There was bad news and good news in the Westfield business community this week.
Westfield lost an important corporate citizen, a local captain of industry, when John E. Reed, owner of Mestek, Inc. on North Elm Street, passed away. Mr. Reed was known to many around this city, state, and country. In my early days as a candidate for office and as a newly elected legislator he was supportive to me with contributions of both money and advice. His common sense wisdom was legendary and he will be missed. My condolences to his family, friends, and the employees of Mestek.
The good news is that Gulfstream cut the ribbon on their massive new product services hangar facility up at Barnes Regional Airport on Tuesday. This large expansion of the Gulfstream presence that has already been in Westfield for 15 years means more revenue and more employment for our city and region. It means corporate jet owners in the Northeast will now fly their aircraft to Westfield to be serviced rather than go to Savannah, Georgia. It’s just one more distinction that puts Westfield on the map.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee released its version of the state budget for FY 2014 this week at the State House. Just as with the House of Representatives, Senators have very little time to read and understand the budget before the deadline by which they must submit their amendments. Legislators’ amendments are the vehicle used to try to make changes to the version of the budget released by Ways and Means. They don’t often pass. The Senate will debate the budget in formal session next week.
The House was in formal session this week, albeit briefly, to pass a supplemental spending bill covering certain unpaid expenses such as snow and ice removal contractors’ final payments for the work they did last winter. It is unfortunate but true that it sometimes takes the government of the Commonwealth quite a while to pay its bills and obligations. That can be quite difficult for a small plowing contractor, for instance, who is waiting since January for his final payment from the state and still has to pay his bills until the state catches up in May. File that in the “No way to run a railroad” file.
Wednesday was the one month “anniversary” of the Boston Marathon bombings. The members of the House of Representatives honored the police officers of the Metro North SWAT team that captured the terrorist in Watertown and helped begin to restore some sense of safety and sanity to the region. It was also Fallen Law Enforcement Officer’s Day. Here in Westfield we of course remember Police Officer Jose Torres.
If you’re looking for something fun to do outdoors on Saturday, Westfield Watersports/Wilderness Adventures of Southwick and the Westfield River Watershed Association are holding their annual Kayak Demo Day from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Hampton Ponds State Park. Tickets are only $5 per person or $10 per family.
Throughout the day there will be demos and clinics regarding the various aspects of kayaking such as outfitting for safety, stand-up paddling, Eskimo rolling, and whitewater kayaking. For more information go to www.WestfieldRiver.org.
The Westfield State University Class of 2013 held their commencement ceremonies Friday night at the Mass Mutual Center in downtown Springfield. Congratulations to all! Below are my comments I delivered at the graduation ceremony.
Thank you, President Dobelle, Trustees, faculty, staff, librarians, distinguished members of the platform party, parents, grandparents, and especially, students of the Westfield State University Class of 2013. Good evening!
Thank you for the privilege of joining with you tonight to celebrate your accomplishments and wish you well as you begin your lives after Westfield State University.
Every year since 2002 when I was elected Westfield’s State Representative, I have been afforded the distinct pleasure and great honor of bringing the greetings and congratulations of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the Great and General Court.
It is even more special for me because, like you, I too am a graduate of Westfield State. 24 years ago I sat, as you sit, excited, proud, nervous, relieved, hopeful, and very eager.
Over the years many excellent students from Westfield State have come to intern in my office. I can honestly say the people of my district and I have always been well-served and the university has always been well-represented by those students.
I would like to add a personal note of congratulations to a member of your class, a special friend, Student Government Association President Stephanie Close. Stephanie served in my office as a Legislative Intern and helped me to represent the college and the community with great distinction. Thank you Stephanie and congratulations.
I am a member of a minority class in this state. I am a Republican legislator, but I hope you’ll permit me to quote President Barack Obama, who was actually quoting President George W. Bush when he spoke at Ohio State University and said, “America needs more than taxpayers, spectators, and occasional voters,” he said. “America needs full-time citizens.”
I hope you will take the education you received at Westfield State, your degree from this fine institution, along with the experiences you had here as a student that helped shape you into the person that you are today, and combine it with the words of wisdom you got perhaps from your favorite professor, a best friend, or your parents, and regardless of whatever job you may obtain or career you may aspire to remember that it is your ultimate duty and responsibility to be a full-time citizen of this Commonwealth, this country, and the world.
Congratulations, Class of 2013. Enjoy this night! You earned it! Thank you.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of the Westfield News.
Representative Don Humason and his Chief of Staff Maura Cassin McCarthy may be reached at their Westfield District Office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, (413) 568-1366.
Representative Don Humason may be reached at his Boston office, State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803.
Email address: [email protected]
Website: www.DonHumason.org
