A Cold Snap
Dear Friends and Neighbors–
I hope you have all been staying warm over these past few days, when June turned back into April—or maybe even March. I have quite a bit of news for you today.
Library Open House
This Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. the Friends of the Library are hosting an open house at the Tyler Memorial Library in Charlemont. The theme is “Finding Your Joy,” and the library will offer tours, a special activity, and refreshments. Please join them if you can!
The Inside Scoop on the Annual Town Election
As I hope most of you know, Hawley’s town election will take place on Monday, May 4, from 11:45 to 7 p.m. at the Town Office. Below are the positions that are open. Please note that for half of them the only candidates we have are write-in ones so bring your cheat sheet when you come to vote!
Selectman/ZBA/Board of Health: Will Cosby is on the ballot running again.
Auditor: WRITE IN!! Jill Behringer has volunteered to serve if elected.
Assessor: Wayne Lemoine is running again but MUST BE WRITTEN IN.
Hawlemont Regional School Committee: Ken Bertsch is on the ballot running again.
Mohawk Trail Regional School Committee: Robert Sears is on the ballot running again.
Moderator: WRITE IN!! Julie Carantit has volunteered to serve if elected.
At the election, you’re welcome to pick up your copy of the Town Report. This includes reports from all the town and county committees, along with the warrant for our Annual Town Meeting. If you’d like to view it digitally, click here.
Even if there aren’t any contested races, the election will be exciting because THE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF HAWLEY ARE HOLDING A BAKE SALE at the Town Office that day. Stop in to taste a treat. And of course if you feel like baking for the sale, your contribution will be appreciated gratefully!
Annual Town Meeting
The week after the election, on Monday, May 11, at 7 p.m., all Hawleyites are invited to our Annual Town Meeting. It doesn’t last a long time, and it’s always great to participate in the democratic process. Here’s an article I wrote a while back about this hallowed tradition. And here is the warrant for the meeting.
Bulky Waste Day Is Coming!
May 16 is our spring bulky waste day. See the flyer below for details—and here’s a link to what you can and cannot recycle.
A Request from the Friends of the Hay Program
Here is a note from Jennifer Sinistore (jsinistore@mtrsd.org) at Hawlemont School:
One of the special things about Hawlemont is our hands-on experiential learning while at school. Another is enriching our students by bringing them on field trips. Unfortunately, the cost of busing is too expensive and I can’t get enough parent chaperones to drive classes.
I’m reaching out requesting help to drive students on local Franklin County field trips. These would take place periodically throughout the year in grades Kindergarten through 6. If you are someone interested in driving our students, please let me know. The office will need you to complete a CORI form (this is not complicated) and provide a copy of your driver’s license and insurance policy.
I appreciate your support for the HAY Program.
Jenn
Field Trip Wish List:
Kindergarten, Spring – SF Trolley Museum
1st grade & 2nd grade, Spring – Deerfield Butterfly Museum
3rd grade, March – Hagers Colrain Farm during boiling season
4th grade, Winter – SF Eddy’s Wheels
5th grade, May – Turners Falls trip to the Fish Hatchery, Fish Ladder, and Discovery Center
6th grade, Early Fall – Hagers Market to pick apples and Bruffee Harvard Forest field research project
Birds of Prey Return!
Ashfield Swim Lessons
The Town of Ashfield is offering summer swim lessons at Ashfield Lake. Here is the registration form.
Congratulations, Brandon!
As you know, Hawley’s road-crew members are a huge asset to the town. Brandon Reynolds has been working 32 hours a week for more than three years now, and he is finally being changed over to full-time employment. Brandon is a dear person and a hard worker whom we are lucky to have.
A Reminder
I was recently asked to remind folks that real-estate and personal-property taxes are due on Friday, May 1. If you have lost your bill and don’t recall what you owe, please email me, Tinky (info@townofhawley.com), or tax collector Betty Nichols (collector@townofhawley.com). Or scroll down the left side of our website, townofhawley.com, and click on the button that says “View or Pay Taxes.”
That’s all for today. I’m sure I’ll be back soon with more information.
Warmly,
Tinky Weisblat
Gal Friday
Town of Hawley
413-339-5518
