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The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2015
VOL. 84 NO. 119
“We are taught you
must blame your father, your sisters, your brothers, the school, the teachers — but never blame yourself. It’s never your fault. But it’s always your fault... ” — KATHARINE HEPBURN
75 cents
PVTA secures Flahive property for demolition
The polls at Southwick Town Hall are open until 8 p.m. today. (Photo by Hope
Southwick Board of Selectmen Republican candidate Douglas Moglin chats with poll workers Tuesday when casting his ballot.
E. Tremblay)
(Photo by Hope E. Tremblay)
Polls open in Southwick By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – Although unopposed board of selectmen candidate Douglas Moglin seems to be a shoe-in for today’s election, the Southwick resident is not taking anything for granted “I am a ‘don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched’ kind of guy,” Moglin said yesterday. “I just heard today there’s a write-in candidate, so you never know.” The Republican caucus nominee, Moglin said it’s rare for a write-in to win but he still wanted to encourage everyone to vote. “Even if I wasn’t running I would vote,” he said. “Voting is so important – it’s a sacred right that we have in the
United States and I’d love to see people come out to vote.” The only contested race on the ballot is for the Southwick Public Library board of trustees. Democrat Patrick Ayotte will face Republican Kristi Deedy for that one-year term. Moglin is no stranger to small-town politics, which he stumbled into by accident more then 15 years ago. “When I first moved here I went to a Planning Board meeting to find out where my street was located and I was asked if I was interested in volunteering,” he said. “At the time I did not have any kids and I had the time, so I said yes and I loved it so much. I learned a lot about the town it’s residents and businesses.” Moglin served as an associate mem-
ber of the Planning Board for a few years and then was elected to the first of three five-year terms. He is currently in the midst of one of those terms and serves as the Planning Board chairman. If elected, Moglin said he would resign from the Planning Board although the town bylaws do not limit how many municipal committees and boards a resident conserve on at one time. “I think I would best serve the town as a member of one board,” he said. Moglin has been asked to run for selectmen in the past but the timing was never right. “I have a daughter and for most of my time on the Planning Board she was See Voting, Page 3
Library, Historical Society, offer events By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Staff Writer SOUTHWICK – The Southwick Public Library and Historical Society are offering numerous ways for residents to take advantage of their services this month. This Tuesday, and May 19, the Southwick Public Library’s Tuesday Storytime for children ages 2-5 years old will meet in the library’s Children’s Room at 10:30 a.m. Dance with bubbles! Make a new friend. Read a fun story. Create a craft! Children must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver. Please register in the
Children’s Room or call 413-569-1221 x4 to join the fun. The LEGO Club will meet on Thursday, May 14 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the Community Room at Southwick Public Library. Kids in grades 2-6 may register to in the Children’s Room to join the fun. (Parents please note: the Library closes at 5 p.m. on Thursdays and LEGO Club members must be picked up before closing.). Stockbridge Farm’s program Herbs of the Mediterranean will be held at the Southwick Public Library on Wednesday,
By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Pioneer Valley Transit Center has purchased the Flahive Building on Arnold Street where it plans to construct the 2,700 square-foot Westfield Transit Pavilion on a three-quarter lot. Pioneer Valley Transit Authority Administrator Mary L. MacInnes Friday confirmed the May 1 purchase posted on Mayor Daniel M. Knapik’s Facebook site last week. “Now we’re an apartment building landlord,” MacInnes said, adding that the PVTA is working with both residential and commercial tenants to find new accommodations as required under federal law because the project is being funded through a federal grant. “We had people (a relocation consultant) contact the tenants with who we’ve been working for some time now on relocating.” “A lot of the residents have already moved out using the relocation payment required by federal law,” MacInnes said. “The commercial tenants are also eligible for that relocation payment. That payment is an incentive to move out of the building.” PVTA Manager of Capital Projects John Burke said See PVTA, Page 3
Westfield Fire Commission interviews candidates
May 20 at 6:30 p.m. This program is a unique combination of cooking and gardening. Herbs are essential ingredients in Mediterranean cooking. The cuisine of this area is uncomplicated, built on vegetables, fruits, grains, olive oil and fish. Mediterranean style cooking is easy to replicate. Each participant will receive a taste of all dishes prepared during the program as well as a copy of all recipes. Gardening tips on growing herbs will also be offered. Questions are welcome
By DAN MORIARTY Staff Writer WESTFIELD – The Fire Commission in a marathon session interviewed candidates for appointment as firefighters and to fill the training captain’s post in the Fire Department. Fire Chief Mary Regan said the candidates for two firefighter positions “interviewed well” and that the commission will meet with Human Resource Director Karin Decker later this week to rank candidates. Fire candidates are screened before attending the State Fire Academy in Stow, Massachusetts. That
See Events, Page 3
See Fire Commission, Page 3
Westfield farms out to prove local is better By JANINE QUEENAN Correspondent WESTFIELD – Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a popular trend across the country. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 12,617 U.S farms sell products using this shared-risk model. CSAs allow consumers to deal directly with farmers. Fresh produce is sold throughout the growing season using a share distribution system. CSA “members” invest in the farm by paying for the product upfront, before the season begins. The farmer allocates the goods to the members on a regular basis, and members receive a share of fresh, plentiful, locally grown food. Environmental concerns around modern agriculture drove the creation of the CSA system. By supporting farmers, consumers help protect natural resources and support the local economy. CSAs are abundant in this region of the state and many have expanded beyond selling produce. Today, CSAs sell vegetables, fruit, meat, dairy, eggs, herbs, and non-food items, such as yarn. Western Massachusetts has a long history with
the CSA movement. One of the first CSAs started in Great Barrington during the 1980s. Nowadays, hundreds of regional farmers take part in direct to the consumer farming. Two of those CSAs operate in Westfield: Kosinski Farms on Russellville Road and Yellow Stonehouse Farm on Root Road. In business for more than 80 years, the Kosinski family runs two farms, a retail stand, bakery, and greenhouse in Westfield. Owner/operator Gene Kosinski started the CSA five years ago to offer more produce to the consumer. He’s happy with the results. “The CSA has grown each year, mostly by word of mouth,” he said. Kosinski also sits on the board of CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture), the creators of the popular, and long-running, “Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown,” marketing campaign. CISA promotes local agriculture and according to Kosinski, “shows the difference between things See Local Farms, Page 3
Gene Kosinski at his greenhouse on Russellville Road. (Photo by Janine Queenan)
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