As co-chairs and members of the Westfield on Weekends board, we cannot be prouder of the positive response we have had to this second annual Westfield PumpkinFest.
Saturday’s event was overwhelmingly wonderful, as upwards of 8,000 folks came out to enjoy an afternoon of family fun with more than 600 free pumpkins given out to folks from all over Greater Westfield.
The smiling faces of families having a good time was fitting testament to the hard work of our WOW’s volunteer sub-committee, who spent many months planning, raising adequate funding and surmounting every small challenge that naturally comes one’s way when mounting an event of the size and scope of PumpkinFest.
Indeed, who would have guessed that a surprising rain could make the set-up of our event Saturday morning so wet and wild. Rest assured that as guests on the town green, WOW will be working with the City, the Park and Rec Department and the DPW to return muddied Park Square to its grassy green state for future community events in the Springtime.
A recent article by a fine journalist, Lori Szelpelek in the Westfield News had a very appropriate headline, noting how “it takes a village” to create such community fun and she could not have been more correct.
PumpkinFest was a success because of our amazing volunteer committee, who gave so freely of their time and talent. They deserve our recognition and heartfelt thanks for their spirit, work and collegiality. The committee includes: Chris Andrews, Susan Austin, Pastor Merle Beal, Andrea Piatti-Bruno, Phil Coalo, Aaliyah Brace, James Johnson-Corwin, Danny Nason, Kathi Palmer; Alex Preston, Mary Richards, Marta Rivera, Roxanne Sabonis, Jane Stanziola, Tommy Stanziola, Gerry Tomasko, John West, Scott West, Trevor West; Jamie Toomey; Faith Young and Paula Young (who incidentally, took a week off of work prior to the festival to tie up our loose ends).
WOW Board of Directors all stepped up to provide needed support and manpower. They include: President Jay Pagluica, Treasurer Sue Jegelwicz, Secretary Tania Vancini, Barbara Trant, Amber Danahey, Betty Faulhaber, James Johnson-Corwin, Ed Orgill, Stacie Phetteplace, Carol Saltus, Tom Sawyer, Gerry Tomasko and Amy Tosi.
Westfield should be justifiably proud of the able men and women, who serve us through City Hall. They all deserve our thanks our thanks and high praise: our supportive Mayor Brian Sullivan and City Council; the oh-so-hard-working folks at the Department of Public Works; our incredible Police Department and Auxiliary Police force; our generous Park and Rec folks; our exceptional Fire, Water and Community Development Departments; our wonderful Westfield G & E; informative Licensing and Health Departments and the creative and collaborative School Department.
Elm Street came alive with the collaboration of our partners in community, Cheryl Crowe, Danny Nason, Bill Westerlind and ArtWorks Westfield; Julie Austin Leavitt and the Dewey House of the Western Hampden Historical Society; Alec Preston, Phil Coalo, and Andrea Piatti-Bruno of Blended Vintage Marketplace; Reverend Merle Beal and the Community Church of Westfield; and Prob and Mina Reshemwala of Mina’s Wine and Spirits and Peter Kantos, Chris Osborne and John Bonavita of the Tavern Restaurant. Our thanks to them all.
Our Pumpkin Patch became a reality thanks to Sue and Ralph Figy and the Figy Team of Coldwell Banker Residential Services, who donated our huge tent and who with Sandy Rose, Matt Collins and John Raymakers Jr. set up and broke down what was the Pumpkin Carving Studio.
We must also thank Darian Guthrie and Ariabelle Adames and their indefatigable collegiate Kiwanians of the Circle K Club of Westfield State who at the break of dawn on Saturday helped gut the pumpkins and assisted wherever they could before and after PumpkinFest. We also appreciate the Westfield High School band members who helped us with breaking down PumpkinFest at the end of very long day.
PumpkinFest is an expensive, but worthwhile harvest party and so we must thank our sponsors. without whom the fun could never happen. Our major sponsors included Westfield Gas & Electric and Whip City Fiber at the platinum level; the United Bank Foundation; Bank ESB and the Big Y at the gold level; and Staples and the City of Westfield at the silver level; and Blended Vintage Marketplace, the Interall Corporation and the Polish National Credit Union at the bronze level.
Additional funding was provided through grants from the Westfield Cultural Council, a local program of the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
Pumpkin Patch, and Runway sponsors included Mayor Brian Sullivan; State Senator Don Humason; and State Representative John Velis; John S. Lane Inc.; The Creative Hub and Beantown & Company; City Councilor Mike and Lisa Burns; City Councilors Brent Bean, John Beltrandi, Mary Ann Babinski, Matt Emmershy; Dave Flaherty; Ralph Figy, Nick Morganelli; Bill Onyski; Andrew Surprise and Bob Paul; George’s Jewelers; Rosewood Home & Gifts; Steve Donnelly; Greylock Insurance Agency; Kiwanis Club of Westfield; Lisa and Tommy McMahon; Westfield Bank; Witalisz & Associates; and Adjust Your Life Chiropractic.
Generous assistance was also been offered by: The Balboni Family Alpacas and Good Dog University Day Care of West Springfield; the Church of the Atonement; Dr. Kevin Coughlin, Rick Drummond and the folks at Baystate Dental; Conklin Office Supply; Peter Cowles; and the Figy Realty Team from Coldwell Banker Residential Services.
Our appreciation also goes out to Reverend Bruce Arbour and First United Methodist Church; Danny Nason and Experience Westfield on Facebook; sculptor Sebastian Glebocki; Laurie Varelas and The Good Table; Patrick Kelly and Lazer 993; Fred Gore, Hope Tremblay, Cynthia Simison, MassLive and the Springfield Republican; Ricky’s Porta-Potties; Greg and Eileen Jerome of Party Plus and artist John Simpson.
Also thanks to Nancy and Dan Kotowitz of Shaker Farms Country Club; Six Flags New England; Barbara Kade, Eric LaSante, Becca and the team at Staples of Westfield; Tara Vermette and Trublu Graphix; Dan Burak and Tori Abarno of Tekoa Country Club; Walmart; Brittany Murphy and Western Mass News Channel 40; Dan Paquette and the Westfield Athenaeum; Patrick Berry and the Westfield News Group; The Westfield Rotary; 94.7 FM WMAS and an anonymous consultant.
Our apologies if we have missed anyone along the way who has also helped us.
Yes, indeed it does take a village and we live in a great one. Thanks, Westfield and see in a few weeks for WOW’s new calendar of events called Decemberfest.
Sincerely,
Lucille Nason and Bob Plasse,
Co-chairs of PumpkinFest
Westfield on Weekends Board Members
