Representative Don Humason



AMERICAN IDOL By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. February 18, 2006 I made a mistake in my column last week. I gave the wrong date for the Westfield Sportsman's Club annual Youth Fishing Derby. The correct date is Sunday, April 30, at the club, which is located up by Westfield High School on Furrowtown Road. All kids are welcome, free of charge. Sorry for the misinformation. I've never been a big fan of the TV show American Idol, but the other night I found myself watching it while channel surfing back and forth between the Winter Olympics coverage on NBC. The reason I tuned in this week? I know one of the contestants: Ayla Brown. Ayla is the daughter of Massachusetts State Senator Scott Brown from Wrentham. Scott used to sit next to me in the House Chamber before he became a Senator. On the day I was first sworn in as Westfield's State Representative, January 1, 2003, Ayla sang the National Anthem to start off the ceremony. She is very talented and I was happy to see that she made it to the next round. I may have to watch the show for the rest of the season! This week the House welcomed three new members who were sworn in by the Governor during formal session on Wednesday. These Representatives were elected during special elections to replace legislators who had vacated their seats. Two are Democrats. One is a Republican. The 160-member House is now split 21 Republicans to 138 Democrats. One seat is vacant because Dan Keenan from Southwick left to take a new position. That seat will most likely remain empty until the regular November elections this year. I have already taken some calls from Southwick residents. Certainly I will try to help them when I can but my first priority must be to the citizens of Westfield. I submitted my budget priority letter this week to Representative Robert DeLeo of Winthrop. Bob is the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee that is charged with writing the House version of the spending document for the next fiscal year starting July 1. All of us have the opportunity to meet with the Chairman to discuss our priorities for our districts and for the Commonwealth. I indicated my number one priority this year was for more local aid to Westfield. I believe local government is where the most and best services are provided. I also asked for funding for Noble Hospital, Westfield State College, the Westfield Athenaeum, the Holyoke Soldier's Home, Western Mass Hospital, Barnes Airport, Abilities Unlimited/Kamp for Kids, and more. I'll meet with him soon and try to do some more convincing face to face! Congratulations to the members of the Mount Mariah Lodge of Masons on their 150th Anniversary they celebrated last weekend. Congratulations, too, to the children at Southampton Road Elementary School for their new climbing wall. I was there Thursday night for the public showing of the wall that was built with money raised privately by many donors. It was fantastic to see the kids enjoying their new wall. Afterwards, I attended the Russell Biomass debate sponsored by the Westfield River Environmental Center at Westfield State College. This controversial proposal brought many people out to hear the pros and cons of such a plant. The proposal is currently undergoing a full environmental impact study required by the Department of Environmental Protection. Attention Seniors: Prescription Advantage, the Commonwealth's pharmacy assistance program administered by the Mass Executive Office of Elder Affairs, will conduct an Open Enrollment March 15-April 28. This is the first open enrollment since Prescription Advantage became a program that wraps around Medicare Part D, the new prescription drug benefit. For information, call Elder Affairs at 617-222-7562. Have a great week! Representative Don Humason and his aide Joe Wynn may be reached at their NEW Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA01085, 568-1366. Their Boston address is State House Room 443, Boston, MA02133, (617) 722-2460. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us * * * Please feel free to forward this column to your family, friends, and associates. If you do not wish to receive an email copy of my column from the Saturday Westfield Evening News, please reply and let me know. I will then take you off the list. Sorry for any inconvenience.
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AMERICAN IDOL

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

February 18, 2006

       I made a mistake in my column last week. I gave the wrong date for the Westfield Sportsman's Club annual Youth Fishing Derby. The correct date is Sunday, April 30, at the club, which is located up by Westfield High School on Furrowtown Road. All kids are welcome, free of charge. Sorry for the misinformation.

       I've never been a big fan of the TV show American Idol, but the other night I found myself watching it while channel surfing back and forth between the Winter Olympics coverage on NBC. The reason I tuned in this week? I know one of the contestants: Ayla Brown. Ayla is the daughter of Massachusetts State Senator Scott Brown from Wrentham. Scott used to sit next to me in the House Chamber before he became a Senator.

       On the day I was first sworn in as Westfield's State Representative, January 1, 2003, Ayla sang the National Anthem to start off the ceremony. She is very talented and I was happy to see that she made it to the next round. I may have to watch the show for the rest of the season!

       This week the House welcomed three new members who were sworn in by the Governor during formal session on Wednesday. These Representatives were elected during special elections to replace legislators who had vacated their seats. Two are Democrats. One is a Republican.

       The 160-member House is now split 21 Republicans to 138 Democrats. One seat is vacant because Dan Keenan from Southwick left to take a new position. That seat will most likely remain empty until the regular November elections this year. I have already taken some calls from Southwick residents. Certainly I will try to help them when I can but my first priority must be to the citizens of Westfield.

       I submitted my budget priority letter this week to Representative Robert DeLeo of Winthrop. Bob is the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee that is charged with writing the House version of the spending document for the next fiscal year starting July 1. All of us have the opportunity to meet with the Chairman to discuss our priorities for our districts and for the Commonwealth.

       I indicated my number one priority this year was for more local aid to Westfield. I believe local government is where the most and best services are provided. I also asked for funding for Noble Hospital, Westfield State College, the Westfield Athenaeum, the Holyoke Soldier's Home, Western Mass Hospital, Barnes Airport, Abilities Unlimited/Kamp for Kids, and more. I'll meet with him soon and try to do some more convincing face to face!

       Congratulations to the members of the Mount Mariah Lodge of Masons on their 150th Anniversary they celebrated last weekend. Congratulations, too, to the children at Southampton Road Elementary School for their new climbing wall. I was there Thursday night for the public showing of the wall that was built with money raised privately by many donors. It was fantastic to see the kids enjoying their new wall.

       Afterwards, I attended the Russell Biomass debate sponsored by the Westfield River Environmental Center at Westfield State College. This controversial proposal brought many people out to hear the pros and cons of such a plant. The proposal is currently undergoing a full environmental impact study required by the Department of Environmental Protection.

       Attention Seniors: Prescription Advantage, the Commonwealth's pharmacy assistance program administered by the Mass Executive Office of Elder Affairs, will conduct an Open Enrollment March 15-April 28. This is the first open enrollment since Prescription Advantage became a program that wraps around Medicare Part D, the new prescription drug benefit. For information, call Elder Affairs at 617-222-7562.

       Have a great week!

Representative Don Humason and his aide Joe Wynn may be reached at their NEW Westfield District office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA01085, 568-1366.

Their Boston address is State House Room 443, Boston, MA02133, (617) 722-2460.
Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us

* * * Please feel free to forward this column to your family, friends, and associates. If you do not wish to receive an email copy of my column from the Saturday Westfield Evening News, please reply and let me know. I will then take you off the list. Sorry for any inconvenience.

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group