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.
Page 3
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.
Page 4
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.
Page 5
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
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
Colby Hoffman of Westfield has taken out papers to run for state representative in the 4th Hampden District. Reminder Publishing submitted photo
See HOFFMAN on page 8
STRM: Woo Sox, Yard Goats ready to tee up seasons
By Tyler Garnet tgarnet@thereminder.com
On the latest episode of “So That Reminds Me,” hosts Ryan Feyre and Chris Maza sat down with Hartford Yard Goats General Manager Mike Abramson while Tyler Garnet and Dennis Hackett sat down with Worcester Red Sox’s Marketing Vice President Steve Oliveira to talk about their organizations upcoming minor league baseball seasons.
Worcester Red Sox
The Worcester Red Sox, Triple-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, opened its season on March 27 against the Syracuse Mets at Polar Park.
Oliveira said offseason renovations at Polar Park include a new patio area in the Triple Decker Garden and added covering at the Hanover Deck to better accommodate fans in changing weather.
Promotions this season include bobblehead giveaways for former WooSox players Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela, along with Clara-themed giveaways and tri-corner hats in June to mark America’s 250th anniversary. Returning favorites include Friday fireworks, Saturday postgame catch on the field and Sunday kids base running.
Like all minor league teams, Worcester will have alternate identity-themed nights throughout the season. As part of the program, the Worcester Woo Sox will transform into the “Pawtucket Hot Wieners,” the “Worcester Kelley Squares,” and “The Art of the Woo,” for select games during the upcoming season.
“Some good ole minor league fun,” Oliveira said. “The type of things that you don’t necessarily see at the major league level.”
Oliveira also mentioned new offerings that guests can look out for this year, including
a “Smiley” meal for kids, which he described as the WooSox’s version of a Happy Meal; a $5 beer offering 16-ounce beers; and a specialty Battle Burger, themed for the visiting team that week. For example, when the Buffalo Bisons visit Polar Park, buffalo wings will be added to the specialty burger.
Aside from the added beverage and food options, there are plenty of players that fans can look forward to this season, according to Oliveira.
Exciting Red Sox prospects fans can look forward to this year include infielder Mikey Romero, and pitchers Jake Bennett and Payton Tolle
“Our manager, Chad Tracy, was just recently talking in Spring Training saying he thinks this has the chance of being the best WooSox team that he’s been apart of the last five years, which is awesome to hear.”
Oliveira said there’s always the possibility major league players get assigned for their rehab assignments in Triple-A, and prospects are constantly sent down or called up throughout the season.
For more information on the WooSox’s upcoming schedule and offerings, readers can visit woosox.com.
Hartford Yard Goats
The Hartford Yard Goats, Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, will celebrate its 10th season at Dunkin’ Park after relocating from New Britain in 2016.
Abramson said the organization has welcomed over three million fans to the ballpark and has “sort of continuously [shattered] every record for the most number of fans in the shortest period of time.”
The ballpark has repeatedly ranked among the top Double-A venues.
Promotional nights this season include a Negro League
celebration on June 24, honoring Hartford School Boys player Johnny “Schoolboy” Taylor, Jackie Robinson Day on April 15, and multiple Los Chivos de Hartford games celebrating Hispanic and Latino culture, including a Roberto Clemente tribute in August.
“We definitely like to tie back, when we can, to the history through our themes. Obviously, diversity, equity, inclusion, those are all really important initiatives for us here in the ballpark. We want to celebrate things that are reflective of the community that we’re in,” Abramson stated. “You need to serve everybody, so we’re honoring the history of baseball, but we also have Banana Ball coming back, which is the newest iteration, I guess, of so-called baseball. We’ll do anything to get people here.”
Opening weekend features a
10-year celebration, jersey giveaway, fireworks and appearances by Mario, Luigi and Bluey. Other themed events include a divorce party night, Halloween game, Rock Cats throwback nights, and Eras night with DJ Swiftie, a wedding vow renewal night and a Hartford Whalers alumni event.
Abramson also discussed the viral new food item that the Yard Goats will debut this season on certain nights, which is designed to resemble a friendship bracelet called the “Anti-Hero.” It is a 2-foot all beef hot dog served on an artisan Italian loaf bun, topped with 11 powdered donuts, a mustard-ketchup drizzle with sweet candied pink and blue sprinkles.
Other new food items include munchkin nachos, a frycuterie board and a cinnamon bun burger.
“We marketed ourselves as Connecticut’s largest restaurant,” Abramson said. “We are as much a restaurant as we are a sports venue. The vast majority of people come out here because it’s an entertainment option, not because they have a deep love of baseball in general.” Abramson talked about a few prospects to look forward to this season, including catcher Cole Messina, pitchers Everett Catlett and Griffin Herring,
infielder Roc Riggio and outfielders Cole Carrigg and Charlie Condon, who have a good chance of being called-up to the major league club.
“There’s probably a couple players you want to come out and see once or twice because I do think you’ll see them perform in the majors,” Abramson said. Although a good roster and wins are a plus, Abramson talked about the importance of selling entertainment to get fans in the seats, as the roster can constantly change because players are continuously called up or traded.
“Double-A is all about development. They are putting a team together that can play as a team, but they’re also hyper focused on the individuals who are figuring out what their limitations are,” the Yard Goats general manager said, “We don’t sell baseball wins and losses, we sell entertainment, but it does not hurt to have a team that is fun to watch on the field.”
For more information on the Yard Goats upcoming season, readers can visit milb. com/Hartford.
To hear the full episode, visit thereminder.com/our-podcast or search “So That Reminds Me” on your favorite podcasting platform.
Worcester Red Sox’s Marketing Vice President Steve Oliveira (left) sit down with “So That Reminds Me” hosts Dennis Hackett and Tyler Garnet. Reminder Publishing photo by Debbie Gardner
High school science fair district finalists move on to states
By Amy Porter aporter@thereminder.com
WESTFIELD — Several projects featured at the Western Mass Regional Science & Engineering Fair at Western New England University in March are moving on to compete in the state science fair on April 9 at the DCU Center in Worcester.
“Our students did a fantastic job representing our district at the Western Massachusetts Regional Science & Engineering Fair at Western New England University. Their hard work, creativity,
and dedication truly shined,” said Westfield Public Schools Science Fair Coordinator Christina Smith.
The students moving on with their projects include Kaitlynn Goulette, who won a first place and the Alnylam Bioscience Excellence Award for her project, “Acheta domesticus Consumption Rates as a Function of Varying Electromagnetic Wavelengths.”
As an astronomer, Goulette said she is interested in studying light pollution. Talking about her project at the Westfield High School fair, she said light pol-
lution has physical impacts and disrupts circadian rhythm if it occurs over years, with health side effects.
She studied the effects of red, blue, white lights and darkness on the eating patterns of four groups of crickets, which she fed every 12 hours. She found the blue group ate the most, which was not a benefit as it led to overeating.
Goulette concluded that blue light is the worst for insects. She said many LED lights that
Kaitlynn Goulette holds up the first-place and Alnylam Bioscience Excellence Award she received from the district science fair for her project, “Acheta domesticus (crickets) Consumption Rates as a Function of Varying Electromagnetic Wavelengths.”
Major sidewalk installation project to begin within next month
By Cliff Clark cclark@thereminder.com
WESTFIELD — 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.
“This came out of the Shared Street and Spaces Program,” said DPW Director Randy Brown about the project.
The program provides funding for the design and implementing changes to curbs, streets, and parking areas in support of public health, safe mobility, and community growth and revitalization.
“This is to expand the city’s multi-modal network,” he said, which focuses on promoting sidewalks and bicycle lanes that increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety.
The sidewalks on Southwick Road will start on the east side of the road connecting to the
sidewalk installed when Cowles Bridge was replaced and will extend to nearly where Dug Road intersects with Southwick Road, according to plans of the project designed by Tighe & Bond.
Because of the businesses along the west side of the road, there will be a crosswalk that will be installed along the edge of parking lot of the China Start restaurant at 36 Southwick Road. It will include flashing pedestrian-activated warning lights at both entrances. The crosswalk will then extend across Hundred Acres Road, again with flashing pedestrian-activated warning lights, and continue in front of Puffers Salon & Day Spa at 56 Southwick Road.
It continues south across the entrance to Jelly Belly’s Pool & Spa and then reverts to sidewalk. Where it changes over, a crosswalk will be installed to cross Southwick Road and pick up the sidewalk that will connect the one installed during the bridge construction on the west
side of the road in front of Yankee Village Plaza.
A bike lane will be marked along the sidewalks’ edges on both sides of Southwick Road.
On Mill Street, Brown said about a dozen trees will be planted starting at the Crane Avenue intersection and sidewalks on the east side of it will be repaired.
The sidewalk installed along Mill Street during the bridge project will be connected with a new sidewalk that will extend northeast following the edge of Crane Street and stop at about the edge of The Mill at Crane Pond building.
There will also be a sidewalk installed on the west side of Mill Street starting at Crane Avenue and continuing to the existing crosswalk in front of the Genesis Spiritual Center.
There will also be new crosswalk striping painted where Vadnais, Paper and Oak streets and Oak and Leonard avenues intersect with Mill Street.
The reconfiguration of the
The intersection of Mill Street and Crane Avenue will be reconfigured over the next several months. The project was designed by Westfield’s Tighe & Bond.
Mill Street and Crane Avenue intersection will include removing the traffic island and making it more of a “T” intersection. A stop sign will be installed at the end of Crane Street. Brown said the $900,000
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
project is being paid for with a $250,000 grant with the city picking up the rest using part of its annual allocation of Chapter 90 funds. It should be finished by mid-summer, he said.
Reminder Publishing submitted photo
Town’s sewer rates see small increase, subsidy unchanged
By Cliff Clark cclark@thereminder.com
SOUTHWICK — Unchanged for nearly a year and a half, 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.
“I think you’ve got to go up [on the sewer rates] a little bit just to start to increase retained earnings,” said Select Board member Douglas Moglin regarding one of the reasons for the 2.5% increase on two of the three sewer rate tiers.
At the meeting on March 23, it was DPW Director Rich Bosak who presented the board with 15 different rate scenarios it could use when deciding what increase, if at all, it might want.
Bosak had scenarios from maintaining the current rates to increasing them enough for the sewer department to operate without needing the subsidy paid out of the town’s general budget, which is funded by every landowner in town through property taxes.
For that to happen, the rate for sewer customers would increase from 30% to 45% at the
current rate.
The board, however, decided to keep the rate of $14.10 per thousand gallons when between one and 15,000 gallons is used.
It did increase the Tier 2 rate from $20.13 to $20.65 per thousand gallons for those using between 15,000 and 30,000 gallons, and the Tier 3 rate from $23.16 to $23.74 per thousand gallons when between 15,000 and 30,000 gallons is used. Both were increased by 2.5 %.
There were three primary reasons the rate was only marginally increased, said Select Board member Diane Gale after the meeting.
One of the votes authorized when the sewer system was built just over 20 years ago has matured, meaning that about $78,000 is available for use to help offset the annual deficit.
The other was the board decided to maintain the $303,000 subsidy it settled on in 2024 because of decreasing revenues from betterment fees and a scheduled increase by Westfield of 8% in 2027 to process the town’s wastewater.
Betterment fees are the annual payments from many of the sewer customers who were loaned mon-
ey by the town to connect to the system. Those loans are continuing to mature, which decreases the department’s revenue.
In 2024, the sewer rate was increased by 36% across the three tiers, and the subsidy was increased from $244,000 to its current level to prepare for future expenditure.
Moglin explained during the meeting that the town “can’t get rid of the subsidy” because it will be needed to fund the sewer department’s retained earnings account, which the department has not had since the system was built.
Gale said those funds will be used for capital expenses for continuing to replace grinder pumps used by a significant portion of the customers to break down the sewage before it reaches the mains on the street.
Bosak requested $60,000 to be included in the town’s fiscal year 2027 capital budget for replacing and repairing the pumps.
That, however, is a small price compared to the main sewer line pumps that need maintenance and when one needs replacing, which can cost up to $600,000, Gale said.
Without building up the department’s retained earnings for
Southwick’s DPW Director Rich Bosak called the Prifti Park pump station the sewer department’s “problem child.” On March 23, the Select Board raised the sewer rate in part to build up the department’s retained earnings in the event of an unexpected expense, like a pumping station going down.
those anticipated expenditures, nearly all of it would be paid by every taxpaying town resident, regardless of whether they are a sewer customer, because in all likelihood it would take a bond to pay for the equipment.
Bosak described the Prifti Park pump station as the department’s “problem child,” which could need expensive repairs soon.
For the sewer department to operate at break-even, it would
need at least 1,000 new customers.
The only new customer on the horizon is the proposed condominium project on Depot
The town is hoping the project will add 100 customers to the system. Select Board member Russ Anderson, who acknowledged he was still getting up to speed on the issue, said no one wants to raise anything.
“But the reality is fixed costs are going up,” he said.
Town Meeting meals tax vote could come down to principle
By Cliff Clark cclark@thereminder.com
SOUTHWICK — Ever since the Select Board, in a split vote, decided to include on the upcoming Town Meeting warrant an article asking for an up or down vote on levying a meals tax of 75 cents on $100 spent, a debate on the issue has raged on the social media sites devoted to Southwick, prompting one former Select Board member to weigh in on it.
“I’m absolutely opposed to it. It’s just another tax,” said Russell Fox, who spent more than 20 years as a Select Board member.
On the social media sites were these posts: “When does it stop with all these taxes, be sensible.” “But a meals tax … Let’s drive more people out of town.” “That is Insane!!! Southwick only has a dozen or so restaurants, and this would Absolutely Kill their bottom line.”
When Select Board members Diane Gale and Russ Anderson offered their reasoning for sup-
porting the tax, both said essentially the same thing.
“We have talked about this a few times in the past. With growing costs that are out of control — and we can’t control many of them — I think it’s time to adopt the meal tax, at a minimum,” Gale said before voting to approve sending the issue to Town Meeting. Anderson was more direct in his forecast for the town’s financial situation without the meals tax.
“So, which is it? Pick what you want. Less schools. Less fire. Less police. Less [snow] plows … it’s gonna be something,” he said.
And at the board’s meeting Monday night, Economic Development Commissioner Chair Greg Deily explained why he believes levying the tax is important and to address the naysayers on social media.
“I’d like to address comments I’ve been seeing in social media about the local option
meal tax and wanted to say if the town chooses this option, the result will be a net reduction in total taxes for town residents, not an increase,” he said.
He explained that if the town were to collect $150,000 in revenue from the meals tax, “it reduces the amount needed from property tax by $150,000.”
He also pointed that out of 351 towns and cities in the com
monwealth, 251 have levied the tax, including those nearby.
In 2025, Agawam collected over $524,000, Westfield collected over $728,000, West Springfield collected over $1.3 million and Springfield collected over $2.6 million. Granville also collected $2,273, according to the state Department of Revenue’s Division of Local Services.
“Which means whenever anyone from Southwick eats in one of these neighboring places, we’re contributing tax revenue directly to them,” he said.
With a different view was Fox, who explained his opposi-
tion while acknowledging that the 75-cent tax on every $100 spent is small.
“It’s the principle of the thing. We’re adding taxes instead of addressing the high cost of everything, like electricity. We’re just kicking the can down the road,” he said.
“And I’ve heard that it’s just a cup of coffee, but all those cups add up,” he added. He also pointed out that the town has lost two restaurants in the last six months, Tucker’s Restaurant and Kettlebread Deli Restaurant.
“It will be a burden on local restaurants,” Fox said.
Another social media post questions if the estimated $120,000 to $164,000 the tax would generate for the town is accurate, noting that there would have to be $18.7 million in meal tax related spending to generate $140,000.
At the board meeting when the meal tax decision was made, Chief Administrative Officer
Nicole Parker said the state Division of Local Services estimated the town would generate between $125,000 and $150,000 each year with the tax.
On March 19, Parker provided Reminder Publishing with what the state Department of Revenue collected in meal tax revenue for Southwick in 2022 — the state collects a 6.25 cents meal tax on every $100 spent in the commonwealth. In 2022 it was $1.37 million. For the town to have generated that amount, it meant $21.54 million was spent on meals, which would have generated about $160,000 in tax revenue that year. The state collects a 6.25% sales tax on prepared meals, which is often increased by a 0.75% local option tax, bringing the total to 7%. The tax applies to restaurants, cafes, food trucks and prepared food at grocery stores. There are exemptions, like food sold by weight, deli meat or drinks in unopened containers.
Street.
Commission says dog park is a good idea, with a ‘caveat’
By Cliff Clark cclark@thereminder.com
SOUTHWICK — 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.
“Personally, I would endorse it, but conservation, I don’t think we can endorse it without having to see a plan,” said Conservation Commissioner Dennis Clark when the commission recently discussed whether to endorse the project.
In a letter sent to the Select Board about the proposed park, the commission wrote that, “without additional information regarding the scope, layout, and potential site impacts,” it wouldn’t formally endorse the project.
In early February, the Friends of the Southwick Dog Park announced it was working to build a dog park on 32 acres of property gifted to it by Tilcon Minerals at 57 Hudson Road.
When announcing the project, Friends’ representative Keith Deyo said the plan was to build a park that would have four fenced areas for dogs, including a senior-friendly area.
That would only use 10 of the gifted acres. Planned for the remainder of the parcel is a 22acre area that will be called The Wilds, which will be a natural preserved forest, riverfront and wetlands that feature animal habitats for community exploration and enjoyment.
The group also announced
Science Fair
Continued from page 3
people purchase are blue toned, and recommended looking for warmer toned LED lights that are yellow or red. “I think there’s going to be a big switch to warmer tones,” she said.
Giovanni Santaniello won third place and a MA Life Science Trailblazer Award at the district fair for “Mycoremediation Employing Pleurotus ostreatus var. columbinus to Degrade Plastics,” which studied the capability of oyster mushrooms to break down plastics.
“We need a way to degrade plastic while benefitting something else,” said Santaniello at the high school fair, where he had the top scoring project. For his experiment, he grew oyster mushrooms in hay — a challenge on its own — to see if they would break down polymer plastics into monomers.
The model showed the mushrooms degraded the plastic by 6 to 7% of the original size. After achieving that target, he put them in a shed that was 30 degrees and below, where the mushrooms
that once completed, it would be gifted to the town.
During the commission’s discussion, commissioner Andy Reardon said he had read the entire proposal and pointed out that there was no mention of restrooms at the proposed park.
“…it’s like well if you’re out there with your dog for two, three hours,” he said before Clark finished his sentence.
“…you’ll make your own restroom pooping with the dog,” Clark said.
Reardon said there were problems when the Rail Trail opened that forced the Parks & Recreation Commission to place portable toilets on the trail.
He also questioned the Friends’ claim that the park wouldn’t become an expense for the town’s taxpayers.
“I mean, there is an expense to the town every time we add something. And it’ll come slow but sure, like, it’ll have to be mowed, it’ll have to [have] the trash picked up and the restrooms maintained,” Reardon said.
“There’s going to be maintenance, so to sell it as no expense to the town, that’s like giving my kid a free toy, and that takes D batteries … you keep having to buy the batteries,” he added.
In the formal proposal by the Friends, they address maintenance and talk about the power from solar panels that will be installed on the roof of a covered parking lot.
“The solar energy generation will be designated to the Town of Southwick electric accounts to offset minimal maintenance cost expectations. A well will be installed to provide irrigation and
survived and continued to decompose the plastics. Santaniello’s recommendation based on results was to grow mushrooms in landfills.
Also advancing to the state fair with a third place win was Alec Piepergerdes and Andy Liu for “Exposing the Effects of Noise Pollution Through Eisenia Fetida” (European night crawlers). In their project, they observed the earthworms for two weeks, and then introduced loud noises, up to 93 decibels, to see how it would affect them. Some of the discomfort they observed included the worms curling into a ball, surfacing, an absence of moisture and excessive burrowing. Their conclusion was that loud disruptive noises have a negative impact on worms and other wildlife.
Other third place district winners moving on to states include Paige Mello of WHS, with her project “How Plant Spacing Affects Growth Rate” and Adedipo Soyele of WHS with “Designing An Alternative Energy Source That Is Cost Efficient”.
Direct entrants to the state science fair submitted by Westfield Public Schools from WHS
water to the dog drinking fountains, so no water costs will be borne by the taxpayers,” according to the proposal.
While there wasn’t a long discussion about potential issues with a portion of the park falling under the jurisdiction of the state’s Wetlands Protection Act, Clark said the Friends would need to file a Notice of Intent.
An NOI is an application required by the Wetlands Protection Act to secure a permit that might alter resource areas or buffer zones.
“… development of a dog park may require filing a NOI … depending on the final design and extent of proposed work,” according to the letter.
Clark also said that Select Board member Diane Gale had briefed the town’s Open Space Management and Planning Committee and told it she envisioned the committee overseeing the park.
At the OSMPC held on Feb. 10, Gale said, after going over the proposal with the committee members, that if the town accepts the gift, “this will fall under your land management duties.”
Clark, who attended the OSMPC meeting, said at the commission’s meeting that the trails on the proposed property may fall under that committee, but that the dog park portion, because of it becoming town property, would fall under the authority of the Parks & Recreation Commission.
Conservation Commission Coordinator Sabrina Pooler considered the entire dog park as “active recreation,” with it being overseen by Parks & Recreation.
In the Friends’ proposal,
are Teagan Chisholm-Godshalk, who scored a third place win in the high school fair with “Smile Say ‘Plastics’: Investigating How Many Microplastics Are Hidden in Cheese”; and Isabella Chalmers, with her project “Analyzing How Different Tinted Glass Bottles Withstand Chemical Migration Against Solarization.”
Direct entrants to the state science fair from Westfield Technical Academy include Alexander Bousquet, Mason Matovich and Zar Iodlovskiy, who took
they also said they would not seek Community Preservation Act funds.
However, Clark, who represents the commission on the Community Preservation Committee, said the group shouldn’t rule out applying for those funds.
“If they do need extra money, then there is some availability there,” he said.
The commission wants its communication to the Select Board to be clear that they endorsed the “concept” of the park.
Commissioner Norman Cheever said he would add that as one of the “caveats.”
Earlier this month, Select Board member Douglas Moglin also had questions about the proposal related to the road that will bisect the property.
For over 10 years, the town has been applying for grant funding to connect Sam West Road to Hudson Drive. Grant funding was awarded for the design of the connector.
He was concerned that the park could hamper the effort to build the connector.
“[Tilcon] gave away the land that we’ve been working on and working with them and the state to design the connector of Sam West to Hudson, [and] suddenly it’s a piece of private property,” Moglin said at the meeting.
He also said the special permit the town granted Tilcon for the mining operation had included the redevelopment of the property once the mining was completed.
In 2024, former DPW Director Randy Brown was told that the company expected to finish the operation in a “few years.”
first place among WTA students at the high school fair for “The Bounce Behavior of Batteries: An Analysis of Internal Structure and Charge State.”
Also moving on to state from WTA is Ximena Pena, second place at the high school fair from WTA for “A Study on Sustainable Cup Design as an Alternative to Plastic.”
“Congratulations to our incredible students from Westfield High School and Westfield Technical Academy,” said Smith.
Managing
Staff
Graphic Design Manager: Beth Thurber
Graphic Design Department: Leigh Catchepaugh, Lorie Perry, Sophia McClellan, Susan Bartlett, Jim Johnson-Corwin, Molly Arnio
Sales Manager: Scott Greene
Account Executives: Matt Mahaney, Paula Dimauro, Lisa Nolan, Jeanette Grenier, Paul Poutre, Andy Shaw, Laura Tassistro
Classified Account Managers: Roxanne Miller-Longtin, Evan Marcyoniak, Shannon Spada
Sales Support: Carolyn Napolitan
Financial Department: Nancy Banning
WESTFIELD STATE VS WORCESTER STATE BASKETBALL
The Westfield State men’s basketball team competed with Worcester State in the MASCAC basketball championship on March 1, losing 73-71 at the Woodward Center.
REMINDER SPORTS PHOTOS TAKEN BY MARC ST. ONGE
Owls guard A.Z. Allah cuts around Lancer Ayme Daguilh.
Westfield’s Xavier Lewis looks to pass from a crowd of Worcester defenders.
Westfield State’s Kenny Rogers puts up a basket while being guarded by Worcester State’s Johnny Annan and Ethan Daleba.
Joe Thomson puts up a quick basket.
Owls forward Kenney Rogers targets the basket while being guarded by Ethan Daleba.
Xavier Lewis drives past Jaydon Buckle for a basket.
Kenney Rogers completes a layup.
Jason James goes up for a basket guarded by Johnny Annan.
A. Z. Allah leaps for a basket watched by Joe Thomson and Camdyn Shoesmith.
Johnny Annan is blocked by Joe Thomson.
A. Z. Allah drives between Joe Okla and Jaydon Buckle
Rocky’s Ace Hardware celebrates 100 years of solving problems
By Sarah Heinonen sheinonen@thereminder.com
It is a milestone for any company to stay in business for 100 years. It is even more impressive when that business is family-owned and an institution in more than 50 communities.
On March 6, 1926, Rocco “Rocky” Falcone opened a hardware store at the corner of Main and Union streets in Springfield. His great-grandson, John “Johnny” Falcone, director of acquisitions and part of the fourth generation of Falcones operating Rocky’s Ace Hardware, explained that when the Great Depression broke out, the store became “Rocky’s Rental,” because people largely could not afford to buy tools. A rental busi-
ness was particularly well-suited to the customers’ needs.
Over the years, the business continued to evolve to meet the needs of its customers. In the 1950s and 60s, the stores became neighborhood hardware stores where people could buy what they needed and get advice from the employees. By the 1990s, the company had pivoted to a more expansive view of home improvement, with showrooms so people could envision how their project might look.
In the 1970s, Rocky’s became part of the Ace Hardware cooperative of 5,800 independently owned retailers in 50 states and 60 countries. By joining with Ace, Rocky’s was able to take advantage of the buying power of a
national entity.
Today, Johnny said, the stores offer convenience, not just in what products they sell, but in how people can access those products, whether it is through the company’s app, website or in-store.
“The journey is not linear anymore,” Brian Bowler, head of marketing and sales, said of how people shop. Some customers come to the store and then compare prices online. Others start online to get an idea of what they need and then pick it up in the store so they can see what they are buying. Customers who are mid-project can even have items delivered to their home via DoorDash. And when customers are tackling projects, Johnny said the
team of up to 850 Rocky’s Ace Hardware employees is always available to help. He said, “We have incredible, smart people on our team.” Through it all, Rocky’s Ace Hardware has remained a family business. In 1966, Rocky’s son, James “Jim” Falcone, became president and expanded the business to seven stores. Since Jim’s son, Rocco Falcone — named for his grandfather — became president in 1992, the number of stores has exploded to 50, stretching across New England, with stores also in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida and New Jersey. Two additional stores — in Manchester, Connecticut, and Kennebunkport, Maine — will be opening in the year ahead. Rocco owns the
company alongside his aunt Clair Falcone. Johnny’s sister, Melissa Falcone, is a marketing specialist and their cousin, Anthony DeLiso is the company’s promotions coordinator.
Johnny said the key to Rocky’s Ace Hardware’s success is putting customers first, satisfying their changing needs and solving problems. For the next 100 years, Johnny said he envisions Rocky’s Ace Hardware will “continue to be who we are at our core; that is helping others,” Johnny said.
Brian agreed. “We don’t sell hardware. We don’t sell nuts and bolts. We help people solve problems,” he said. “We’re rooted in the community. We’re not going anywhere.”
gathering signatures, and meeting with people in Southampton and Westfield.” He will need to collect 150 signatures of registered Democratic or non-party voters in the two communities by April 28, per election regulations. Hoffman said he is look-
Every week we will provide you with a complete listings of deaths from the preceding week from throughout Greater Springfield. We are doing this as a convenience to our readers in case you miss an obit in the daily paper. We hope you find this useful and that you will refer to it weekly.
AGAWAM
Talmadge M. “Thelma” Gross
Ann M. Guidi
Lynn A. Plakias
James M. Zucco
FEEDING HILLS
Kathleen A. Cavallo
Joseph Nicolas Gilberti
William J. Lambert
Daniel St. “Dan”
ing forward to meeting people, although he describes himself as reserved and a little shy. “I have to get out there and get my face there. I have to meet people and show them who Colby is,” he said.
“When we moved here in September of 2019, it was winter, and then COVID. I feel like I’ve never really had a chance to meet the people in my communi-
ty properly; it’s a chance to meet people and get out of our internet screens.” He also launched a Colby Hoffman for State Representative page on Facebook. Hoffman said he has not yet met Pease. “This is not really me going against a person; it’s giving a secondary option. I think I am a really good candidate. I think it’s very important that we have alternate ideas,” he said.
Westfield, other towns march in St. Patrick’s Parade
A rainy day couldn’t dampen the spirits of the crowd gathered for the 73rd Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade on March 22. More photos are available at thereminder.com. Top row, from left: Westfield Fire Department marching unit. Westfield Police Department led by Chief Jerome Pitoniak. 2026 Sons of Erin Colleen Reese O’Connell. Bottom row, from left: Billy Buzzee St. Pat on the Back Award Winner Jimmy Kane. Sons of Erin Women’s Auxilliary Marching Unit.
Reminder Publishing photos by Marc St. Onge
Provision’s Picks: Light white wines from Muscadet
As winter wears on and spring seems closer than ever, I like to put aside the robust reds that we tend to favor during the cold months and start exploring warm weather wines ahead of the season’s change. It’s not so much a change of necessity, it’s still quite chilly here in Massachusetts, but rather a sort of optimistic look towards spring and summer just around the corner. Perhaps there is also a degree of palate fatigue from enjoying so much rich food and drink during the winter months. So let us look at something markedly different from the winter’s hearty reds and turn our attention to one of the most refreshing of light white wines: Muscadet.
Muscadet is the westernmost edge of the Loire, surrounding the city of Nantes near the Atlantic coast. The region works with only one grape, Melon de Bourgogne, and specializes in the dry, white and sea food friendly wine that bears the region’s name. This is not to be confused with the similar-sounding Muscat grape that is grown all over the world to produce fruity, floral wines, often of substantial sweetness. Muscadet is a fairly neutral grape with more notes of minerality than of fruit as a result of the lo-
cal soil’s richness of calcium and potassium. These wines are often richly textured and long lived as a result of a practice known as “lees aging” wherein the wine is rested or aged on the yeast sediment left over from fermentation to create a richer mouthfeel and more savory aromas. Lees aging may last as little as a few months but in top cuvees can go on for as long as five years. The region has historically produced oceans of simple, high acid white wine meant to be paired with seafood, however, the tide is turning in Muscadet, and today you can find a number of excellent producers making superb, thirst quenching wines of both enjoyment and terroir. Check out some of our favorites below:
Claude Branger Le Fils des Gras Moutons Muscadet Sevre et Maine ($16.99): Claude Branger and his son Sebastian are meticulous farmers focused on working entirely by hand, lowering yields to improve quality and organic farming (the estate has been certified organic by the EU since 2019). Le Fils des Gras Mouton is produced from a single vineyard containing the familly’s younger vines grown on shallow granitic soil, and the wine spends six to seven months
on the lees before bottling. Notes of citrus peel, salt and crushed sea shells. An outstanding value!
Jo landron Amphibolite Muscadet Sevre et Maines ($23.99): The Landron family have proven to be true stars of the region, a reputation they have surely earned through their meticulous yet minimal intervention winemaking and comittment to biodynamic viticulture. In fact, Jo Landron was an early pioneer of natural farming in the largely conventional region, converting to organic in 1999 and biodynamics in 2011. Amphibolite is a blend of multiple parcels of 35to 40-year-old vines grown on the
regions green amphibolite soils, and the wine spends six months on the lees. Slightly riper and more textured than many other entry level Muscadets with notes of citrus, apple and minerality.
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Mise Precoce ($22.99): Widely regarded as one of the top domaines in the region, Pepiere’s wines are not to be missed. Led by the Olivier family, the estate was one of the first to focus on single vineyard expressions back in the 80s, fighting an uphill battle for recognition in a region better known for bulk production. This focus on terroir led them to acquire some
of the best vineyard sites in what are now the formally recognized cru zones of the region. As a result of this investment in terroir, they are able to source 50% of the fruit for their entry level Muscadet from the higher-tier cru sites with the remainder coming from good vineyards in the greater Muscadet-Sevre-et-Maine appellation. The Muscadet Mise Precoce is a special early bottling produced only in certain vintages to showcase a lighter and more acid driven style of Muscadet. Linear and very bright with savory notes of sea breeze, lemon and crushed rock.
