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By PETER CURRIERStaff WriterSPRINGFIELD — The Westfield Police

Department donated more than $8,000 to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Springfield from its 2nd annual No-Shave-November drive.

The $8,132 donated by the police depart-ment nearly doubles the amount that was raised in the inaugural No-Shave-November drive in 2019. Officers Zach Coderre and Jared Rowe organized the fundraiser.

In 2019, officers Coderre and Rowe approached Police Chief Lawrence P. Valliere about allowing officers to take part in No-Shave-November if they donated $100 to Shriners Hospital. Typically the

Westfield Police Department employs a grooming standard that prohibits beards. Valliere agreed to let the policy slide for a month in the name of the charity.

This year the fundraiser was extended to December, which Coderre and Rowe said helped them nearly double their funds raised last year.

Shriners Hospital for Children is a non-profit organization that has 22 hospitals across the country, including the location in Springfield. They specialize in treating orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lips and palates in chil-dren.

Valliere said he hopes to break the $10,000 mark for the 2021 fundraiser in

November.Shriners Hospitals for Children has a mis-

sion to:• Provide the highest quality care to chil-

dren with neuromusculoskeletal conditions, burn injuries and other special healthcare needs within a compassionate, family-cen-tered and collaborative care environment.

• Provide for the education of physicians and other healthcare professionals.

Conduct research to discover new knowl-edge that improves the quality of care and quality of life of children and families.

• This mission is carried out without regard to race, color, creed, sex or sect, dis-ability, national origin, or ability of a patient or family to pay.

Westfield Police raise $8,000 for Shriners Hospital

From left: Shriners Donor Development Assistant Kathleen Fontaine, Police Chief Lawrence P. Valliere, Officer Zach Coderre, Shriners Director of Donor Development Stacey Perlmutter, and Officer Jared Rowe. (PETER CURRIER PHOTO)

Southwick reports 22 new COVID-19 casesInfection rate begins to level off

By PETER CURRIERStaff WriterSOUTHWICK — The Southwick

Health Department reported Friday that 22 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed this week to bring the town’s pandemic total to 365.

Health Director Tammy Spencer said Friday morning that there were 28 Southwick residents in isolation due to COVID-19. She said there was one addi-tional COVID-19 related death this week. Six Southwick residents have now died from COVID-19.

Southwick’s new cases come just a week after the town reported a record weekly high of 34 cases. The drop in the number of weekly cases follows a pattern that is playing out locally and across the state. While the infection rate remains high compared to the spring and summer, it has been steadily decreasing as more time has passed from Christmas and New Year’s, when ill-advised gatherings are believed to have contributed to record infection levels.

Southwick remains in the high-risk cat-egory, as it both has more than 25 active cases and a positivity rate above 5 per-cent. It has been in the high risk category since the week of Nov. 19.

In the previous 14 days, 893 COVID-19 tests were conducted in Southwick.

While the rate of infection across the state has begun to level off, health offi-cials are still concerned about the future of the pandemic. On Jan. 17, the B.1.1.7 COVID-19 variant was detected in Boston. B.1.1.7 is the same variant that rapidly became the dominant variant in the United Kingdom.

It is believed to be 70 percent more infectious than existing variants, but it is not considered to be any more deadly. The variant was discovered in Massachusetts in a woman in her 20s who had recently traveled to the U.K. and had tested nega-tive prior to leaving.

While it is not any more deadly, the variant being much more infectious means that many more people could become infected if the variant spreads out of con-trol. More people becoming infected could lead to more people being hospital-ized or succumbing to the virus.

As of Jan. 17, 88 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant have been discovered in 14 states.

Lisa Anderson receives Pace AwardBy HOPE E. TREMBLAYEditorSOUTHWICK — Lisa Anderson received

the Southwick Council on Aging Herbert C. Pace Award.

The award, given to a “good citizen” is voted on annually by the COA board and given to an older adult who has enhanced the lives of Southwick’s senior citizens.

Anderson, who serves the community as a part time firefighter and safety instructor, cem-etery lawn mower and now a Town Hall employee, has been a dedicated COA volunteer throughout the pandemic.

“The Council on Aging board voted unani-mously to a make an exception for this year to lower the age requirement and honor Lisa with this very special honor,” said COA Director Cindy Sullivan in her upcoming newsletter.

Sullivan said during a year filled with fear and anxiety due to the COVID-19 virus employ-ees were sent home from their jobs, schools were closed for months, and residents — espe-cially senior citizens – were asked to stay home unless they had to go out.

“Lisa found out the Southwick Senior Center had changed their operations and we were handing out meals on a daily basis and helping seniors in any way we could,” Sullivan said. “Lisa just showed up one day to help and then showed up every single day until the Senior Center staff returned to work on a full sched-ule.”

Sullivan said this act of kindness went on for weeks and she volunteered every minute of her time.

“She laughed with Seniors through their car windows, checked in to make sure they had what they needed, and was a friendly familiar face they so desperately needed,” Sullivan said. “She helped organize , deliver, and handed out meals on Saturdays when special days were planned. She also did small errands for a few individuals and she still continues to visit a senior twice a week.”

Anderson told Sullivan she felt safe wearing personal protective equipment and she recog-nized that town seniors still needed services and human interaction even if it was for a lim-ited time with restrictions. Plus, she enjoyed Sullivan’s company and the laughs she shared with the seniors.

“Cindy just loves her job and is dedicated to her seniors and we laughed all the time,” Anderson said “That made it easy to come back every day.”

Anderson has always been a care giver. She said she grew up in an Italian family that took care of each other. When her children were young, she helped her mother take care of her grandparents. Later in life, she married Fire Chief Russ Anderson and helped care for not only her aging parents, but his as well.

Anderson spent much of 2020 caring for her mother, who died last month. She said going to the senior center and seeing smiling faces was good for her and although the COA staff are back to work, she still enjoys helping out.

“I’m someone who, when there’s a job to do, I just do it,” said Anderson. “I don’t expect thanks or awards. I am very humbled that the Council On Aging chose to honor me, espe-

Southwick resident Lisa Anderson is the recipient of the Southwick Council on Aging Herbert C. Pace Good Citizen Award. (CINDY SULLIVAN PHOTO)

cially because the award is meant for someone older.”

In addition to helping with meal distri-bution throughout the summer, Anderson also helped in November with the Sand for Seniors program, ffilling and delivering all the buckets that were needed by herself. Sullivan said this made the Saturday deliv-ery go faster, which made less work for the Senior Center staff.

“Lisa has been a familiar face at the Senior Center for many years, but this year

See Pace Award, Page 5

By AMY PORTERStaff WriterWESTFIELD – During the

Westfield City Council meeting on Jan. 21, City Engineer Mark Cressotti presented his annual report for 2020 to councilors.

“Every year for the past 20 years, the engineering department has submitted the work they are doing, and where they want to go,” Cressotti said, adding, “There are a lot of important undertakings going on in the city.”

Cressotti named the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail central sec-tion as one such project under construction that should be com-pleted in late spring or early sum-mer. He said the Rail Trail is a strategic opportunity for the city to make Westfield a destination and access tourist dollars.

Another important undertaking highlighted by Cressotti is the turnpike interchange, which he

said will require “heavy lifting.” He said the city has already made a lot of effort and brought in funding to address the congestion all of the way up Interchange 3. He said one of the city’s eco-nomic niches is warehousing and

truck traffic, which will only be compounded as the economy trends to “by warehouse to your house.” and add to the conges-tion.

Cressotti said the city has held preliminary meetings with MassDOT on the congestion at the interchange. He said the prob-lem there is that the city is con-cerned about substantial queuing to get on the turnpike in the morn-ing, while MassDOT is concerned about queuing to get off Exit 3 in the evening, which can lead to backups of a mile on the turnpike. He said the solutions aren’t the same for both problems. “It’s a tricky situation,” he said.

Ward 4 Councilor Michael Burns asked Cressotti about the progress on Cowles Bridge, which he understood is a MassDOT job, but he’s asked a lot of questions by residents.

Cressotti said the city recently had a meeting with MassDOT

and the utility companies. He said the Cowles bridge replacement is a MassDOT project they have designed and funded, and will oversee the construction. He said a lot of utilities are involved, including an 18inch water main from Granville Reservation, a gas line and electric overhead.

Cressotti said the completion date on the books for Cowles bridge is Sept. 2025 by contract, however the meeting was con-vened to hash out some of the issues to begin building, and shrink that timeline. He said Westfield Gas & Electric and the Water department were also pres-ent. He said the proposed bridge will be to the east of the existing bridge. During construction they are going to build a new one, one half at a time, and then switch over the utilities. He said they are supposed to keep two lanes of

See Report, Page 5

Engineering Department presents annual report to council

MARK CRESSOTTICity Engineer

Major crime and incident reportSaturday, Jan. 16, 2021

WESTFIELD12:26 a.m.: assault, Franklin Street, a caller

reports that they were approached by several youths and one of them pulled out a switch-blade and threatened him, the responding officer reports that contact was made with one of the youths, the officer reports that the inci-dent stemmed from an argument between the youths and the calling party;

10:30 a.m.: shoplifting, Springfield Road, a caller from a Springfield Road department store reports that a female party left the store without paying for several items, the respond-ing officer reports that he pulled over the female party, the officer reports that the stolen items were returned and the female party was trespassed from the store;

5:24 p.m.: suspicious, Pochassic Road, a caller reports that a female party with nurses clothing and a Baystate Noble Hospital mask

approached his house and asked him for the location of a nearby house, dispatch reports that they contacted Baystate Noble Hospital who confirmed that they do no employ travel-ing nurses, the responding officer reports that he would search the area for the vehicle the female party was seen travelling in.

SOUTHWICK1:09 a.m.: assist citizen, Fred Jackson Road,

a homeowner reports her car alarm is sound-ing and she cannot turn it off, the horn was silenced;

1:22 p.m.: officer wanted, Depot Street police station, a resident reports receiving a call from Publisher’s Clearing House stating she won a gift card that would be delivered in an hour, police advised the resident it was a scam and she should call police if any unwant-ed parties come to her home.

Sunday, Jan. 17, 2021WESTFIELD

12:44 a.m.: hit and run accident, a patrol officer reports that a mailbox has been knocked into a resident’s driveway and that there are tire tracks on the lawn, the officer reports that the house appeared to be vacant;

9:19 a.m.: code enforcement, Main Street, a caller from a Main Street gas station reports that a male party entered the store while wear-ing his face covering below his nose, the caller reports that the male party was told to wear it properly or he would not be served, to which he responded by removing the mask completely and deliberately coughing on peo-ple and items in the store, the responding officer reports that he spoke with the male party and advised him that mask coverings are mandated in public per state law;

1:43 p.m.: motor vehicle theft, Phelps Avenue, a caller reports that her vehicle was stolen overnight and her father’s vehicle was

broken into, the responding officer reports that the vehicle was found on Meadow Street.

SOUTHWICK1:18 p..: alarm, College Highway, police

received a call from the Post Office alarm company that it received an alarm from the retail counter but no other alarms, an officer investigated and found a person coming out of the mail box area who stated there used to be a FOB for people to retrieve their mail but it appears to be broken;

1:26 p.m.: recreational vehicle violation, Feeding Hills Road, a person walking in the area reports four or five trail and mini bikes on the Rail Trailheading south, a responding offi-cer located and spoke with them;

1:41 p.m.: animal complaint, Point Grove Road, a person walking the Rail Trail reports a loose greyhound, the owner was located and took the dog home.

Police Logs

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

ON THIS DAY 393 – Roman Emperor Theodo-sius I proclaims his eight-year-old son Honorius co-emperor.971 – Using crossbows, Song dynasty troops soundly defeat a war elephant corps of the South-ern Han at Shao.1264 – In the conflict between King Henry III of England and his rebellious barons led by Si-mon de Montfort, King Louis IX of France issues the Mise of Amiens, a one-sided decision in favour of Henry that later leads to the Second Barons' War.1368 – In a coronation ceremo-ny, Zhu Yuanzhang ascends the throne of China as the Hongwu Emperor, initiating Ming dynasty rule over China that would last for three centuries.1546 – Having published nothing for eleven years, François Rabe-lais publishes the Tiers Livre, his sequel to Gargantua and Pan-tagruel.1556 – The deadliest earthquake in history, the Shaanxi earth-quake, hits Shaanxi province, China. The death toll may have been as high as 830,000.1570 – James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, regent for the infant King James VI of Scotland, is assassinated by firearm, the first recorded instance of such.1571 – The Royal Exchange opens in London.1579 – The Union of Utrecht forms a Protestant republic in the Netherlands.1656 – Blaise Pascal publishes the first of his Lettres provincia-les.1719 – The Principality of Liech-tenstein is created within the Holy Roman Empire.1789 – Georgetown College, the first Catholic university in the United States, is founded in Georgetown, Maryland (now a part of Washington, D.C.).1793 – Second Partition of Po-land.

1795 – After an extraordinary charge across the frozen Zuider-zee, the French cavalry captured 14 Dutch ships and 850 guns, in a rare occurrence of a battle be-tween ships and cavalry.1846 – Slavery in Tunisia is abol-ished.1849 – Elizabeth Blackwell is awarded her M.D. by the Gene-va Medical College of Geneva, New York, becoming the United States' first female doctor.1870 – In Montana, U.S. caval-rymen kill 173 Native Americans, mostly women and children, in what becomes known as the Ma-rias Massacre.1879 – Anglo-Zulu War: The Bat-tle of Rorke's Drift ends.1899 – The Malolos Constitution is inaugurated, establishing the First Philippine Republic. Emilio Aguinaldo is sworn in as its first President.1900 – Second Boer War: The Battle of Spion Kop between the forces of the South African Republic and the Orange Free State and British forces ends in a British defeat.1904 – Ålesund Fire: The Nor-wegian coastal town Ålesund is devastated by fire, leaving 10,000 people homeless and one person dead. Kaiser Wil-helm II funds the rebuilding of the town in Jugendstil style.1909 – RMS Republic, a passen-ger ship of the White Star Line, becomes the first ship to use the CQD distress signal after col-liding with another ship, the SS Florida, off the Massachusetts coastline, an event that kills six people. The Republic sinks the next day.1912 – The International Opium Convention is signed at The Hague.1920 – The Netherlands refuses to surrender the exiled Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany to the Al-lies.1937 – The trial of the anti-Soviet Trotskyist center sees seven-teen mid-level Communists ac-

cused of sympathizing with Leon Trotsky and plotting to overthrow Joseph Stalin's regime.1941 – Charles Lindbergh testi-fies before the U.S. Congress and recommends that the United States negotiate a neutrality pact with Adolf Hitler.1942 – World War II: The Battle of Rabaul commences Japan's invasion of Australia's Territory of New Guinea.1943 – World War II: Troops of the British Eighth Army capture Tripoli in Libya from the Ger-man–Italian Panzer Army.1945 – World War II: German admiral Karl Dönitz launches Op-eration Hannibal.1950 – The Knesset resolves that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel.1957 – American inventor Wal-ter Frederick Morrison sells the rights to his flying disc to the Wham-O toy company, which later renames it the "Frisbee".1958 – After a general uprising and rioting in the streets, Presi-dent Marcos Pérez Jiménez leaves Venezuela.1960 – The bathyscaphe USS Trieste breaks a depth record by descending to 10,911 metres (35,797 ft) in the Pacific Ocean.1961 – The Portuguese luxury cruise ship Santa Maria is hi-jacked by opponents of the Es-tado Novo regime with the inten-tion of waging war until dictator António de Oliveira Salazar is overthrown.1963 – The Guinea-Bissau War of Independence officially begins when PAIGC guerrilla fighters attack the Portuguese army sta-tioned in Tite.1964 – The 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution, prohibiting the use of poll taxes in national elections, is ratified.1967 – Diplomatic relations be-tween the Soviet Union and Ivory Coast are established.1967 – Milton Keynes (England) is founded as a new town by Or-der in Council, with a planning

brief to become a city of 250,000 people. Its initial designated area enclosed three existing towns and twenty one villages. The area to be developed was largely farmland, with evidence of con-tinuous settlement dating back to the Bronze Age.1968 – USS Pueblo (AGER-2) is attacked and seized by naval forces of North Korea.1973 – United States President Richard Nixon announces that a peace accord has been reached in Vietnam.1986 – The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducts its first mem-bers: Little Richard, Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Sam Cooke, Fats Domino, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley.1987 – Mohammed Said Hersi Morgan sends a "letter of death" to the president of Somalia, pro-posing the genocide of the Isaaq people.1997 – Madeleine Albright be-comes the first woman to serve as United States Secretary of State.1998 – Netscape announced Mozilla, with the intention to re-lease Communicator code as open source.2001 – Five people attempt to set themselves on fire in Bei-jing's Tiananmen Square, an act that many people later claim is staged by the Communist Party of China to frame Falun Gong and thus escalate their persecu-tion.2002 – U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl is kidnapped in Karachi, Pakistan and subsequently mur-dered.2003 – A very weak signal from Pioneer 10 is detected for the last time, but no usable data can be extracted.2018 – A 7.9 Mw earthquake occurs in the Gulf of Alaska. It is tied as the sixth-largest earth-quake ever recorded in the United States, but there are no reports of significant damage or

fatalities.2018 – A double car bombing in Benghazi, Libya, kills at least 33 people and wounds "dozens" of others. The victims include both military personnel and civilians, according to local officials.

TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS

1948 – Anita Pointer, American R&B/soul singer-songwriter

1950 – Richard Dean Anderson, American actor, pro-ducer, and composer

1950 – Suzanne Scotchmer, American economist and aca-demic (d. 2014)

1951 – Chesley Sullenberger, American airline pilot and safety expert

1953 – John Luther Adams, American composer

1953 – Antonio Villaraigosa, American politician, 41st Mayor of Los Angeles

1953 – Robin Zander, American rock singer-songwriter and gui-tarist

1964 – Jonatha Brooke, American singer-songwriter and guitarist

1964 – Mariska Hargitay, American actress and producer

1965 – Louie Clemente, American drummer

1966 – Haywoode Workman, American basketball player and referee

1974 – Tiffani Thiessen, American actress

1975 – Phil Dawson, American football player

1976 – Brandon Duckworth, American baseball player and scout

1976 – Alex Shaffer, American skier

1979 – Larry Hughes, American basketball player

1982 – Andrew Rock, American sprinter

1985 – Jeff Samardzija, American baseball player

1991 – Steve Birnbaum, American footballer

WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COMPAGE 2 - SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021 THE WESTFIELD NEWS

Sat., Jan. 23, 2021 is the 23rd day of the year. 342 days remain until the end of the year

Walker named to Siena College President's List

LOUDONVILLE, NY - Elizabeth Walker of Westfield was named to the Siena College President's List for the Fall 2020 Semester.

The President's List requires a 3.9 grade point average or higher.

Nichols College Fall 2020 Honors List

DUDLEY - Manyhard-working students at Nichols College in Dudley have achieved Dean's List or President's List honors during the fall 2020 semester.

Joseph Czarnecki of Westfield and Jenna Turrini of Southwick have achieved Dean's List honors.

Gettysburg College Dean's Honor List

GETTYSBURG, PA - Sean Murphy of Westfield has been placed on the Gettysburg College Dean's Honor list for outstanding

academic achievement in the Spring 2020 semester.

Students with a quality point average of 3.60 or higher (on a 4.0 scale) for a semester's work are placed on the College's Dean's Honor List.

Fall 2020 Dean's List at The College of Saint Rose

ALBANY, NY -Benjamin Rutledge of Southwick has been named to the Fall 2020 Dean's List at The College of Saint Rose.

The Dean's List recognizes full-time under-graduate students who complete a minimum of 12 graded credit hours and who achieve a semester average of 3.5 without a D, F, or Incomplete grade.

Roger Williams University Fall 2020 Dean's List

BRISTOL, RI - Select students have been named to the Fall 2020 Dean's List at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I. Full-time students who complete 12 or more credits per semester and earn a GPA of 3.4 or higher are

placed on the Dean's List that semester. The following students have earned this achieve-ment:

Andrew Buchanan of Westfield, Jack Finnie of Westfield, Devlin Welch of Westfield and Savannah Ziba of Southwick.

Holyoke Community College Dean's List for Fall 2020 semester

HOLYOKE - Each semester Holyoke Community College recognizes superior scholarship through the Dean’s List. A student is placed on the Dean’s List if their G.P.A. is 3.2 or higher. The students listed below have earned Dean’s List honors for the Fall 2020 semester.

Southwick: Anastasia Antropova, Rachel Elaine

Diamond, Jonathan Michael Grochmal, Carey Layne Pope, Zachary Charles Reiser, Caden Mead Rogers, Amy Lynn Tenerowicz, Joseph Peter Viamari III.

Westfield: Kimberly Lynn Adamczyk, Kara O.

Adamites, Luz Alcantara, Lamnatu Alhassan,

Tania Michelle Alvalle, Gabriela Artin, Kaylin Marie Barrett, Tiffany Marie Bergeron, Christopher Joseph Bruno, Grace Cannady, Gilda Cardenuto, Jade Leslee Cloud, Torin Rory Cook, Caleb Curd, Makailah L. Desharnais, Gabrielle Lillian Downer, Nataria K. English, Acacia Gagnon, Deije Gottsche, Kelsey Grant, Matvey P. Hancharonak, Monica Hernandez, Katherine Anna Howard, Rachael Regan Jablonski, Nicholas Howard Kane, Alex Curran Keaveney, Jason Kelly, Zachary James Koval, Viktoriia Kovtun, Ruslana Kovtun, Shannon Patricia

Lachapelle, Samantha Caitlin LaCross, Nicole B. Lamothe, Jamie Lynne LeFebvre, Alicia LeTellier, Svetlana Malancha, Sofiia Malova, Justin Paul Misseri, Isabel Teresa Navarro, Katherine Marie Pac, Kiley Susan Pellegrini, Kaitlyn Nicole Phillips, Lailany Desiree Santa-Gomez, Vladislav Alexandrovich Seleznev, Brianna Nichole Shvetsov, Alena Sidash, Dylan Stanislaw Slonka, Shelby Lynn St. Onge, Kathryn Ann Stewart, Colin Patrick Swords, Ashley Marie Szafran, Iryna Vorobei, Jordan Thomas Whitlock, Sarah Anna Wilcox, Danae Saree Young-Hall.

School Notes

THE WESTFIELD NEWS SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021 - PAGE 3WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM

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See all our photos at ...

HOLYOKE - On Thursday the Legislature’s Special Oversight Committee on the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home held a virtual public hearing for administration officials and staff to directly testify. Sen. John C. Velis, who represents the city of Holyoke and sits on the committee, stated that the hearing was an opportu-nity to bring up concerns and learn more about how to improve the Home.

“It is clear that staffing and oversight problems at the Home have existed for a long time. I have heard many con-cerns from families and staff directly, and it was critical to bring these issues up,” said Velis. “The goal is to figure out how we can address these problems going forward so a tragedy like last spring never happens again.”

Major General Gary Keefe, who was recently named the new chair of the Soldiers’ Home Board of Trustees, was among those who testified in front of the committee. Keefe is the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard and was in charge of the guardsmen who were deployed to the Home in March to respond to the out-break.

Keefe said that when he first arrived at the Home at the end of March, “it was bedlam.” Responding to a question about the chain of command at the Home, the General stated that a stan-dardization of policies and regulations at the Home is badly needed.

One of the first to testify was the Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders. After a series of questions regarding staffing levels and administration positions at the facility, the Secretary noted that they are continuing to work to improve staffing levels and that recruitment is always a challenge.

In a comment to the secre-tary, Velis said that families have continued to report that staffing shortages at the Home have contributed to visitation problems. “All these families want to do is see their loved ones. The iso-lation that COVID-19 has brought upon these Veterans is terrible, and I am worried about the impact this time period will have on their mental health.”

Sudders responded that shutting down visitations last spring and then later this fall again were some of the hard-est decisions she has ever had to make. She said that she was hopeful that family visits and socialization with other

residents will improve with increased vaccinations and new testing models. She also stated that she has asked Secretary of Veteran Services Cheryl Poppe to come up with a new visitation model for the Home.

Another topic discussed was the recommendations the architecture firm, Payette, has made for a new Soldiers’ Home facility. Their plan, which was commissioned by the Baker administration, calls for 180-204 beds for the new Home, a decrease from the pre-COVID capacity of 235 beds.

Velis stressed that the bed projection needs to be increased, mainly because there is no way to accurately predict how many veterans will rely on the Home in the future. “I would rather be in a position 20 years from now where we’ve got a few vacan-cies as opposed to waiting lists where constituents can’t get a bed at the Home.”

Kevin Jourdain, the former chair of the Board of Trustees, also testified on Thursday that the number of beds should not be decreased. “We can’t predict the next war, the next military conflict. We’re supposed to be building a facility for the next 100 years, not for the next 10 years,” said Jourdain.

Jourdain also emphasized the importance of instituting an ombudsman’s office at the Home to ensure that residents and families have an confi-dential and independent resource to reach out to when issues arise. In the FY’2021 budget, an amendment by Senator Velis to provide fund-ing for an ombudsman’s office at the Soldiers Home’ was successfully adopted. Jourdain stated that such a position would greatly help to improve oversight of the Home.

The hearing, which lasted from 1 p.m. until just before 7 p.m., is the first the commit-tee has held in the new year. A report from the committee, along with possible legisla-tion, is due by the end of March

Grace Coon, center. is presented with a $100 check from VFW Post 872 Chairman & District 7 Commander Troy Henke. Pictured at left are Post 872 Quartermaster, Jason Bostock and 872 Post member Sterling Elmer.

VFW awards essay winnerSOUTHWICK - Grace Coon, a ninth-grade student at

Southwick Regional School, was VFW Post 872’s winner of the annual Voice of Democracy essay contest that is sponsored by the VFW for students in grades 9-12. This year’s theme was “Is this the country that our founders envisioned.” Coon was also selected as the District 5th place winner and will be awarded a certificate plus an additional $25 during the District Award Ceremony on Feb. 27. District 7 comprises all of Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden counties.

Velis, legislators, bring up concerns during Holyoke Soldiers’ Home Oversight hearing

Hello,It has been a busy couple of weeks

since officially being sworn in. Ethan and I are getting settled into my office, answering and helping a number of con-stituents with issues or questions, while attending many meetings with organiza-tions throughout the State.

I am currently researching and sub-mitting legislation for the current ses-sion focusing on the needs and priorities of Westfield. I am filing a bill that would increase the chapter 90 money the 351 cities and towns get for roads from the gas and diesel sales tax. Senator Velis and I had a great meeting where he shared his experiences and knowledge about the House of Representatives and we talked about being a unified front in representing Westfield from both

the House and Senate.I wish life was normal and I could be

at the State House building personal relationships with my colleagues to advocate for the City of Westfield, but unfortunately Zoom meetings are the current norm. We have attended numer-ous meetings with organizations and agencies throughout the State. Thus far, we’ve met with: Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, Massachusetts Association for Community Action (MASSCAP), Baystate COVID-19 update, Arc – Enhance the lives of people with intel-lectual and developmental disabilities,

including autism, and their families, Western Massachusetts Network to End Homeless, Zero Waste Project (recy-cling and waste), Holyoke Soldiers Home Group, and many others.

In addition, I have had conversations with other representatives throughout the state to discuss legislation being filed and to talk about Westfield’s pri-orities. Other meetings include Westfield Public Schools Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski, where we discussed his budget concerns and the new money

that will be available from the COVID-19 relief bill passed by the U.S. Congress in late December. Ethan and I met with Barnes Airport Manager, Christopher

Willenborg, where we received a tour and presentation about airport opera-tions and future plans. I also signed a letter to the Governor that would add funeral home employees to Phase I for vaccinations.

We will continue to attend meetings and answer constituents’ questions or concerns.

Next week Senator Velis and I will be meeting with Mayor Humason to dis-cuss the city’s priorities. On Tuesday (Jan 26th) at 9 AM, Ethan and I will be on Westfield Community Channel 15, and that night the Governor will provide his State of the State Address. There are also meetings scheduled with the leader-ship at Baystate, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the Massachusetts Nursing Association and many others.

Please feel free to reach out to my office at 413-875-8787 from 8 am – 4 pm Monday through Friday. We are located in the Westwood Building on the 3rd floor (94 N Elm St, Suite 301N). You can also email us at: Kelly.Pease@mahouse.gov or Ethan.Flaherty@mahouse.gov.

Thank you.State Representative Kelly Pease

Rep. Kelly Pease researching legislation

STATE REP. KELLY PEASE

WESTFIELD — Criminals often target cars that have per-sonal items left in plain view or vehicles left unlocked. There are a few easy steps that will help you from becoming a vic-tim of a vehicle burglary:

• ALWAYS lock your car door; this includes when it is parked in your driveway or in front of your home.

• NEVER leave items of value, such as your purse, wallet, briefcase, laptop or cellphone in plain view. Secure your valuables inside the trunk before arriving at your destination or bring them with you.

• NEVER leave your keys and/or key fob inside the car. Thieves can just press the start button and drive away.

If you see anything suspicious, MAKE A CALL, MAKE A DIFFERENCE at 413-562-5411 or DIAL 911 in case of an emergency.

Westfield Police Department reminds you to Lock It or Lose It!

Send your local briefs to The Westfield News

WESTFIELD — Now, more than ever, our readers want to know about your business. As we slowly bring back local businesses, it is important to share what you offer, when and how people can make purchases or utilize your services and just know that you are open.

Are you hosting online events or offer remote ser-vices? We want to know! Send briefs, photos to press releases@thewestfield news.com

WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COMPAGE 4 - SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021 THE WESTFIELD NEWS

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Marijuana retailers file suit to void delivery rules

By COLIN A. YOUNGState House News ServiceBOSTON - Making good on a warning issued months ago, the

organization that represents most of the state's marijuana retailers is suing the Cannabis Control Commission to invalidate the new regulations that create a separate category of businesses allowed to deliver non-medical marijuana directly to consumers.

The Commonwealth Dispensary Association opposed the commission's regulations while they were in development last year and last week filed suit in Suffolk Superior Court asking a judge to void the regulations. The group and its attorneys from Foley Hoag argue that the new delivery-only license types violate the state's marijuana law, which they say gives the retailers the right to deliver cannabis under their existing licenses.

"Simply, the CCC overstepped its authority and disregarded state law, radically upending the established rules that hundreds of small businesses and their host communities operated in accor-dance with since 2016," the CDA said in a statement.

The CCC declined to comment on the ongoing legal matter, but Chairman Steven Hoffman was adamant late last year that the commission was on solid legal ground if the CDA carried out its threat to sue to overturn the commission's 3-1 vote to adopt the new industry rules.

"That's certainly their prerogative to do so. We made what we thought was the right decision, one that we stand by," Hoffman told reporters about the threat from the CDA immediately after the CCC approved its regulations on Nov. 30. "We're fully pre-pared to defend ourselves if that happens, but that is certainly outside of my control and outside of the commission's control."

The CCC's new regulations create two delivery license types: a "marijuana delivery operator" that can buy products wholesale from growers and manufacturers and sell them to their own cus-tomers, and a "marijuana courier" that can charge a fee to make deliveries from CCC-licensed retailers and dispensaries. Advocates have argued that delivery-only licenses will help level the playing field between large corporations and small businesses because the barriers to entry for delivery are typically far less burdensome than those for retail licenses.

But the CDA, which said it represents 70 percent of the mari-juana companies operating in Massachusetts, argues in its suit that the state's recreational marijuana law, Chapter 94G, "explic-itly mandates that Marijuana Retailers, which are heavily regu-lated and consumer-facing, shall be permitted to deliver" and that the CCC is violating the law by preventing existing retailers from delivering marijuana without first paying for and obtaining a delivery-specific license.

The law defines a marijuana retailer as "an entity licensed to purchase and deliver marijuana and marijuana products from marijuana establishments and to deliver, sell or otherwise transfer marijuana and marijuana products to marijuana establishments and to consumers." Delivery has long been allowed as part of the state's medical marijuana program, but home delivery has never been allowed in the non-medical side of the industry.

The CDA's lawsuit also claims that the regulations should be voided by the court because they were not approved by at least three "lawfully seated" commissioners.

The CCC voted 3-1 on Nov. 30 to adopt the regulations, but Commissioner Shaleen Title's initial three-year appointment to the CCC had lapsed Sept. 1 and she continued to serve on the commission as a holdover.

The section of state law that set up the CCC as an agency says that commissioners "shall serve for a term of 5 years or until a successor is appointed," but Title was an inaugural member of the CCC so her initial appointment was subject to a different sec-tion of the law that declares that the initial appointments made jointly by the governor, treasurer and attorney general "shall serve for a term of 3 years" without a clause specifically allowing the appointee to serve until a successor is named.

"[T]he regulations were not promulgated consistent with the law since only two lawfully-seated commissioners voted for the regulations. A third commissioner who voted for the regulations was not lawfully-seated because her term had expired and state law did not allow for her to holdover," CDA attorneys from Foley Hoag said in a statement.

If Title's vote in favor of the regulations were removed, the vote would have been 2-1, but the law that established the CCC says that "the affirmative vote of 3 commissioners shall be required for an action of the commission."

While the CDA made its objections to the new delivery struc-ture known in the fall as the CCC was preparing to adopt the rules, the organization did not publicly raise issues with Title's continued service on the CCC. When the CCC voted to adopt the regulations, the CDA issued a statement that focused more on "misguided online retailer policies that will only serve to canni-balize the legal industry by large, corporate interests at the expense of our small businesses, communities and Main Streets."

"While the CDA is disappointed by today's outcome, this will not be the final word on delivery. The very real concerns of intro-ducing online retailers should be heard and addressed," the group said in November. "To that end, we are prepared to contest the matter to ensure that policy continues to adhere to the statute and that the market is not upended."

The lawsuit puts the newly-reshaped CCC in a position of defending policies that a majority of members were not around to draft, debate or vote on.

Since the Nov. 30 vote to adopt the regulations, Title and Britte McBride -- two of the three commissioners who voted in support -- have departed and have been replaced by Nurys Camargo and Ava Callender Concepcion, respectively. Bruce Stebbins filled the seat that Kay Doyle resigned in May.

Hoffman voted in favor of the delivery regulations and Commissioner Jennifer Flanagan voted in opposition after an earlier attempt to delay delivery until 2023.

Biden eyes eviction moratorium extension through MarchBy MICHAEL P. NORTONState House News ServiceBOSTON - As Massachusetts experi-

ments with expanded monetary and legal assistance to prevent evictions during the pandemic, President Joe Biden is making eviction policy a central part of his day one executive actions to address what he is describing as an "almost unprecedent-ed housing affordability crisis."

Noting one in five renters and one in 10 homeowners with a mortgage are behind on payments, Biden is asking the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to consider immediately extending the federal eviction moratori-um until at least March 31, and calling on

Congress to provide rental assistance and extend the moratorium further. The mor-atorium is scheduled to expire at the end of January.

In addition, Biden is asking the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to consider extending fore-closure moratoriums for federally guar-anteed mortgages until at least March 31.

On Tuesday, the Federal Housing Finance Agency extended its foreclosure and eviction moratoriums until February 28, 2021, according to Biden's team, and he will call on the agency to consider extending the foreclosure moratorium

further and continue forbearance applica-tions for all loans guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

In October, Baker let a state-imposed moratorium on evictions expire and the Legislature opted not to step in to keep it in place. Instead, the governor laid out a $171 million plan to keep tenants in their homes and support landlords as they struggle with impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a related economic relief measure, Biden is asking the Department of Education to consider immediately extending the pause on interest and prin-cipal payments for direct federal loans until at least September 30, 2021.

By COLIN A. YOUNG State House News ServiceBOSTON — There is more to the

Massachusetts labor market than meets the eye, analysts at Fitch Ratings said this week.

In November, the Massachusetts job-less rate dropped to 6.7 percent and mir-rored the national unemployment rate after several months of exceeding the country's average. But if people who have exited the labor force entirely -- meaning they are unemployed but not actively seeking work -- are factored in, Massachusetts would have the highest unemployment rate in the country at around 13 percent, the credit rating agency said.

"Labor force exits are still significant, compounding the negative fiscal effects of job losses. Those who have exited the labor force are typically not generating taxable income or purchasing as many taxable goods and services and are also more likely to require publicly funded social services, such as Medicaid," the Fitch analysts led by Senior Director Olu Sonola wrote. "Employment recovery is a key factor driving overall economic and tax revenue recovery for states. The pace of the recovery for each state depends in part on how quickly exited workers are able to return to the labor force."

While Massachusetts' official unem-ployment rate improved in November, Fitch said its own adjusted unemploy-

ment rate for the state got worse, "imply-ing deeper labor market challenges." Massachusetts, Iowa and Vermont are the only three states that have a Fitch-adjusted jobless rate that is five percent-age points or more higher than the offi-cial number.

The scale of labor market exits was becoming evident in November as the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics esti-mated that the Massachusetts labor force had decreased by almost 44,000 people in October. The state's labor force par-ticipation rate, which reflects the per-centage of working-age adults who are either employed or seeking a job, dropped 0.8 percentage points in November to 63.1 percent even as the overall unemployment rate improved.

The arrival of the COVID-19 pan-demic and the ongoing economic restric-tions put in place to mitigate the spread of the virus tore giant holes into the labor market in Massachusetts and across the country. But Massachusetts is now lagging most other states when it comes to recovering some of those lost jobs.

By the end of November, the median state jobs recovery since April, which Fitch said was "the nadir of 2020 job losses," was 59 percent. But Massachusetts had recovered fewer than half of the jobs, Fitch said.

The others on the list of states that have recovered less than half of the jobs lost at the peak of the pandemic, Fitch

said, are Minnesota, Oklahoma, Delaware, New York, Wyoming, New Hampshire, Illinois, California, New Mexico, North Dakota and Hawaii.

"Since this summer, the rate of recov-ery gradually slowed through the fall and a reversal of prior employment gains for certain states began occurring in November," Fitch wrote. "Employment growth is expected to slow even further or reverse course across states in the next few months with lockdowns in response to the surge in coronavirus cases and hospitalizations."

Job losses in the leisure and hospitali-ty industries continue to lead the way, representing 35 percent of all job losses in November despite making up just 11 percent of total pre-pandemic employ-ment. The leisure, hospitality and tour-ism industry employed 376,000 workers and was the third-largest industry in Massachusetts as of 2018, according to a report from the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute and Boston Foundation.

"These sectors continue to show sig-nificant signs of weakness, given gov-ernment travel restrictions and consumer reluctance to travel. Fitch anticipates sector weakness is likely to persist for several years," the rating agency said.

Massachusetts labor officials are expected to announce the monthly state-level unemployment rate and jobs fig-ures for December on Friday.

Fitch: Mass. jobless picture worse than it appears among states that have regained less than half of jobs lost

Mass. Lawmakers continue to sort through Holyoke Home tragedyGov. Baker reforms died with end of last session

By CHRIS LISINSKIState House News ServiceBOSTON - Health and Human

Services Secretary Marylou Sudders believes that a lack of preparation and infection control protocols, rather than staffing issues or the background of the Holyoke Soldiers' Home's superinten-dent, was the biggest factor behind a tragic COVID-19 outbreak that struck the facility last spring.

Nurses who worked in the long-term care facility for veterans, however, do not agree.

Joan Miller, a member of the Massachusetts Nurses Association union and a registered nurse at the home, told lawmakers on Thursday that she thinks much of the suffering -- at least 76 vet-eran deaths tied to a potent outbreak that hit in March 2020 -- could have been avoided if state officials had hired some-one licensed as a nursing home adminis-trator to run the facility.

"If we had had a licensed medical administrator, whatever the terms are, I believe that this would not have hap-pened," Miller said. "I think that is a direct reason: the lack of leadership, lack of medical background, and the staffing issues that we have had all along."

A special legislative commission con-vened to investigate the springtime crisis at the Holyoke Soldiers' Home, which experienced one of the deadliest long-term care outbreaks in the state and likely the country. The panel heard hours of testimony and competing views on the role that staffing and qualification issues played.

Several speakers, including Miller, contended that the tenure of former Superintendent Bennett Walsh, who was in charge during the outbreak, is evi-dence that the state should prioritize hir-ing leaders with licensing and experi-ence leading long-term care facilities.

Gov. Charlie Baker appointed Walsh, a 24-year military veteran who had little experience in clinical or residential care, to oversee the Holyoke home in May 2016. Former U.S. Attorney Mark Pearlstein flagged that inexperience as a factor in a report investigating the cir-cumstances of the many deaths.

Sudders, the Baker administration's health care chief, expressed skepticism that someone with different qualifica-tions could have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic differently if the structural issues remained.

Even if the home had a fully licensed administrator in charge in March 2020, Suders said she believes the virus still would have ravaged the home due to an absence of "clinical and operating proto-cols."

"I don't think one person would have been able to have stopped that, unless they had put into place those policies," Sudders said. "If those policies and pro-cedures were not in place, a licensed nursing home administrator could not have turned that around."

Kevin Jourdain, a member and former chair of the Holyoke home's board of trustees, told the committee that he believes a new permanent superinten-dent "needs be a licensed nursing home administrator."

The current acting superintendent, Michael Lazo, does not have that certifi-cation, which Jourdain described as a

result of the board needing to find some-one quickly to succeed Val Liptak, who took over following Walsh's removal in March.

Walsh and former Holyoke Soldiers' Home medical director David Clinton face criminal neglect charges for their role in the outbreak, with Attorney General Maura Healey alleging their decision to combine separate wards exposed patients who did not have the highly infectious virus to those who did.

Lawmakers have chosen to wait on reforms sought by the governor last June until after the panel completes its investigation, which is one of several independent probes into the outbreak.

Staffing issues are also a factor. Sudders said a staffing study had been underway examining the workforce at the facility before the outbreak, prompt-ed by some "management-labor issues" and concerns such as the fact that there was no permanent staffing schedule in place.

Asked if staffing deficiencies contrib-uted to the outbreak, Sudders replied that a "more fundamental" issue was that internal processes that could protect resi-dents from a pandemic did not exist. Many other nursing homes in Massachusetts -- including the other state-run soldiers' home in Chelsea -- faced pandemic threats, Sudders said, but were not hit as hard because "their internal structures didn't collapse."

"What happened at Holyoke, from my read of everything, was a complete col-lapse because it didn't exist," Sudders told the committee. "So staff were left on their own to come up with responses. We left staff on the front lines without the clinical and management oversight and support to manage through a pandemic."

Liptak, however, told lawmakers that when she arrived in March to help miti-gate the crisis, there were not enough caretakers to meet residents' needs, a view shared by Miller, who pushed back on Sudders's description.

"When you're on the unit, when you're on the floor, when you're working that day, staff does not agree," Miller said. "There is not enough staff."

THE WESTFIELD NEWS SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021 - PAGE 5WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM

ObituariesContact roxanne@thewestfieldnewsgroup • 413-562-4181 / Ext. 118 Obituaries online at: westfieldnews.com/categories/obituaries

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Hello Everyone,Things are starting to pick

up again as a new session begins. My staff and I are excited to roll up our sleeves and get to work as I start my first full term as your State Senator. This week marks what would have been the 92nd birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King as well as a very profound national transition for our country. I hope all of you had a chance to celebrate on Monday.

On Wednesday, I virtually met with Robert Roose, the Chief Medical Officer at Mercy Medical Center, to discuss substance use disor-ders and how the pandemic continues to detrimentally impact people living with addiction. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak with Dr. Roose and brainstorm potential legislation to help others struggling.

Later on Wednesday, my

office held another virtual lis-tening session for families who currently have loved ones at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home. I invited family mem-

bers to share their stories and I give my deepest gratitude to those who did. It was insight-ful to hear from families about the current status of the Home and concerns that still exist.

On Thursday the Legislature’s Special Oversight Committee on the Soldiers’ Home held a public hearing where I was able to raise many of the concerns I have heard. Members of the administration, as well as Holyoke Soldiers’ Home employees, testified and fielded questions about staff-ing and labor-related issues among other topics. It is essential that we ensure the Home is moving forward in the right direction, so that our current and future Veterans get the care they deserve.

On Friday I was glad to join the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation in Springfield to help with the

delivery of winter coats they were getting via the Coats4Vets program. My newly-elected colleague Senator Gomez was also there helping out and it was great to see all the donations come in that will go to our Veterans.

In this new legislative ses-sion, I will also be putting together newsletters from my office that can be sent right to your email inbox. If you would like to sign up for the newsletter, head to www.sen-atorjohnvelis.com/quarterly-newsletter/

As always if there is any-thing I can do to assist you, please never hesitate to reach out to my office. I can be reached at my email: john.velis@masenate.gov or by phone: (413) 572-3920 and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.

Sincerely,John C. Velis

By JUANITA CARNES FNP, Chair, and JOSEPH ROUSE, directorLocal covid numbers: See Peter Currier’s front page article

in Friday’s edition.Regionally, our hospitals are still admitting a high number of

COVID-19 cases. The good news is there are far fewer ICU level patients than we saw in the spring and summer. US reports a 10% decline in the number of COVID-19 deaths over the last seven days but CDC predicts Covid-19 deaths to reach 508,000 by February 13, 2021. The US has had 250,052 new cases daily over the last week. This is down 19% from last week but triple the peak last summer.

CDC reports 35,990,150 doses distributed and 16,525,281 administered as of January 20th. 1,908,258 have been dis-pensed at long term facilities. Our department is awaiting information from the state regarding distribution of vaccines. As soon as we know, we will be hosting vaccine administration clinics. This information will be posted in this newspaper and on our website. Please be patient. It will take time to vaccinate everyone in each phase. Vaccines are released from the federal government to the states. Eachstate decides how to distribute these. Hospitals in the first phase experienced computer regis-tration programs crashing and other issues. Hopefully, we will all learn from the issues faced during each phase and stream-line vaccine administration. It is also expected that there will be more Federal guidance with the new administration. For current information from the state regarding all clinics and who is eligible, please visit: mass.gov/Covid.

TESTING:• If you have symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, chills,

cough, stuffy nose, sore throat, body aches, loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, shortness of breath, headache.

• If you have been within 6 feet for 15 minutes of someone with confirmed COVID-19.

• If you have taken part in activities that put you at higher

risk such as large gatherings and travel.Experiencing symptoms and want to get tested? Call your

health provider first.• If you do get tested you should stay home pending test

results. Going to the market after your test, exposes you to COVID and invalidates that test. Also, if you have been tested then it is assumed you may have COVID and you could be spreading the virus.

• If you test positive you must isolate at home.• If you test negative it simply means that you did not have

COVID-19 at the time of your testing. Continue to protect yourself and others. Some are using the terms isolate and quar-antine interchangeably. Isolation is used to separate people with COVID-19 symptoms from those who are not infected. Quarantine keeps someone who might have been exposed to the virus from others.

So with this slight decrease in COVID-19 numbers, be hope-ful but don’t be careless. Continue vigilance with protecting yourself and others.

Dedicated health department members who have been work-ing tirelessly throughout the pandemic are:

Debra Mulvenna RN, Assistant DirectorEvelyn Bristol RN

Steve Cipriani, Health InspectorThomas Hibert, Health Inspector

Cheryl McMordie Office ManagerCrystal Dugay

Kathi Cotugno, CORE coordinatorOther Board Members:

Margaret DoodyStan Strzempko MD

WE KEEP WORKING TO KEEP YOU SAFEWear your mask. Wash your hands. Keep your distance.

Avoid gatherings. Stay home. Save lives.Look for us in next Saturday’s edition.

WESTFIELD PUBLIC HEALTH WEEKLY BULLETIN

Velis rolling up sleeves at the start of his first full term

JOHN C. VELIS

Martha Mary (McCue) MerrillSOUTHWICK: Martha Mary

(McCue) Merrill, 92, (1928 – 2021) passed away on January 20, 2021 surrounded by her loving family. Martha was born in Fox Harbour, Newfoundland Canada on September 3, 1928 to the late Daniel and Agnes (O’Leary) McCue. At age seventeen, Martha and her family emigrated through Ellis Island, leaving her home country, and had moved to Dorchester MA. In the U.S. is where she met the love of her life William L. Merrill at a USO dance where he was a young military guard assigned to the entrance. They soon married and after many years of a military career life traveling to various military bases, together with their four children, had returned to her hus-band’s home area of Western Mass. In her later years Martha went on to achieve her A.S. in Business from Fischer Jr. College. Martha was proud of both her Newfoundland heritage and her Bostonian background. She loved to sing and dance to Irish songs and loved to share her many ‘newphie’ style adages such as “here’s to the girl on the hill…”. She enjoyed her bowling league friends, playing card games, cribbage (with a win only mindset!), cookouts, seafood and going to bingo nights. She took pride in restor-ing their colonial home in Westfield to its’ former glory. She was a devoted mother, and when her first born son Brian was in an automobile accident at nineteen, which left him a quadriplegic, she devoted her life to his care and wellbeing, helping him to live to fifty-seven. She loved her entire fam-ily and looked forward to spending time with each of them at her summer beach home in Marshfield, MA (aka Marsh-Vegas!). She was funny, smart, quick-witted, and a feisty Irish girl who was never shy to let you know what was on her mind!

She will be deeply missed by her daughters Karen Merrill-Cartier and Ray, Leslie Merrill, Lorna Merrill, and her fiancé Michael, her six grandchildren Kyla, Kevin, Clifford, Lena, Brian, and Caitlin, her seven great-grand-children, her siblings Mary Frances Fleming, Catherine Leonard and Joseph McCue, and many nieces, nephews, and extended family. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her loving husband William L. Merrill, her son Brian Merrill, and her brother John McCue. The family would like to thank all the staff at Baystate Hospice and Landmark at Monastery Heights for their dedicated and sincere care of Martha. She loved you all!

Calling hours will be held on Monday, January 25, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in Southwick Forastiere Funeral Home, 624 College Highway, Southwick MA with a private burial at Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery.

PLEASE VISIT WWW.FORASTIERE.COM TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO PERSONALLY VISIT THE FAMILY AND SHARE YOUR APPRECIATION FOR MARTHA’S LIFE DURING VISITING HOURS. A cele-bration of Martha’s life will be held later this year at her summer home. In lieu of flowers, donations are welcomed for two causes close to her heart. The Holy Family Church, 5 Main St., Russell MA 01071 or to the Special Olympics Massachusetts, 512 Forest St., Marlborough, MA 01752. To leave a message of personal condolence, or more informa-tion visit www.forastiere.com.

Pace AwardContinued from Page 1

she went above and beyond. Helping is nothing new to her as she has helped both her parents in their older years and also her in-laws,” Sullivan said. “Making sure seniors have what they need and making their lives easier is a priority whether they are family or not”.

Anderson is the Southwick Fire Department SAFE Coordinator, educating children and seniors in fire prevention and has also been a C.N.A. in a nursing home.

“She is amazing, and we so appreciated her time and commitment during a very challenging time for our Seniors and our community. We will have a reception to honor her more formally once we are safely able to do so. Thank you Lisa for being our ‘Good Citizen’ when we needed you the most,” stated Sullivan.

travel open at all times.“You should see work commencing in

April,” Cressotti said, adding that the big-gest holdup is the electric overhead on the northern side. He said anyone with ques-tions, should call the Engineering depart-ment.

At-large Councilor Dave Flaherty asked about the Powdermill and Armbrook dams which are under review by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and how much they are going to cost the city.

Cressotti said both dams have been rec-ommended for rehabilitation by the NRCS, and the city will be liable for 35 percent of the construction costs. He said the cost to the city will be around $5 million for both projects which are under Flood Control, who will be presenting them to the City Council. He said the Engineering Dept. is seeking state and federal funds for upgrades to the Westfield River Levee.

At-large Councilor John J. Beltrandi, III said he looked over the report, and was impressed. “Your department has come a long way, and your staff is efficient and friendly,” he said.

Cressotti said the department has an out-standing individual in Assistant Civil Engineer Jeremy Cigal, “who makes my job very easy.”

ReportContinued from Page 1

WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COMPAGE 6 - SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021 THE WESTFIELD NEWS

SPORTS

Southwick Virtual Book Club meets Feb. 9SOUTHWICK - The Southwick Senior Center and Public

Library are teaming up to offer a virtual book club on the sec-ond Tuesday of each month at 10 a.m. All are welcome to join!

Copies of the book will be available at the Library to borrow. Email the library at southwicklibrary@comcast.net or call the Senior Center or Library 413-569-1221 to sign up for the book club. Give us your email address and we will send you an invite. If you have technology questions about Zoom, the library is happy to help! Our next meeting is Feb. 9 at 10 a.m. when we'll be talking about "Olive Kitteridge."

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*Due to overwhelming concerns regarding the coronavirus, Westfield State University officials are prohibiting spectators

and members of the media from attending swimming and diving meets for the 2021 season. Basketball and hockey home games

at WHS and Amelia Park Ice Arena are limited to two family members per player. No visitors are allowed from away teams.

WESTFIELD BOMBERSJan. 22

Westfield boys ice hockey vs. Agawam, Amelia Park Ice Arena, 7 p.m.

Jan. 23 Westfield boys ice hockey @ West Springfield, Olympia Rink, West

Springfield, 7:30 p.m. Longmeadow (Westfield Co-op) girls ice hockey @ Leominster,

Wallace Center @ Fitchburg, 1:30 p.m. Jan. 25

Westfield boys basketball @ Agawam HS, 7 p.m. Jan. 26

Westfield girls basketball vs. Agawam, 7 p.m. Jan. 27

Westfield boys ice hockey vs. Longmeadow, Amelia Park Ice Arena, 7 p.m.

Longmeadow (Westfield Co-op) girls ice hockey vs. Algonquin, Amelia Park Ice Arena, 3:30 p.m.

Jan. 28 Westfield skiing @ Berkshire East, Charlemont, 5 p.m. Westfield boys basketball vs. West Springfield, 7 p.m.

Jan. 29 Westfield girls basketball @ West Springfield, 7 p.m.

Jan. 30 Westfield boys ice hockey @ Longmeadow, Olympia Rink, West

Springfield, 7:30 p.m. Longmeadow (Westfield Co-op) girls ice hockey @ Shrewsbury,

North Star Youth Forum, 7 p.m. Feb. 1

Westfield swimming & diving vs. East Longmeadow, Westfield State University, 3 p.m.

Westfield boys basketball vs. Pope Francis, 7 p.m. Longmeadow (Westfield Co-op) girls ice hockey vs. Pope Francis,

Site TBD, Time TBD Feb. 2

Westfield girls basketball @ Pope Francis, 7 p.m. Feb. 4

Westfield skiing @ Berkshire East, Charlemont, 5 p.m. Westfield boy basketball vs. Agawam, 7 p.m.

Feb. 5 Westfield swimming & diving @ Northampton, Westfield State

University, 3 p.m. Westfield girls basketball @ Agawam HS, 7 p.m. Westfield boys ice hockey vs. West Springfield, Amelia Park Ice

Arena, 7 p.m. Feb. 6

Westfield boys ice hockey @ Minnechaug Regional, Olympia, West Springfield, 12:30 p.m.

Longmeadow (Westfield Co-op) girls ice hockey vs. Leominster, Site TBD, Time TBD

Feb. 11 Westfield skiing @ Berkshire East, Charlemont, 5 p.m. Westfield swimming & diving vs. Longmeadow, Westfield State

University, 3 p.m. Westfield girls basketball vs. Holyoke, 7 p.m.

Feb. 12 Westfield boys basketball @ Holyoke, 7 p.m. (PPD)

Feb. 13 Longmeadow (Westfield Co-op) girls ice hockey vs. Shrewsbury,

Site TBD, Time TBD Feb. 15

Westfield boys ice hockey vs. East Longmeadow, Amelia Park Ice Arena, noon

Longmeadow (Westfield Co-op) girls ice hockey vs. Algonquin, Site TBD, Time TBD

Feb. 16 Westfield boys basketball @ Pope Francis HS, 7 p.m. Westfield girls basketball vs. Pope Francis, 7 p.m.

Feb. 17 Longmeadow (Westfield Co-op) girls ice hockey @ Pope Francis,

Site TBD, Time TBD Feb. 18

Westfield girls basketball @ Agawam HS, 7 p.m. Feb. 22

Westfield swimming & diving @ Minnechaug, Westfield State University, 3 p.m.

Westfield girls basketball @ Holyoke HS, 7 p.m. (PPD.) Feb. 23

Westfield boys basketball vs. Holyoke, 7 p.m. (PPD.) Feb. 24

Westfield girls basketball @ Holyoke, 7 p.m. (PPD.) Feb. 25

Westfield skiing @ Berkshire East, Charlemont, 5 p.m. Westfield boys basketball @ West Springfield, 7 p.m. (PPD.)

Feb. 27 Westfield boys ice hockey @ Agawam, Olympia Ice Rink, West

Springfield, 5:10 p.m.

WTA TIGERS Jan. 22

Westfield Technical Academy boys basketball vs. Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter Academy, 5 p.m.

Westfield Technical Academy girls basketball @ Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter Academy, 5 p.m.

Jan. 25 Westfield Technical Academy girls basketball vs. Smith Vocational, 5

p.m. Jan. 26

Westfield Technical Academy boys basketball vs. Smith Vocational, 5 p.m.

Westfield Technical Academy girls basketball @ Smith Vocational, 5 p.m.

Jan. 29 Westfield Technical Academy boys basketball @ Smith Vocational, 5

p.m. Westfield Technical Academy girls basketball @ Pioneer Valley

Christian Academy, 5 p.m. (PPD.) Feb. 1

Westfield Technical Academy boys basketball @ Pioneer Valley Christian Academy, 5 p.m.

Westfield Technical Academy girls basketball @ Pioneer Valley Christian Academy, 5 p.m.

Feb. 2 Westfield Technical Academy boys basketball @ Pioneer Valley

Christian Academy, 5 p.m. Feb. 4

Westfield Technical Academy girls basketball @ Gateway Regional HS, 5 p.m.

Feb. 5 Westfield Technical Academy boys basketball @ Gateway Regional

HS, 5 p.m. Westfield Technical Academy girls basketball vs. Gateway, 5 p.m.

Feb. 8 Westfield Technical Academy boys basketball vs. Gateway, 5 p.m.

Feb. 9 Westfield Technical Academy girls basketball @ St. Mary’s, Westfield

Intermediate School, 5 p.m. Feb. 11

Westfield Technical Academy boys basketball @ St. Mary’s, Westfield Intermediate School, 5 p.m.

Westfield Technical Academy girls basketball vs. St. Mary’s, 5 p.m. Feb. 12

Westfield Technical Academy boys basketball vs. St. Mary’s, 5 p.m. Feb. 15

Westfield Technical Academy girls basketball @ Southwick Regional School, 5 p.m.

Feb. 16 Westfield Technical Academy boys basketball @ Southwick Regional

School, 5 p.m. Feb. 18

Westfield Technical Academy girls basketball vs. Southwick, 5 p.m. Feb. 19

Westfield Technical Academy boys basketball vs. Southwick, 5 p.m.

ST. MARY’S SAINTS Jan. 21

St. Mary’s skiing @ Berkshire East, Charlemont, 5 p.m.

St. Mary’s boys basketball vs. Smith Vocational, 5 p.m. (PPD) St. Mary’s girls basketball @ Smith Vocational, 5 p.m. (PPD)

Jan. 22 St. Mary’s boys basketball @ Smith Vocational, 5 p.m. (PPD)

Jan. 25 St. Mary’s girls basketball @ Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion

Charter School, noon Jan. 26

St. Mary’s boys basketball @ Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, 5 p.m.

St. Mary’s girls basketball vs. Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, 5 p.m.

Jan. 28St. Mary’s skiing @ Berkshire East, Charlemont, 5 p.m.

Jan. 29 St. Mary’s boys basketball vs. Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion

Charter School, Westfield Intermediate School, 5 p.m. St. Mary’s girls basketball @ Gateway Regional HS, 5 p.m.

Feb. 1 St. Mary’s boys basketball @ Gateway Regional HS, 5 p.m. St. Mary’s girls basketball vs. Gateway, Westfield Intermediate

School, 5 p.m. Feb. 2

St. Mary’s boys basketball vs. Gateway, Westfield Intermediate School, 5 p.m.

Feb. 4St. Mary’s skiing @ Berkshire East, Charlemont, 5 p.m.

Feb. 9 St. Mary’s girls basketball vs. Westfield Technical Academy,

Westfield Intermediate School, 5 p.m. Feb. 11

St. Mary’s skiing @ Berkshire East, Charlemont, 5 p.m. St. Mary’s boys basketball vs. Westfield Technical Academy, 5 p.m. St. Mary’s girls basketball @ Westfield Technical Academy, 5 p.m.

Feb. 12 St. Mary’s boys basketball @ Westfield Technical Academy HS, 5

p.m. Feb. 16

St. Mary’s boys basketball @ Pioneer Valley Christian Academy, 5 p.m.

Feb. 18 St. Mary’s girls basketball vs. Pioneer Valley Christian Academy,

Westfield Intermediate School, 5 p.m. Feb. 19

St. Mary’s boys basketball vs. Pioneer Valley Christian Academy, Westfield Intermediate School, 5 p.m.

Feb. 22 St. Mary’s boys basketball vs. Southwick Regional, Westfield

Intermediate School, 5 p.m. Feb. 23

St. Mary’s girls basketball vs. Southwick, Westfield Intermeidate School, 5 p.m.

Feb. 25 St. Mary’s skiing @ Berkshire East, Charlemont, 5 p.m. St. Mary’s boys basketball @ Southwick Regional School, 5 p.m.

Feb. 26 St. Mary’s girls basketball @ Southwick Regional School, 5 p.m.

2021 WINTER SPORTS SCHEDULE

By CHRIS PUTZSports EditorWESTFIELD – It is not quite

Midnight Madness, but it might as well be.

Basketball and hockey in the City of Westfield got the green light to return to action competitively Thursday with the Westfield School Committee voting unanimously to begin winter sports competitions pre-viously approved by the MIAA and PVIAC under state guidelines.

“I’m excited to have the kids be able to compete,” said Westfield High School athletic coordinator Ryan Dunphy. “It was like the School Committee said – – it was nice to see

the kids advocating for themselves. I am excited to finally get to see them compete with their teammates.”

School Board members received

numerous e-mails the last few weeks from several student-athletes and their parents pleading for winter sports competitions to begin.

“I have not seen such passion about an activity … in my 20-plus years in public participation,” Westfield Director of Public Health Joseph Rouse said. “Yes, it is still high risk, but so are a lot of other things. …I feel pretty certain and rest assured that protocols will be followed.”

Approximately 10 percent of the student body participates in athlet-ics, according to Dunphy.

“We don’t see a lot of clusters (of COVID) and transmission (of

COVID) like we have seen in youth sports due to closer proximity and a lot more activity,” Rouse said. “I don’t have any reason to advocate against it. I think everything is in place to do it safely.”

Westfield and Westfield Technical Academy has been in a current state of practice mode leading up to Friday’s start date. The first Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference ski race of the season was held at Berkshire East in Charlemont and a virtual swimming and diving meet between Westfield and Agawam took place at their respective team’s home pools. The Bombers will swim at Westfield

State University’s Ely Pool this sea-son.

Due to overwhelming concerns regarding the coronavirus, Westfield State University officials are prohib-iting spectators and members of the media from attending swimming and diving meets for the 2021 season. Basketball home games at Westfield High School and Westfield Technical Academy and hockey home games at Amelia Park Ice Arena will be limited to two family members per player. No visitors are allowed from away teams.

No spectators are allowed at allowed at girls ice hockey games.

Hockey, basketball competition approved at WHS, WTA

THE WESTFIELD NEWS WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COM

AGNES Tony Cochran

ARCHIE Fernando Ruiz and Craig Boldman

DADDY’S HOME Tony Rubino and Gary Markstein

DUSTIN By Steve Kelley and Jeff Parker

ONE BIG HAPPY Rick Detorie

SCARY GARY Mark Buford

ZACK HILL John Deering and John Newcombe

B.C. Mastroianni and Hart

ANDY CAPP Mahoney, Goldsmith and Garnett

DOGS of C-KENNEL Mick and Mason Mastroianni

RUBES Leigh RubinSPEED BUMP Dave Coverly

HAPPY BIRTHDAY for Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021:

Principled, individualistic and natural, you have a remarkably distinctive character that sets you apart from everyone else. Your integ-rity dictates this year’s choices, which prove extremely successful. If single, your expecta-tions of a mate are so high it’s impossible to find the right one this year. If attached, the magic takes hold of your relationship and makes this a memorable year for love. SAGITTARIUS has ideals as valued as yours.

The Stars Show the Kind of Day You’ll Have: 5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult

ARIES (March 21-April 19) Your writing and speaking abili-

ties win you admiration and love. Your per-sonality and appearance create a memorable impression on influential individuals. Take the lead in making suggestions and arranging projects. You are creating a kind of entourage. Tonight: Continue talking on the phone.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) A time of prosperity and

opportunity begins. You’re very progressive in analyzing new economic trends. Be aware of how past habits have affected your financ-es. Your financial history repeats itself. Tonight: Such are we in life precarious; you turn this all around.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Bright conversations greet the

early morning. A decision is made, possibly involving a journey. Today encourages asser-tiveness, and you may assume the position of leader. Your personality opens new doors. Tonight: A new and larger sense of confidence develops.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Your attitude creates your reali-

ty today. Maintain a positive mindset. Your emotions serve as motivators. You will have a deep sense of direction. A meaningful love relationship can be a factor. Tonight: Others appreciate you, but companions can be high maintenance.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) New information comes to light,

and your opinion may change concerning an important issue involving others. Be respon-sible. Seek truth. Recognize the need for flex-ibility. You move forward toward new levels of achieving goals. Tonight: Feeling proud of yourself.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Creative and competitive efforts

on your part lead to genuine recognition. Your aspirations are expanding. Carefully write your goals on beautiful paper, then place the wish list inside a box to aid manifestation. Tonight: Examining the list closely for chang-es.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) You honor beauty and peace.

Your desire to maintain balance can generate indecision. Today brings improved self-awareness. Be your own best friend by mak-ing changes. A progressive mood develops. You are excited by the changes coming. Tonight: Cultivate kind and upbeat associates.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) You’re ready to release old

memories and emotional baggage. Self-love and self-acceptance strengthen today. You’re feeling truly grateful by the end of the day. An old friend is very willing to help you. Tonight: Let go of a relationship that isn’t mutually beneficial.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Relationships can be exciting in

your life lately, but not peaceful. A relation-ship reaches a turning point. Others have valuable suggestions. Listen to them and be cooperative. Teamwork is the secret to suc-cess today. Tonight: Work on cooperation rather than competition.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) The well-being of the people

and places in your life impacts your pets. Be alert to their needs, as they’ll be especially sensitive and emotional today. Clear out clut-ter and organize your desk and see how much better everyone feels. Tonight: A private disco night.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Accept and issue invitations

today. You are loved and appreciated. If you’re drawn to the fine arts, great creative potential can be unleashed. The achievements of a younger person bring happiness. Tonight: Being in the best place at the best time. Happy with yourself.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) You work hard to comfort family

members. Your efforts are appreciated. Purchase needed household supplies and do home repairs. A feng shui treatment would be a good idea. Events will tend to turn in your favor. Tonight: Exploring which way your heart really leans.

BORN TODAYArtist Edouard Manet (1832),

guitarist Django Reinhardt (1910), actress Mariska Hargitay (1964)

Crosswords

Cryptoquip

ContraCt Bridge JACQUELINE BIGAR’S STARS YOUR HOROSCOPE

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021 - PAGE 7

THE WESTFIELD NEWS WWW.THEWESTFIELDNEWS.COMPAGE 8 - SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 2021

Dear Annie

Dear Heloise: During the quarantine, I’ve seen lots of people touting the merits of parrots! Parrots are marvelous, intelligent animals, but they ARE NOT good pets for everyone, for many reasons.

Chief among them, these guys can live for 50 years or more! You must make a contingency plan for the bird in the event of your death. They require specialized and potentially expensive veterinary care, they must be cleaned up after constantly, they can be loud and destructive (by chewing), they are social animals (they need interaction with people), they need exposure to sunlight, and the list goes on. I’d advise your readers to think before adopting a parrot. -- Tara E. in New York

Tara, I concur! Readers, do your homework before bringing home a bird. -- Heloise

PASTA WATER Dear Heloise: I always reserve some pasta water

after boiling pasta. It helps to thicken sauces without adding extra calories and fat. -- Merrit K. in Ohio

PET PAL Dear Readers: Meet Dodge. He is Leigh B.’s (of

Ohio) lab mix, and he looks like he’s ready to “get out of Dodge,” as it were -- the cold and snow of January!

To see Dodge and our other Pet Pals, visit www.Heloise.com and click on “Pet of the Week.”

Do you have a furry and funny friend to share? Email a picture and description to Heloise@Heloise.com. -- Heloise

SQUEEZE THIS Dear Heloise: We always had trouble getting the

rinse aid into our dishwasher. Much of it would run out of the receptacle because it was hard to aim the bottle.

My wife had the brilliant idea to use a plastic squeeze bottle with a tapered, conical tip. She had an old hair tint bottle. It had a very narrow tip, so I snipped it off a little with wire snips.

We put the rinse aid into it, and it works beauti-fully -- no more wasted fluid! -- Arthur M., via email

WASH RIGHT Dear Readers: When washing your hands, don’t

forget to wash the backs of your hands, in between your fingers and under your fingernails as much as possible. Turn the water off when washing, and rinse thoroughly. -- Heloise

MASK ATTACKS Dear Heloise: Disposed masks can get in the

oceans and strangle wildlife. Cut the elastic bands before disposal. -- Kevin G. in California

LOCK IT UP Dear Heloise: I enjoy your articles every day in

my Little Rock, Arkansas, newspaper. Regarding your article that appeared in our paper on 12/15/20 about parking lot safety, you mentioned to get in the car, fasten your seat belt and leave.

That reminded me of something I always say to people.

I used to hold cooking classes for a group of ladies some years ago, and during one of our conver-sations I asked the class, “What is the first thing you should do when you get in your car?” Of course they all answered, “Fasten your seatbelt.”

I said, “NO; lock your door.” -- Nick, Little Rock, Ark.

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES About the most fun we ever had at Christmas was

to make grab bags and everyone picked one at ran-dom. We filled each bag with silly (and not so silly) things from a dollar store.

Then the fun started as people took the gifts out of their bags and tried to trade them for someone else’s gifts. I still smile when I remember that. -- Connie, North Port, Fla.

——— Send a money-saving