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WEATHER TONIGHT Cloudy, Showers Late. Low of 64.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com FRIDAY, MAY 27, 2016
VOL. 85 NO. 125
“Great wisdom is
generous; petty wisdom
is contentious. Great speech is impassioned, small speech cantankerous.” — CHUANG-TZU
75 cents
Southwick Fire Department seeks volunteers Donna Calabrese of Calabrese Farms is seen in one of the greenhouses boasting more than 2,000 tomato plants.
Teresa Coward of Coward Farm in Southwick arranges a new garden program called Stepables.
Farms ready for busy Memorial Day weekend By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent WESTFIELD – Across the valley, Local Hero farms are gearing up for the Memorial Day weekend as area residents begin the artful task of finding the right plants and accessories to beautify their homes and gardens. On Wednesday morning at two Local Hero farms in Southwick and one in Westfield, business was brisk as area residents were already getting a jump on the weekend with wagons and carts filled with plants and garden adornments. “We come to Calabrese Farms every year to get our flowers,” said Judy Brantley of Feeding Hills, who was picking out “just the right pansies” with her husband Charles. “We actually make several trips here during the summer.” While Thomas Calabrese was busy planting with his field staff, his wife Donna was eager to point out that one of their greenhouses on Feeding Hills Road was already filled with more than 2,000 tomato plants that were started by seed in January. “Our warm climate-controlled greenhouse is ideal for growing tomatoes,” said Calabrese, as she walked through the rows of tomato plants that are ripe for picking. Calabrese noted their farm, now in its 66th year, offers everything from “A to Z,” ranging from fresh asparagus to zucchini. On Wednesday, signs were showcasing the farm’s fresh picked asparagus, rhubarb and spinach. Farm associate Lucy Benoit, who is beginning her sixth summer with the Calabrese family, relishes her interaction with customers. “I have always felt like a part of the family,” said Benoit, who graduated last Saturday from Westfield State University, majoring in social work. “The farm is such a welcoming place and I enjoy interacting with our customers.” While customers traditionally seek out the farm’s signature peaches among its many offerings, Calabrese noted that due to the unusual winter conditions, “not a blossom can be found” on the peach trees. “In early February the blossoms started to grow but then at the end of the month we saw nights with freezing temperatures which froze all of the blossoms,” said Calabrese. “The whole east coast from New Jersey to Maine has been impacted.”
Marge Goslee of Granby, Conn., purchases a bird house and some plants from Coward Farm in Southwick. Despite the lack of peaches this year, Calabrese noted that their scrumptious strawberries will be ready around June 10. Calabrese Farms offers fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as perennials, annuals, herbs and much more. Visit their Facebook page for the latest on their growing season. Just a short drive away on College Highway, Teresa and John Coward and their staff members were engaging customers who had questions on herbs, shrubs, perennials and vegetable plants. Teresa Coward was behind the counter of their “country primitive barn” that captures the spirit of America – from flags to furniture. Additionally, farm offerings range from delightful bird houses to miniature garden accessories – ideal for any landscape. “This year we have begun offering 4 ½” Stepables,” said Coward, adding, “Stepables are perfect for walkways and garden paths.” Marge Goslee of Granby, Conn., had started adding plants to her cart when she noticed all of the farm’s unique bird house options. “I shop here all the time since the prices are competitive,” said Goslee, adding she planned to add a “rustic” style bird house to her cart.
Coward said she has also been working with Sally Killips of Sanctuary Garden Design to offer classes for area residents. Upcoming classes include: June 4, “Fairy Gardens,” $20; June 11, “Concrete Birdbaths,” $30; June 18, “Tufa,” $30, and June 25, “Terrariums Under Glass,” $50. All classes begin at 10 a.m. and last approximately two hours. For more details and to sign up for a class, visit Sanctuary Garden Design on Facebook or email Killips at sallyatsanctuary@verizon.net. For more details on all of the offerings at the family owned farm, visit www.cowardfarm.com. On Russellville Road in Westfield, the staff at Kosinski Farms was busy greeting visitors who were not only interested in the vast selection of plants but also at the many homemade baked goods and specialty products lining the wooden shelves. Kosinski Farms prides itself in its unique local gifts, ranging from jellies (apple, strawberry-cranberry, sweet orange, grape, red currant and elderberry), and relishes (pickle and corn), to peppers (Hot & Zesty Jalapeno Peppers, Crisp Italian Style Hot Banana Peppers), and preserves (Apricot, Peach, Cherry and Strawberry). Additionally, a variety of canned fruits including Vanilla Peaches are now in ample supply. Farm associate Wendy Tetreault noted that one of the farm’s specialties is its pies – especially blueberry. Homemade “goodies” according to Tetreault that are also popular with patrons include cookies, brownies, whoopee pies and muffins. “Our farm stand menu also includes specialty sandwiches including the Kosinski Club that features black forest ham, honey maple turkey, Vermont cheddar cheese, crisp bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on a Ciabatta roll,” said Tetreault. Patrons can also find local eggs, homemade garlic butter, and ice cream treats available for sale. For seasonal offerings, visit www.kosinskifarms.com. In a related note, Gene and Sue Kosinski were among 47 local farmers in the Local Farmers Award program who recently received $2,500 from the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation and Big Y to make physical infrastructure improvements to their farms.
By DAN DESROCHERS Correspondent SOUTHWICK—Sometimes the bravest aren’t chosen to be, but choose to be. And that’s what the town’s fire department is looking for. Southwick Fire Department, which is a mostly volunteer-based department, is looking for volunteers to join their force. The department is staffed by four fulltime members and the chief, Russ Anderson, and is seeking EMTs and paramedics in particular. However, fire personnel are also being sought. “We’re looking for people who are compassionate and care about their neighbors,” Anderson said. The department’s website noted that they are seeking applicants who are at least 18 years old and live in town. Anderson said that those in town are the first priority when it comes to being chosen, but those in contiguous cities and town will be considered, as well. Applicants must also have driver’s licenses, pass a physical exam and a background check. For those looking at the EMS side, EMTs, advanced EMTs and paramedics will all be considered. According to Anderson, the department did about 1,000 EMS calls last year, in addition to another 350 responses from fire personnel. The services are always going, whether it’s 1 a.m. or 1 p.m., and volunteers are especially needed for overnight and evening shifts. Currently, the full-time force covers from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. Volunteers are given a radio and pager that will help to notify them of any potential incidents. They are also given protective equipment for fire personnel, and training through the Mass. or Conn. Fire Academies, which is paid by the Southwick Fire Department. Anderson said that those who come in after being requested will receive a stipend for doing so. In addition, EMTs receive a stipend for being on-call, meaning that they are available and within 10 minutes from the station for any emergency. Also, weekend shifts for EMTs pay an hourly rate. “We have a lot of EMTs doing quite a bit of coverage,” Anderson said. “But people have jobs, vacations, get injured, or go to school.” These are some of the many reasons why EMTs are being highly sought after for the department. But in addition to these is the possibility of growth for the department. Anderson said that within the next three years the ambulance service will become an advanced life support (ALS) service. Currently, it’s at a basic life support (BLS) level. With an ALS service comes a need for more than EMTs, but paramedics, who are trained at a higher level and are able to provide additional treatments. These treatments include IVs, medications, intubation and other invasive maneuvers. In order to get to this level though, they need more personnel with higher levels of training. Also, fire personnel can expect to have a wide array of experiences while serving on the department, due in part to the population size and the various terrains in the area. “We’re diverse—we do fires, MVAs (motor vehicle accidents), have boats for rescues in lakes, slope mountain rescue,” Anderson said. “That’s the strength of a robust call force—people who are strong in different areas.” For those interested in applying, you can go to Southwick Fire Department website and download an application, call the department at (413)569-6363, or going to their department at 15 Depot St.
See Local Farms Ready, Page 5
Gateway food service asks parents to pay lunch bills By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – Gateway’s food services director Wendy McCaul gave an update on the National School Lunch Program to the School Committee at Wednesday’s meeting. McCaul said Gateway is using less processed food, now called “clean” food in the cafeteria, and trying to lower sodium and fat levels, and use more produce. The schools participate in a Farm to School program and have had fresh apples and carrots from local farms from August through May this year. She said the district also participates in a new USDA/DOD partnership that enables the school to order produce weekly from Rhode Island. McCaul reported they received a bonus $800 from that program two weeks ago. McCaul also said that Gateway will
have to raise lunch prices this year to stay in compliance with new regulations. She said Gateway has a loose charging policy for lunches that is becoming an issue for the food services staff. McCaul said managers are spending a good portion of their Friday afternoons sending bills to parents. She said state policy forbids carrying bad debt to the next year. McCaul hung up signs at the beginning of May, saying “Pay up.” “At the end of May, we really put the pressure on, and we recoup,” she said. Seniors can’t get their gowns until their bill is paid, although she said they are down to one senior. Currently the outstanding debt for grades 5-12 is $300, and for Littleville Elementary, $700. Business manager Stephanie Fisk said that the district would have to cover that debt from the general fund if left unpaid.
Sign in front of Southwick Fire Department seeking EMT’s and firefighters. (Photo by Dan Desrochers)