Search for The Westfield News Westfield350.comTheThe Westfield WestfieldNews News Serving Westfield, Southwick, and surrounding Hilltowns “TIME IS THE ONLY WEATHER CRITIC WITHOUT TONIGHT AMBITION.” Partly Cloudy. JOHN STEINBECK Low of 55. www.thewestfieldnews.com VOL. 86 NO. 151 TUESDAY, JUNE 27, 2017 75 cents $1.00 THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2020 VOL. 89 NO. 121 St. Jacques seeking Humason Southwick Town considering Moderator position By HOPE E. TREMBLAY Editor reopening city SOUTHWICK – Celeste St. Jacques is seeking the Southwick Town Moderator seat in the June 9 elec- tion. hall in phases Longtime Moderator James Putnam announced ear- lier this year he would not seek re-election to the posi- By AMY PORTER tion. With his announcement, St. Jacques began taking Staff Writer a close look at how town government works and the WESTFIELD – Mayor Donald F. Humason Jr. said role the moderator plays. that he has been meeting with several department “Over the past few heads on how and when to reopen Westfield City months, I have observed Hall, which has been closed to the public since mid- how the Select Board and March. “We will have a gradual phase-in,” he said, the Finance Committee North Elm Butcher Block manager Dan Puza stands in front of a full although they haven’t yet determined the date to start. make informed deci- meat case in the North Elm Street store in March. Beef prices are on Humason said he has been meeting with Board of sions,” she said. “In addi- the rise due to a nationwide shortage, but North Elm has a solution Health Director Joseph Rouse, tion to conducting the – bulk beef purchases. (THE WESTFIELD NEWS FILE PHOTO) City Clerk Karen Fanion, Town Meetings, the Town Facilities Director Bryan Moderator plays an Forrette, Purchasing Director important role in the Tammy Tefft, Auditor Christopher Caputo and selection of members of North Elm Butcher Thomas Curran, building the Finance Committee, maintenance, to find a balance who aid in developing the between providing access to town budget. In this time Block beats back the taxpayers, and keeping CELESTE of so much change and residents and staff safe. ST. JACQUES economic uncertainty, I “As a group, whatever we believe that Southwick do, we’ll be phasing in slowly MAYOR needs to continue to be fis- beef shortage over the next couple of DONALD F. cally conservative while maintaining the great small weeks,” Humason said at the HUMASON JR. town feeling.” By CHRIS PUTZ To combat skyrocketing beef May 18 School Committee St. Jacques and her husband Jayson have lived in Staff Writer prices, North Elm Butcher Block meeting. Southwick for 17 years. She said they chose to set WESTFIELD – Back in the has partnered with Hudson River He said they will work with a skeleton staff, so for their roots in Southwick because it was a place where 1980s, “Where’s the beef?” was a Valley Farm CoOp in New York example the full staff is never in the collector’s office they could grow with the community. catchphrase made popular by the to offer bulk beef buyers the all at once. “The staff is not that big,” Humason said, “We wanted to be part of a small community that fast food chain Wendy’s. In 2020, option of purchasing half-cows at adding that if one person in a small office were to get provides a great place to raise children,” said St. that question has taken on a more the cost of $3.79 per pound for a sick, the whole department could be impacted nega- Jacques. “As our three girls, Nicole, Annette, and dire meaning. retail cost of about $1,500. tively. Michelle grew up and started school, I became With coronavirus running ram- Anyone who purchases the Humason also gave the example of the mayor’s office, which has two staff people at desks right out- involved in many town activities, including serving as pant in meatpacking plants across back half of a cow will receive a Girl Scout Leader, coaching and organizing athletic side his door. Currently there is nothing stopping the country, impacting meatpack- 150-200 pounds of grilling steaks anyone from going into either office. Humason said activities, and I currently serving as a member of ing and food-processing workers like porterhouses, T-Bones, and he’s been imagining putting a rope in the foyer out- Southwick Dollars for Scholars.” and forcing nearly two dozen tenderloins. People who purchase side the front office, like the ones in a movie theater St. Jacques has a Master’s Degree in Public temporary closures, a beef short- the front half a cow will get or bank, to have people wait for service. Administration from the University of New Haven age is driving up food prices. ground beef for hamburgers, stew He said they will also look into putting in some and said she has always had an interest in serving her Some stores are restricting the meat and prime rib, also totaling plexiglass screens in individual offices, so there’s community. amount of beef customers can between 150-200 pounds. something in between residents and the staff person “Now that our daughters are all in high school, and purchase at one time, while some North Elm Butcher Block has they are talking to. my schedule is flexible (my job as a wellness coach fast food chains have removed already pre-sold five cows. Another idea by Fanion that the group is exploring for WW, Weight Watchers, Reimagined includes mak- hamburgers off their menus “We’re bringing back the old is to put a tent outside with a staff person who is able ing presentations and facilitating meetings), I finally entirely. school days of cutting,” said to find out what a resident’s question or need may be, have time to fully dedicate to public service and I look “We’re hearing that it’s going Puza, who comes from a long line and using a computer, telephone or two-way radio, forward to working as your Town Moderator,” stated to be about two to three months of proud butchers whose exper- contact the appropriate department to assist them. St. Jacques in a press release. before things level out,” North tise has earned them a solid repu- The mayor also said right now, anyone wishing to St. Jacques believes she knows the purpose of the Elm Butcher Block manager Dan tation in the community. “You’re pay a bill may put it in the black dropbox on the park- moderator and the role she would serve if elected. Puza said. going to save yourself money in ing lot side. of city hall. “I understand that our moderator’s most important There is not a shortage of cows, the long run.” As for when meetings may return to City Council responsibility is to ensure that everyone in Southwick but rather a sharp decrease in the According to Puza, beef from a Chambers,Humason said that may happen sooner has a platform to be heard, a right we all deserve as amount of workers needed to pro- half-cow will routinely feed a than opening the building during the day to residents. “The ultimate goal is to get meetings back in the citizens of this country and members of this commu- cess the animals. According to family of four 1-2 times a week nity,” she said. “The benefit of being a newcomer to Chambers, which we may be able to do before full Puza, demand is far outweighing for close to a year. reopening. We can actually see a way to do that, the political environment is that I will bring an unbi- supply by close to a 10-to-1 mar- Anyone who makes a bulk beef where folks can get in the Chambers at night, as long ased view of past politics and relationships to this gin. Wholesale price for a pound purchase will be able to have all as members determine it’s ok,” he said. People would position.” of boneless ribeye is more than of the meat divided into quantities be asked to wear a mask and keep a distance between St. Jacques said she looks forward “to meeting the $13 per pound while boneless of their choice and wrapped in them. challenges of the job, to ensuring that our town meet- chuck roast is nearly $7 per heavy grade freezer paper. Humason said this will all be based on people’s ings run fairly, to meeting more members of this pound. Interested bulk beef buyers are comfort level. He said they will also be continuing to vibrant community, and to making sure you all have a Cows that are not being slaugh- urged to contact the North Elm track Westfield’s numbers of COVID-19 cases, and voice in our town government.” tered and processed for wholesale Butcher Block at 413-562-6759. any spike that may occur. The town election is June 9, with voting for the first consumption are being thrown The North Elm Butcher Block is “Rouse will keep a close eye on that,” Humason time in the Southwick Senior Center at Town Hall. away. located at 37 North Elm St. said. Democrats grab pair of Senate seats from Republicans By MICHAEL P. NORTON both traditional in-person voting and Velis, a state representative, veter- On the Horizon that party officials have their eyes on State House News Service the use of mail-in voting, an option an and attorney from Westfield, On June 2, voters are scheduled to the seat that Democrat Rep.