A Hectic But Fun Week

Annual Town Meeting

This coming Monday , Mary 12, at 7 p.m. Hawleyites will gather at the Town Office for our yearly Town Meeting. This tradition sets small New England towns apart from their counterparts elsewhere as true democracies. The warrant for the meeting doesn’t appear to feature anything especially controversial, Still, Monday is supposed to be a lovely day. So please bring a chair (we will sit outside if we are able to) and join your neighbors to discuss the coming year’s budget. Moderator Scott Purinton will do his best to get us through the evening efficiently.

A Community Conversation

The past few programs for the Museum on Main Street exhibit at Mohawk Trail Regional School have been informative and inspiring. This Thursday, May 15, the teachers and I (Tinky) invite you to a panel discussion about the nature of community in rural New England. Retired minister Mick Comstock will describe changes he has seen in our small towns during his lifetime. Anne Gobi, the governor’s director of rural affairs, will talk about efforts to build community she has observed throughout the state. Several others (a theater producer, a fruit farmer, a school-committee stalwart, and the school’s athletic director) will describe their own segments of community building. We hope audience members will also describe what they do, or what concerns them, in terms of community these days.

The program is called “Food for Thought” so we’ll have a little food on hand as well. Students at the school are preparing vintage election-bake-sale recipes from local contributors. Hawley’s Doughnut Queen, Juanita Clark, will supply some of her delectable doughnuts. And Peter Beck and I will bring along some election cake and talk about this 18th-century recipe. (There will be savory offerings as well to allow us to take a little sugar break!)

The program will start at 5:30 in the school library and is free and open to the public. Please join us … and don’t forget to tour the Smithsonian exhibit on Voices and Votes while you’re there!

Bulky Waste

Saturday, May 17, will be full of things to do! From 9 a.m. to noon, the Solid Waste District is organizing its Bulky Waste Disposal. Details may be found here.

Spring Fling

Beginning at 11 a.m. at the Charlemont Federated Church on Route 2, Hawleyites of all ages are invited to our Spring Fling. We’ll make May baskets, have lunch together, talk about our ties to Hawley, and sing a few songs. This event is free and open to all, thanks to a generous grant from the Community Health Improvement Program at the Franklin Regional Council of Governments.

Antique Tractors

Then on Sunday, May 18, at approximately 11 a.m., Antique Tractor enthusiasts from Cummington will bring their vintage machines to visit the Hawley Fire Station. Our firefighters will serve them coffee and nibbles. Hawleyites are invited to come look at the tractors and have a bite to eat as well.

That’s it for this week .. I hope!. I hope to see you all at some or all of these events.

Warmly,

Tinky Weisblat
Gal Friday
Town of Hawley