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WEATHER TONIGHT Clear Skies. Low of 54.
The Westfield News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and the surrounding Hilltowns
www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 85 NO. 197
MONDAY, AUGUST 22, 2016
“Charming people live
up to the very edge of their charm, and behave as outrageously as the world lets them.” — LOGAN PEARSALL SMITH
75 cents
Tim Hardin of Blandford and Tim Dion of Westfield install posts around the new horse show ring at the Blandford Fairgrounds on Saturday morning.
Blandford Fair gets touch ups before gates open By LORI SZEPELAK Correspondent BLANDFORD — In 1867, townspeople formed the Union Agricultural and Horticultural Society which is best known for its sponsorship of the Blandford Fair on a sprawling hilltop on North Street. In less than two weeks, volunteers from across the valley will once again host the numerous shows and competitions that have made the annual exhibition of agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, fine arts and much more a perfect way to spend a day during the Labor Day weekend.
Now in its 149th year, the Blandford Fair will be open Sept. 2, 3 to 9 p.m.; Sept. 3, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sept. 4, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sept. 5, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The fair has become a “reunion” for many generations of area residents, according to Bruce Wyman, a longtime society president. On Saturday morning, Wyman and a host of volunteers were tirelessly working to refresh the facades of several structures before the gates open to the public. “We rely on volunteers not only during the fair but before the gates open for the Labor Day weekend,” said Wyman. Among the volunteers were “childhood sweethearts,” Linda and Rick Barnard of Blandford, who will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in September. “I’ve attended the Blandford Fair since I was a child,” said
Linda Barnard, adding that there was a lapse of 40 years when the couple lived in Seattle. “We moved back to town in 2012 and now volunteer at the fair,” she said during a break in painting the outside of one of the restrooms. Rick Barnard echoed those sentiments. “I volunteer since I don’t want to see the fair disappear,” he said, adding “by attending the fair you get to see people you haven’t seen in a while and reconnect.” One of the enhancements at the fair this year is the rebuilding of the horse show ring, according to Wyman. “We started the ring a week ago and expect the project to be completed next week,” he said, acknowledging both Tim Dion of Westfield and Tim Hardin of Blandford who were installing the posts on Saturday. “I enjoy volunteering to not only help the community but to give back to the town I grew up in,” said Dion. Hardin concurred. “I volunteer my time mostly for the kids,” said Hardin. “I know how important 4-H is and I want the kids to be surrounded by new equipment.” Wyman noted that volunteers are still welcome to stop by Saturday mornings at the fairgrounds since there always seems to be tasks to be completed. “We also still need volunteers during the fair to work at the gate as well as monitor our buildings,” said Wyman. Over the years attendance has been steady with up to 20,000 area residents attending the four-day fair, noted Wyman. “Weather conditions can play a big role in attendance,” he said. Wyman said attendees will not be disappointed with the traditional New England fair events planned, including the
Linda Barnard of Blandford was among the volunteers Saturday morning who lent a hand to spruce up the Blandford Fairgrounds.
Rick Barnard of Blandford was among the volunteers at the Blandford Fairgrounds on Saturday morning. “old-fashioned dinners.” “The Blandford Fair Kitchen will host a meatloaf dinner on Friday, a ham and baked beans meal on Saturday, a chicken barbecue on Sunday, and a roast beef dinner on Monday,” said Wyman, adding that a slice of homemade pie complements each meal. “Our fair specialty – blueberry and strawberry shortcake – will also be sold in the fair food booth,” said Wyman, noting that at least 125 homemade blueberry and apple pies will also be for sale. In addition to stage performances, a petting zoo with small barnyard animals, strolling clowns, food concession vendors and midway rides, special events throughout the fair include the 50th annual Art Show, coordinated by Betty Jordt and Christine Tighe. The art show will feature amateur and professional artists, as well as painters and photographers. Some exhibited works may also be available for sale. Prize monies and ribbons will See Blandford Fair, Page 3
State to offer details on new electronic tolling system Bear on its way to causing trouble in a vegegtable garden in Huntington. (Photo by Mario Caban)
Huntington visitor encounters wildlife By AMY PORTER Correspondent HUNTINGTON – Mario Caban of Florida, who is visiting with his mother-in-law Rev. Barbara Paulson on Norwich Hill, snapped a photo of an industrious beaver in a pond in the woods near her home on Friday. Then on Sunday, he caught a young bear just before it jumped in the vegetable garden, and scared it off. The day before the bear had rolled on top of the zucchini plants, breaking all the stems. “The wildlife really came out this visit,” remarked Caban, who is returning to Florida this week.
Beaver in Huntington pond on Friday. (Photo by Mario Caban)
BOSTON (AP) — Tollbooths on the Massachusetts Turnpike may soon be just a memory. The state Department of Transportation on Monday will discuss plans for demolishing the tollbooths as it gets ready to implement an all-electronic tolling system on Interstate 90, which runs the length of the state. MassDOT hopes to begin the new system in October, provided that software testing doesn't turn up any glitches. The plan calls for gantries that are installed at more than a dozen locations along the turnpike to record tolls from motorists with E-ZPass transponders. For those without transponders, the system will take a license plate picture and send an invoice for the tolls to the vehicle's registered owner. Motorists who do not have transponders will also have to pay an as-yet-to-be-determined surcharge on each toll. ——— Online: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/ highway/TollInformation/ AllElectronicTolling.aspx