WESTFIELD-Mayor Donald F. Humason Jr. has set his sights on setting up a table on Aug. 20 during the Westfield Farmers’ Market to meet with constituents who have feedback or a question to ask.
The Westfield Farmer’s Market is open Thursdays from 12-5 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Atonement. Masks are required. Mayor Donald F. Humason Jr. has scheduled office houra druing the Aug. 20 market. (HOPE E. TREMBLAY/THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
“I’ve always enjoyed the casual atmosphere at the farmers’ market,” said Humason, adding his office hours this Thursday will be from 12-3 p.m.
Humason noted that with key locations including the Westfield Senior Center and Westfield City Hall remaining closed at this time due to the coronavirus pandemic, he has had limited locations to offer office hours.
“I like getting out of the office and I find people are more comfortable when we are chatting at a local restaurant or walking along a street,” said Humason. “With places like City Hall remaining closed for now and no sign of reopening soon, I have to find places like this for casual gatherings and to offer opportunities for people to approach me informally.”
Humason said he is hopeful that people will want to stop by and share any concerns or questions they have.
“This is something I like to do and the mayor should be as visible as possible,” said Humason. “This year hasn’t been like that because of COVID-19 so I am looking for opportunities like the farmers’ market to get out and talk to people.”
Humason noted that if city residents are unable to attend the farmers’ market, he is also accessible by calling his office, (413) 572-6201, or sending an email to [email protected]. He added that if someone sends him an email he would prefer that individual also include a telephone number so he can reach out quickly. Additionally, he has a Facebook page where comments can be left on the “messenger” link.
“There is always a place for formal meetings like parades and special ceremonies, but it is important to have informal times to be accessible to the people and due to COVID-19 this year those opportunities haven’t been possible,” he said.
The Westfield Farmers’ Market is conducted from 12-5 p.m. on the front lawn of the Episcopal Church of the Atonement on Court Street.
“We are definitely pleased and surprised by our customer turnout since we opened,” said Debbie Randzio, market manager. “The community has been very supportive, thanking us for being there.”
Randzio noted that more than 450 people have attended the market each week since it opened this season and she is seeing more SNAP customers who are using the $5 match program.
“Now that we have a controlled entrance and exit, we can get a fairly accurate count of how many customers visit us,” said Randzio. “Prior to COVID, the market was wide open and customers could wander in and out of the market from anywhere on the entire property, so we took an approximation by walking through the market and counting the customers once each hour.”
Randzio noted at press time, there were several vendors already planning on being at the farmers’ market this week, including the Meadowburn Farm of Blandford, that offers bouquets of cut flowers, herbs, small batches of essential oils, and a variety of lavender products including soaps, body powder, sachets, reed diffusers, body butter, sprays, scrubs, roll-on, perfume, face wipes and stress balls.
Vendors also at this week’s market include Peacock’s Nest Studio of Easthampton, offering glasses and hearing aid friendly adjustable face masks as well as lab-tested hand sanitizers; Pignatare’s Farm of Westfield, selling produce, eggs, honey, honey sticks, breads, flowers, fruit, vegetables and vegetable plants, jams, jellies and popcorn; Pitchfork Farm of Westfield, selling chicken, duck, and goose eggs, honey, bird feathers, pork and goat meat, as well as bison meat and bones, elk meat, organs and bones, and pasture raised broiler chickens, and Relax, Rinse, Repeat of Westfield will be selling sugar scrubs, hand sanitizers, bug spray and lip balm, all made with essential oils and natural products.
Additional vendors set to sell at the market this week include Jeff Bellefleur of Feeding Hills, offering chainsaw carvings; Bev’s Patchwork of Westfield, selling wool mittens made out of wool sweaters, purses made from old sweaters, hobby horses, aprons, appliquéd towels and seasonal wreaths; Sandy Hill Apiary of Westfield will be selling raw wildflower honey, creamed raw honey, infused raw honey, beeswax lip balms, hand creams, paw balms for pets, and reusable beeswax food wraps as an earth friendly alternative to plastic wrap, and West Parish Orchard of Westfield will be offering peaches, apples, apple butter, homemade apple/harvest-themed potholders, homemade wine bottle bags and beeswax candles.
A representative from Commonwealth Care Alliance, based in Springfield, will also be on hand to discuss free health care options for seniors with Medicare.
For the latest details on the market, visit the Westfield Farmers’ Market Facebook page or its website, westfieldfarmersmarket.org.
