Hawley E-News: Thanksgiving and More

Our New Truck!

Dear Hawley Friends and Neighbors:

In this week before Thanksgiving, there is a lot of information to share, including news about a concert TOMORROW afternoon. First, however, I want to wish you all a lovely day of thanks, whether you celebrate alone or with friends and family. And I want to invite you to be thankful, along with the town’s officials and particularly the road crew, that we have a new plow truck to help us get through the winter. You can see it gleaming in the sun in the photo above.

A reminder: If you are viewing this message on a computer on the town’s website, just click on the icon with the picture of a wheelchair to make the typeface larger. I love this feature.

Tinky

Tinky Weisblat, Gal Friday, Town of Hawley

Election Workers Needed

Town Clerk Donna Lemoine reports that Hawley has lost a number of election workers in the last couple of years. Working at our elections involves a lot of camaraderie. We don’t have a LOT of election days; the next one will be in March 2024. Nevertheless, we do need people to greet voters, record who has come, and count the votes at the end of the day. It’s not hard work to learn, and election workers get a small stipend. Please consider joining their ranks! If you think you might be interested and/or have questions, email Donna or call her at at the Town Office at (413) 339-5518 on Thursdays between 10 and 2.

Getting In Touch with the Fire Station

The Fire Department reports that it has been receiving messages at the Fire Station from people who want to report concerns, sign up for chimney cleaning, or get reports for their insurance companies. Unfortunately, the station is not constantly manned, and the firefighters meet there only once a week. So if you’re trying to get or share time-sensitive information, please do not call there.

The best way to reach any town department, including the Firefighters Association, is to leave a message at the Town Office at (413) 339-5518. Message are checked on that line daily. You may also contact Greg Cox, Bob Root, Brandon Root, Chris Tirone, or Hussain Hamdan. And of course if you have an emergency, please call 911. The Fire Department wishes everyone a happy holiday season.

Library Happenings

Kim Gabert at the Tyler Memorial Library in Charlemont is a busy woman. The library has several FREE upcoming events. First, Children’s Story Hour will return at 11 a.m. on Saturdays, November 18 and December 9.

Local author Joan Livingston will talk and read from her newest book, Northern Comfort, at the library on Saturday, December 2, at 3 p.m. I have read several of Joan’s books; she’s an excellent writer who sets her novels in hilltowns like ours.

And the library will host Holiday Crafting for adults and kids on Thursday, December 7, between 5 and 7 p.m.

Concert and Pie Sale

Tomorrow, Saturday, November 18, at 2 p.m. the Charlemont Federated Church will host the New England Sax-Wind Quartet. The group plays an eclectic mix of light classical, Celtic, patriotic, and show/movie music … and much more. It features Charlemont’s youth music teacher, Ted Wirt. The concert is free and sponsored by the Charlemont-Hawley Arts Council, although donations toward the upkeep of the church will be gratefully received.

After the concert (at approximately 3 p.m.) church members will sell pies to benefit the church. If you’re feeling stressed about Thanksgiving baking, you may just want to purchase one.

That’s it for now! I hope you have been enjoying our warmer weather. And I look forward to seeing you soon.