Sorry I have been remiss in getting out my column – I’ve missed the deadlines.
First, I am very excited and so should you be about what our Vocational School has been doing. I met with Principal Czaporowski, who has started to set up an aeronautics vocation at the school. The goal will be to get the use of an old hanger at Barnes to be used for classroom space. He has already engaged the FAA supports plus private sector grants from Gulf Stream, Solaris, and others to invest in this project. This is fantastic.
We would be only the second vocational high school to have one in the country. With Barnes, as well as Westover and Bradley, being so close and add in those smaller airports nearby: Northampton, Turners Falls, Orange, etc., these students will have the opportunity to secure well-paying jobs in an industry that will not be going away soon. And, imagine being a high school student and having the opportunity to work on jets and other planes? On a bigger plus side with this resource we can look to attracting “clean” industries to Westfield due to having workers capable of working them, along with other existing resources. So, congrats to Mr. Czaporowski, and his staff. There is still some work to do to have this happen, but it will be well worth the investment. Please let my fellow councilors know that you support this project.
The bus stop issue: I am trying to get PVTA to adjust their plan to take up a lot of space in front of the library. Peter Miller and Joseph Mitchell are taking our concerns to them.
I want to congratulate The Westfield Spanish American Association for their new site on Court St. I was there for their opening and am most pleased to see them have a fixed location.
As well, I want to thank Casey Berube, DPW deputy superintendent, for the invitation to attend an area discussion at the Kittredge Center at Holyoke Community College, where he and DPW Superintendent David Billips participated in a discussion on Financing Your Municipal Stormwater Program. It was interesting to see what others not only in the area but from Maine and throughout the region have been doing.
As a member of Neighborhood Advisory Group (NAG) for WSU, we discussed ways and means to address community issues with WSU reps. Especially our issues regarding the impact of negative behaviors of students on our neighborhoods. Ken Lemanski also presented information about the closing of Juniper Park School at the end of this school year, and the ground breaking for the new science center, which I was pleased to have been able to attend.
Due to delays in getting the new school started we will have to pay for locating our students, in all probability in trailers until the conflicts end. There is going to a re-districting of students to compensate as well. And, the School Committee will be presenting costs for that soon.
I was more than happy to also attend the ground breaking for our new Senior Center.
Lastly, I want to share a positive: this summer, while walking my dog Ollie I have frequented our Municipal Playground. It was so very neat to see your youth using it. And more than that in these days of conflict and sports negatives, to see black, white, Latino, and Asian youth playing pick-up basketball together. And, also females playing basketball and soccer with the guys. And, I want to share something I overheard at one of the soccer games where one female was playing with the guys. One of the guys was “muscling” the girl. Another male turned and asked him why he was muscling a girl? After all you would not do that to one of the guys. The message is getting out there, and that is a good thing. Parents of those youth, you should be proud. Another example are the male/female softball games at Whitney Park. One day there were 40 cars for players and fans. Not bad not bad at all.
Brian Hoose
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of this publication.
