APRIL 2, 2026 | FREE
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EDITION WESTFIELD
Major sidewalk installation project to begin next month Work on a reconfiguration of the Mill Street and Crane Avenue intersection and the installation of new sidewalks and bicycle lanes extending south on Southwick Road from Cowles Bridge will begin in the next month or so.
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SOUTHWICK
Town’s sewer rates see small increase, subsidy unchanged The sewer rates for residents and businesses will increase slightly starting April 1, while the town’s subsidy to offset the sewer department’s annual shortfall will remain unchanged.
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Commission says dog park is a good idea, with a ‘caveat’
While the Conservation Commission supported the idea of building a town dog park, which was proposed by a nonprofit group in early February, it was hesitant to endorse the project without several questions being answered first.
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PUBLISHED BY REMINDER PUBLISHING
Newcomer takes out papers for state rep. By Amy Porter
aporter@thereminder.com
WESTFIELD — Colby Hoffman, 38, of Westfield, is gathering signatures to run as a Democrat for state representative 4th Hampden District, a seat currently held by state Rep. Kelly Pease, a Republican who covers Southampton and most of Westfield. Hoffman moved to Westfield with his wife, Dixie Hoffman, in 2019. “We love Westfield,” he said. He is originally from Enfield, where his father worked for the postal service and his mother was a waitress, and he attended public schools. He received a bachelor’s in political science from Central Connecticut State University in 2013. Hoffman said for the past two years he has worked as a customer service specialist for a regional supermarket in Westfield, and Dixie Hoffman is an office manager at Florence Casket Co. “Before that, I worked a series of customer service and office jobs. I’ve always been customer service focused,” he said, adding that he always believed he would run for a political office one day. “I went to school for political science. I love history, I love our Constitution. I have always admired public service. I thought maybe someday I would stand up and run for political office,” he said. After attending a Democratic caucus recently, he realized nobody was interested in running for the 4th Hampden seat. “I don’t think it’s healthy to have an office, especially on the state level, to leave it unopposed. I don’t think it’s fair to this community, and that’s true for all districts,” Hoffman said. “I think it’s important to have seats contested for a healthy democracy. Massachusetts is a state
under threat. We need to have as much strength on a state level to push back against the federal overreach that’s going on now. The states have a really strong role to utilize in our federalist system,” he continued. Hoffman also acknowledged that the 4th Hampden District is fairly evenly split between the two parties. “This is a swing district between the two parties. I am open-minded. I’m willing to listen to opinions that aren’t mine and that conflict with my own. My entire life has been trying to work with people to find solutions. I’m not trying to just appeal to people who share my views. I think I’m a good fit to represent everybody,” he said, including both Westfield and Southampton. “I would make sure that both communities are equally represented as well.” “It is my duty as a citizen to run for something,” he said, citing what he called the federal overreach that’s occurring and attacks on states, including Massachusetts. “I am a member of the working middle class. I understand how affordable things are and continue to go. I feel I could more adequately represent this district as someone who is truly on the ground witnessing the cost to consumers and threats to small businesses.” “A big reason for running is I feel it’s a duty to stand up and say what’s happening at the federal level that’s going to affect us at the state level. I love this community, and I want to protect it,” Hoffman said. Asked what he considers to be the greatest priorities, Hoffman said to protect local control. “Truly, to do everything we can to protect our freedom and liberties from our out-of-control federal government. I do want to protect local control for placement of data centers and battery
Colby Hoffman of Westfield has taken out papers to run for state representative in the 4th Hampden District. Reminder Publishing submitted photo
storage. I think we need to have strong regulations to make sure the community is aware of what they’re bringing in and the effects on water and electricity.” He said protecting local control is something that state legislators have control over; passing laws that prevent local communities from controlling what kind of industries can be placed there. “My other big issue that I’m pushing for is to do everything that we can do to protect the Fair Share Amendment, which
is working to bring resources into the state that are desperately needed, and that more of those funds get put into the 4th Hampden District. A functioning society is worth paying for,” Hoffman said. Hoffman also talked about being a first-time candidate. “This is not something I’ve ever done before. I’m learning as I go. I’m still building the campaign and See HOFFMAN on page 8