Representative Don Humason



THROUGH DIFFERENT EYES How often do you get to show off your hometown to somebody who has never been to Westfield? Where would you go? What would you show them? Imagine how our city looks to someone seeing it through different eyes. This week I had that chance. Jonelle Gingrich, my Boston Legislative Aide, lives in Sandwich, Massachusetts, and works in my State House office. She came to Westfield for the first time since she was nine years old. Her family lived in Huntington when she was a little girl and she remembers playing in Stanley Park. That’s about all she could recall of her previous visits to < st1:pl ace w:st="on">Westfield. Anticipating her visit and wanting to plan a comprehensive tour of my district I asked people for their suggestions of what I should be sure to have her see while in Westfield. Almost everyone said, “Stanley Park.” Many said, “Westfield State College” or “Amelia Park.” So I planned an itinerary worthy of a professional tour guide. When Jonelle arrived in town Tuesday, I had her come to my district office at 64 Noble Street. I thought she should see our operation in Westfield and it was a good place to start her tour. We ate lunch at K’s Japanese Steak Restaurant because I know she likes good sushi. From there we went downtown to the Westfield Athenaeum. We toured the library and met Chris Lindquist and Ralph Melnick. Then it was off to Amelia Park rink and garden, the Children’s Museum, Billy Bullen’s Field, the spray park at the Municipal Playground, and Grandmother’s Garden. I showed her the Westfield River. We stopped at Zuber’s and had lemonade on the patio overlooking the tobacco fields. Then we headed up to Stanley Park and later to Westfield State College for their excellent Opening Day festivities. Wednesday was a full day and we started at the Council on Aging where we met Tina Gorman and the staff. I showed Jonelle our city Green. Then we met with Mayor Mike Boulanger and the folks in the City Clerk’s office at City Hall. Next it was up to the Northside for a tour of the new Administration Building at Barnes Airport. We had lunch with Chris Willenborg at The Runway Restaurant before he took us on a tour of the airport that included Gary Pott’s Airflyte, Inc., General Dynamics, and the FAA air traffic control tower. From the civilian side of Barnes Sarah, Jonelle, and I moved over to the 104th Fighter Wing for a meeting with the new Commander of the base, Colonel Robert “L.A.” Brooks and the command staff. Colonel Kevin Keenan from the Army Aviation unit joined us for a briefing on the helicopters and a status of upgrades to the base in support of the F-15’s and their new air superiority mission protecting America’s northeast. I welcome Colonel Brooks and applaud all the members of the 104th for their professionalism and dedication to their mission. By the way, look for Westfield’s F-15’s for the flyover at the start of the New England Patriot’s game Sunday. While on the Northside I took Sarah and Jonelle up to Hampton Ponds State Park, then over to Pomeroy Sugar House and Kosinski Farms where we stopped and bought fresh fruit and vegetables from the respective farm stands. Wednesday night we dined at the Westwood Restaurant, and then watched Governor Sarah Palin’s speech at the Republican National Convention. Thursday came and we held public office hours at Adrienne’s Café on Union Street followed by pizza from Pasqualie’s Pizza with Senator Mike Knapik’s staff at his district office at 57 North Elm Street. I concluded Jonelle’s trip to Westfield by taking her to the Westfield Sportsman’s Club for a tour and some pistol target shooting. Not bad. If she could have stayed longer I am certain there was even more to the Whip City we could have shown her; more restaurants, businesses, shops, and sights. We are lucky to live in a city with so much going on. This weekend, for example, is the Rotary Club Oktoberfest at Barnes Airport Friday and Saturday, the Fire Department open house Saturday, the St. Joseph’s Polish Harvest Festival Sunday, Grandmother’s Day at Grandmother’s Garden Sunday, the dedication of a new playground at Southampton Road School, and a free Bridal Fair Sunday afternoon at the Genesis Center. Weather permitting, all this and more will happen in Westfield. I already know how great our city is. It was just really nice introducing Westfield to Jonelle and seeing it through different eyes. * * * Representative Humason and his Legislative Aide Jonelle Gingrich may be reached at his State House office, Room 542. Boston, MA 02133. (617) 722-2803. Representative Humason and his Chief of Staff Sarah Latour may be reached at his Westfield district office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085. (413) 568-1366. Representative Don Humason’s website is www.DonHumason.org
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THROUGH DIFFERENT EYES

How often do you get to show off your hometown to somebody who has never been to Westfield? Where would you go? What would you show them? Imagine how our city looks to someone seeing it through different eyes.

This week I had that chance. Jonelle Gingrich, my Boston Legislative Aide, lives in Sandwich, Massachusetts, and works in my State House office. She came to Westfield for the first time since she was nine years old. Her family lived in Huntington when she was a little girl and she remembers playing in Stanley Park. That’s about all she could recall of her previous visits to < st1:pl ace w:st="on">Westfield.

Anticipating her visit and wanting to plan a comprehensive tour of my district I asked people for their suggestions of what I should be sure to have her see while in Westfield. Almost everyone said, “Stanley Park.” Many said, “Westfield State College” or “Amelia Park.” So I planned an itinerary worthy of a professional tour guide.

When Jonelle arrived in town Tuesday, I had her come to my district office at 64 Noble Street. I thought she should see our operation in Westfield and it was a good place to start her tour.

We ate lunch at K’s Japanese Steak Restaurant because I know she likes good sushi. From there we went downtown to the Westfield Athenaeum. We toured the library and met Chris Lindquist and Ralph Melnick. Then it was off to Amelia Park rink and garden, the Children’s Museum, Billy Bullen’s Field, the spray park at the Municipal Playground, and Grandmother’s Garden.

I showed her the Westfield River. We stopped at Zuber’s and had lemonade on the patio overlooking the tobacco fields. Then we headed up to Stanley Park and later to Westfield State College for their excellent Opening Day festivities.

Wednesday was a full day and we started at the Council on Aging where we met Tina Gorman and the staff. I showed Jonelle our city Green. Then we met with Mayor Mike Boulanger and the folks in the City Clerk’s office at City Hall.

Next it was up to the Northside for a tour of the new Administration Building at Barnes Airport. We had lunch with Chris Willenborg at The Runway Restaurant before he took us on a tour of the airport that included Gary Pott’s Airflyte, Inc., General Dynamics, and the FAA air traffic control tower.

From the civilian side of Barnes Sarah, Jonelle, and I moved over to the 104th Fighter Wing for a meeting with the new Commander of the base, Colonel Robert “L.A.” Brooks and the command staff. Colonel Kevin Keenan from the Army Aviation unit joined us for a briefing on the helicopters and a status of upgrades to the base in support of the

F-15’s and their new air superiority mission protecting America’s northeast.

I welcome Colonel Brooks and applaud all the members of the 104th for their professionalism and dedication to their mission. By the way, look for Westfield’s F-15’s for the flyover at the start of the New England Patriot’s game Sunday.

While on the Northside I took Sarah and Jonelle up to Hampton Ponds State Park, then over to Pomeroy Sugar House and Kosinski Farms where we stopped and bought fresh fruit and vegetables from the respective farm stands. Wednesday night we dined at the Westwood Restaurant, and then watched Governor Sarah Palin’s speech at the Republican National Convention.

Thursday came and we held public office hours at Adrienne’s Café on Union Street followed by pizza from Pasqualie’s Pizza with Senator Mike Knapik’s staff at his district office at 57 North Elm Street. I concluded Jonelle’s trip to Westfield by taking her to the Westfield Sportsman’s Club for a tour and some pistol target shooting.

Not bad. If she could have stayed longer I am certain there was even more to the Whip City we could have shown her; more restaurants, businesses, shops, and sights. We are lucky to live in a city with so much going on.

This weekend, for example, is the Rotary Club Oktoberfest at Barnes Airport Friday and Saturday, the Fire Department open house Saturday, the St. Joseph’s Polish Harvest Festival Sunday, Grandmother’s Day at Grandmother’s Garden Sunday, the dedication of a new playground at Southampton Road School, and a free Bridal Fair Sunday afternoon at the Genesis Center. Weather permitting, all this and more will happen in Westfield.

I already know how great our city is. It was just really nice introducing Westfield to Jonelle and seeing it through different eyes.

* * *

Representative Humason and his Legislative Aide Jonelle Gingrich may be reached at his State House office, Room 542. Boston, MA 02133. (617) 722-2803.
Representative Humason and his Chief of Staff Sarah Latour may be reached at his Westfield district office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085. (413) 568-1366.
Representative Don Humason’s website is www.DonHumason.org

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group