Holiday Happenings and More

Hanukkah starts TONIGHT … and Christmas and Kwanzaa will be upon us before we know it! Most of this newsletter covers upcoming events that will celebrate the season in one way or another. However, I do have a couple of official pieces of information to share.

Volunteers Needed

First, Hawley is in need of volunteers for the Council on Aging. This group doesn’t meet very often, but it does provide important resources for seniors in town, often in conjunction with the Charlemont COA. You do NOT have to be a senior to be on the Council. If you are interested in learning more about the council (I hope you are!), please contact me, Tinky, using the contact information below, and I’ll put you in touch with the chair, Jennifer Rich.

Holiday Recycling

The Franklin County Solid Waste District encourages all of us to think ahead about what we can (and can’t) recycle over the holidays. The chart below provides a brief overview. For more details, please look at this article.

Beware of Scams

Beware of Holiday Scams

The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office warns us that scammers don’t take the holidays off. In particular, some charity scams try to take advantage of people’s generosity this time of year. There are some new and old scams going around right now in our area. Residents have been receiving mailings from “Publishers Clearinghouse”  saying that they have won prizes of $800,000 or more. These letters come with a check. The checks look real but will bounce once cashed or deposited.  In addition, Greenfield and Bernardston Police are warning of fake towing companies with websites and local phone numbers. Once they take a stranded driver’s payment over the phone, they never show up. Both departments have posted warnings on their Facebook pages about this scam.

And now … the fun stuff!

School Performances

Our high school has two performances coming up. First, this weekend the play Gracie’s Place will give thespians and crew at the school the chance to show off their stuff. The cost for attendance is $12 for adults and $10 for seniors. This article in the Recorder has more information.

And … the school will offer a free Winter Concert on Wednesday, December 20, at 6 p.m.

Tinky’s Performance

My friend and pianist Jerry Noble and I will present Holiday Tributes, a concert honoring seasonal songs and performers, on Saturday, December 16, at 2 p.m. at the Federated Church on Route 2 in Charlemont. I don’t intend to imitate the entertainers to whom I pay homage; I couldn’t if I tried. I just want to celebrate some fun singers and songs … and have a really good time singing my heart out.

Donations at the door will go to the church. As most of you probably know, in addition to being a house of worship, the Federated Church is home to the Charlemont Forum, Mohawk Trail Concerts, Good Neighbors Food Pantry, and the Rose Anna Dixwell Music program. Please join us to listen, sing along if the spirit moves you, and munch on cookies after the music ends. This concert was funded in part by the Charlemont-Hawley Cultural Council.

I don’t know whether I’ll put out another newsletter before the new year; it all depends on what the town needs to announce. If I don’t, I wish you all a festive, cozy season of light. Before we know it, the days will be getting longer.

And I offer thanks to all the town officials and volunteers who keep Hawley going throughout the year.

I hope to see some of you at the Illumination Party this Sunday, December 10, at 4 p.m. at the Hawley Meeting House.

Warmly,
Tinky

Tinky Weisblat
Gal Friday
Town of Hawley
Eight Pudding Hollow Road
Hawley, MA 01339
(413) 339-5518
info@townofhawley.com