Happy Anniversary, Hawley Firefighters!
Dear Hawleyites and Friends:
There’s a definite nip in the air these days—and fall activities are gearing up! I hope you get to as many of them as you can, especially the Fire Department celebration.
Fire Department Anniversary Party
This coming Sunday, September 15, the Hawley Firefighters will celebrate 40 years of keeping townspeople safe. All are invited to the Hawley Grove to learn more about what they do and have done.
Food will be provided at the end of the afternoon, but donations of baked goods or snacks are welcome.
Please join the group for any or all of the day … and don’t forget to thank them!
Pancakes and Probate
I want to remind seniors that the informational (and delicious!) Pancakes and Probate meal is coming up this Wednesday, September 11, at the Federated Church on Route 2 in Charlemont. If you’re interested in learning more about probate, estate planning, and elder law, join the Council on Aging and Attorney Hussain Hamdan for this session. Please let Jennifer Rich know if you’re coming; see the poster below.
September Is Emergency Preparedness Month
Our Emergency Management Director, Brandon Root, shares the following message:
Make sure to be prepared and have your essentials for any type on incident or disaster. Know and coordinate your family plan for evacuation and safety zones, keeping cellphones and hand-lights charged with spare batteries. Check your stock of emergency supplies (Medical Kit). Be sure that all smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms are functioning and work properly. Generators also should be run and maintained routinely. For more information, visit: https://www.mass.gov/be-prepared
Looking Ahead to October
We’re still ironing out the details, but it looks as though Christian Drake and the Sons & Daughters of Hawley will again host the Ghost Tour of the Old Town Common on Saturday, October 5, at the Old Town Common (235 East Hawley Road). Participants will gather at 5:15, and the tour will start at 5:30. The rain date for this event is Sunday, October 6. More details soon….
AND there will be a Vaccine Clinic (updated COVID and flu vaccines) at Hawlemont School on Tuesday, October 22, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. For further details or to find out about other clinics, visit https://frcog.org/project/vaccine-information.
Advocating for Train Service
From our State Representative, Natalie Blais:
On August 13, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) released the draft Northern Tier Passenger Rail Study report for public comment. This report has been a long time coming — and it’s up to all of us to seize its promise.
The draft report covers the benefits, costs, and investments necessary to implement passenger rail service from North Adams to Greenfield to Fitchburg to Boston. It’s available here and includes several options — from all electric service to a fully local option.
Constituent input and advocacy have already been instrumental in demonstrating the game-changing significance of this rail service for the region and the Commonwealth. Now we need you to help bring this home by sharing your thoughts and showing your support.
The public comment period on the draft report is currently open for your input.
Following the 60-day public comment period, which ends on Saturday, October 12, 2024, the report will incorporate comments received and will be finalized.
Two Actions
We must make sure that MassDOT receives the feedback necessary to ensure a robust and strong final report.
Will you work with your community to submit a public comment? Just click here.
We’re also hoping to collect sign-ons to a general Northern Tier Rail support letter from every single community along Route 2, from North Adams to Fitchburg, and deliver this to Governor Maura Healey and MassDOT leadership.
Together, we’ll show the Governor that our communities are interested in the Commonwealth continuing to refine this vision.
Will you work with your community to sign on to a support letter? You can sign on here.
We can make Route 2 Rail a reality.
The Northern Tier Passenger Rail Study has been an ongoing process propelled by legislation signed into law in the summer of 2019.
This work builds on and has been bolstered by the work of municipal officials, regional planning agencies, local advocates, and members of the state legislative delegation.
While the draft report is a necessary and solid milestone, we’re still a long way from making this vision a transformative reality. It will take every one of us, acting together, to win.
That’s it for now! I’m sure I’ll have more for you soon. Be well, and enjoy this glorious late-summer weather.
Your Gal Friday,
Tinky Weisblat
Town of Hawley
8 Pudding Hollow Road
Hawley, MA 01339
