WESTFIELD – Westfield State University kicked off the school year by presenting its fifth annual Helping Out Our Town (HOOT) Day today. More than 150 students (mainly first year) were expected to participate. Students will be actively working throughout Westfield at local businesses painting, cleaning, gardening, and other volunteer activities this morning.
HOOT Day began in fall 2010 as a Circle K community service program. The program was designed to bring together Westfield State students and the City of Westfield as well as provided students with a way to learn about their new home for the next four years. The opportunity to participate was offered to freshmen/first year students during their orientation in the summer. Multiple offices were instrumental in getting this program underway including: Westfield State’s offices of Residential Life and Advancement & University Relations, the City of Westfield Mayor’s Office, the Westfield Chamber of Commerce, the Westfield School Department, the Greater Westfield Non-Profits Organization, and the Westfield BID.
“HOOT Day is a great opportunity for all students of Westfield State to volunteer their time and service to their new hometown of Westfield,” said Circle K President Brian Farrell ’15. “The people and businesses we assist are always so grateful and volunteering is a satisfying, humble experience. HOOT Day is also an excellent way to meet new friends.”
HOOT Day volunteers will be working at various locations including Stanley Park, Westfield Parks & Recreation, Flowers by Webster, The Seat Weaver, the Tavern Restaurant, the YMCA of Greater Westfield, Grandmother’s Garden, Westfield Athenaeum, Domus, Westfield Boys and Girls Club, Cost Cutters, and Amelia Park Ice Rink.
In addition to HOOT Day, Westfield State University will officially launch Community Radio from WSKB 89.5 to coincide with the 170th anniversary. Since June, Westfield State has streamed a series of community radio shows Monday-Friday from 6-8 a.m. and the station has now added shows from 8-10 a.m., and Saturday morning programming. The new antenna that was acquired in March enables listeners to hear the station to the Connecticut border to the south, Northampton line to the north, Chester State Forest to the west, and Massachusetts Turnpike Exit 6 (Interstate 291) to the east. The station is also available to stream on the Tune In Radio App.
To commemorate the 170th anniversary of Westfield State University’s move to the City of Westfield, Mayor Daniel Knapik will present Westfield State University President Elizabeth Preston with a proclamation in a ceremony beginning at 8:15 a.m.
“As Westfield State marks its 170th anniversary in the city of Westfield, we are pleased to recommit our students to the notion of service as they work to make Westfield a better place on HOOT Day 2014,” said Hon. Michael R. Knapik, executive director for University Advancement. “With the advent of Community Radio (WSKB 89.5 FM), the partnership with the university and the city has reached a new level. Communication and information are necessary ingredients for an engaged citizenry and we welcome this powerful means of serving town/gown relations.”
