHWICK – During Monday night’s Select Board meeting, ongoing discussions continued about the use of the old library. Historical Commission Chairman Sean Bissaillon and member David Gunn were present at the meeting. The old library is located at 475 College Hwy, on the southwest corner of the intersection
See Committee, Page 5
with route 57. It was the town’s public library until the middle of the 1990’s and officially opened in 1895. Having such a historical meaning, the Historical Commission doesn’t want to see the old library go to waste. “Our main objective is to preserve historical architecture in its integrity,” said Gunn. As the building has not seen any use for several years, there is a concern.
“We don’t want to see it deteriorate by neglect,” said Gunn. Gunn, Bissaillon, and the rest of the Historical Commission have been working with Tighe & Bond to be able to get estimations of how much the cleanup of the building would cost. This past May was the latest estimation from Tighe & Bond that totaled up to $40,000 for the cleanup. A majority of the clean See Library, Page 3
Westfield Bank and Chicopee Bank receive approval for merger
JIM HAGAN
WESTFIELD — Westfield Financial, Inc. (Nasdaq:WFD), the holding company for Westfield Bank and Chicopee Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBNK), the holding company for Chicopee Savings Bank, today jointly announced the Company’s receipt of final regulatory approval from the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Bank’s receipt of approval from
the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in connection with the previously announced merger transaction with Chicopee. Closing of the transaction remains subject to receipt of approvals from the Massachusetts Board of Bank Incorporation and the shareholders of Westfield and Chicopee. See Westfield Bank, Page 3
Youth Commission discusses opioid education and membership drive By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – The Youth Commission held a meeting last night in City Hall to discuss items on their agenda, and talk about how to increase membership from other groups. The Youth Commission seeks to create an environment in which young people and adults can communicate their thoughts and ideas about the city. These young adults are interested in improving the lives of their fellow students by taking the next step in making a difference.
Chair William Scott, a junior at Westfield High School, opened the meeting with roll call and introductions. Among the members present were students from Westfield High School, St. Mary’s High School and Pope Francis, which opened this year with students from Holyoke Catholic and Cathedral. Youth Commission advisor Amber Danahey and adult representative Pam Krzyzek were also present at the meeting, as was invited guest Susan Dargie, Westfield Public Schools The Youth Commission held their meeting Monday evening in City Hall to discuss matters of concern See Commission, Page 3 and interest to city youth. (Photo by Amy Porter)
By AMY PORTER Correspondent WESTFIELD – At the School Committee meeting on Monday, Westfield Public Schools Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski announced that Westfield Technical Academy has received a Skills Capital Grant Program award from the state in the amount of $500,000. Half of the award, or $250,000, is for Aviation Maintenance Technology to purchase power plant equipment, or engines. The other $250,000 will be granted to Manufacturing Technology to buy additional state-of-the-art machines to allow more students into the program. The stated goal of this grant initiative is to support vocational education and training programs that directly increase the number of individuals that are prepared to enter high-demand jobs in their community. “We’re extremely happy to receive this. It will move our aviation program forward, and add capacity to our manufacturing program,” Czaporowski said. WTA principal Joseph Langone, and career technical education director Peter Taloumis drove to Boston on Monday for the grant announcement. Langone said of the seven grant recipients, Westfield Technical Academy was the only vocational technical high school, and the only one to receive the full grant of $500,000. Langone said he was notified by grants coordinator Shannon Barry in the beginning of August that the school had applied for the grant last January, and did not receive it. He and Barry spent the next few weeks redoing the application and getting new pricing on equipment. They resubmitted the grant in late August, and were notified last week that their request had been approved. “This was an opportunity that looked like it had been a lost opportunity, and became a great opportunity,” Langone said. At the ceremony, Langone said that the State Secretary of Education See Grant, Page 3