State Rep. Kelly Pease
FROM YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE
Fall is upon us, and I do enjoy the weather this time of year, at least until the leaves begin to fall. The city of Westfield has some great events coming up in October — from the Pumpkinfest and fireworks to trunk or treat.
This weekend is the Ghost Tours at the Old Burying Ground, in which I am playing one of the ghosts. There are also some great Halloween displays that families can drive around the city to view. Go to westfieldonweekends.com to see the map of houses that have registered their display locations.
September was a busy month, and I will just touch on some of the highlights. I attended committee hearings for the Joint Committee on Higher Education, Education, and Veterans and Government Affairs. Besides the committee hearings, there were meetings with the Interagency PFAS Task Force and Broadband Equity Commission, which I was recently appointed to. The Broadband Equity Commission aims to increase internet and technology access to communities that are in need of it.
As part of the Joint Committee for Veterans and Government Affairs, I joined my colleagues, to include Chairman Sen. John Velis, for a briefing on the Massachusetts National Guard at Hanscom Air Force Base. It was also a pleasure to sit down with the new president of Westfield State University, Dr. Linda Thompson. We had a great conversation about where the school is heading and how I can support from the State House and as the Ranking Minority Member of the Joint Committee on Higher Education.
There were several events and business openings that took place in Westfield over the last three weeks. Giftology is a new store in front of the Shortstop Bar and Grill, Heka is a new medical and adult marijuana facility on Sgt. T.M. Dion Way near the Turnpike, and First Choice Storage just opened on Southampton Road near the road going to Barnes Airport. The Westfield Women’s Club had a dedication for a new elevator, which will allow easier access to the theater. The opening of new businesses or improvements are always great events to attend. Congratulations to all and best of luck and success to the new businesses.
Ethan did an awesome job filling in for me to congratulate the newest Eagle Scouts from Troop 821. Well done, Joseph Adamczyk and Camden D’Andrea; what a great accomplishment. It was nice having Gov. Baker come to Westfield for the planting of the 30,000th tree through the Greening the Gateway Cities Initiative.
I also took part in the Westfield YMCA Board of Directors meeting and the Westfield Sportsman Club monthly meeting, which included their annual elections.
It was fun to begin Cub Scout meetings with Riley. He is really excited about some of the projects his Bear Den will be doing over the course of the next year.
If you need any assistance with state departments or agencies, please reach out to my office at 94 N. Elm St., Suite 301N, in the Westwood Building, phone 413-875-8787 or email [email protected] or [email protected].
Kelly Pease, R-Westfield, represents Westfield in the state House of Representatives.
