Leading Up to Labor Day
Dear Neighbors—So very much is happening these days. I have some new events listed below, along with some older ones that might need reminders. I hope you get to lots of them … but I also hope you enjoy these days of glorious sunshine! Happy almost Labor Day.
Early Autumn
This Sunday, August 31, at 3 p.m. Mohawk Trail Concerts will present the group’s annual free community “thank you” concert at the Federated Church on Route 2 in Charlemont. Autumnal selections will be performed by regulars Mark Fraser, cello; Jerry Noble and Estela Olevsky, piano; Masako Yanagita, violin; and Tinky Weisblat, soprano. After the concert, please join the musicians and other board members for light refreshments.
Crafting with Mary Ann: Fall Gnomes
Join Mary Ann Adams for another fun crafting program at the Tyler Memorial Library in Charlemont on Saturday, September 6, at 12:30.
Speaking of the library, it seeks your input. Please fill out a short community survey so that the Library Trustees and Librarian can include your thoughts as they determine goals for the next five years. Here is the link to the survey. Paper copies will also be available at the Library.
Harvest Supper and Nature Program
The Sons & Daughters of Hawley invite you to their annual harvest supper/nature program This year’s supper will be will be a pot-luck event. Suzanne and Lloyd Crawford of Stump Sprouts will provide hamburgers (made from local beef) and veggie burgers, plus homemade buns, a potato salad, and a vegetable. When making your reservation, please let us know if you would be willing to prepare and bring a dish to contribute to the supper. Suggested items are an appetizer; a side dish (e.g., fresh corn, a green salad, a bean or grain/rice dish, a squash dish); a platter of burger fixings: for instance, sliced tomatoes, cheese, red onion, lettuce, etc.; a fruit salad; a dessert; or a drink (e.g., iced tea or lemonade). In the spirit of the Harvest Supper, we are looking for dishes prepared as much as possible from fresh local ingredients. To make your reservation, please email lizgsears@gmail.com or call at (413) 337-5321.
Register for Household Hazardous Waste Day
Wednesday, September 10, is the deadline for registering for Household Hazardous Waste Day on September 20 . To find out how to register and learn what you can get rid of there, see this flyer.
Charlemont Forum: Fresh and Local
The Charlemont Forum will present a panel on the future of food in New England on Thursday, September 18, at 7 p.m. at the Charlemont Federated Church.
Good Neighbor Day
Sunday, September 28, is National Good Neighbor Day … and Hawley is getting in on the act! We haven’t finalized plans yet, but there will be an open house featuring town officials (and we hope lots of your neighbors) at the Town Office that day beginning at 1 p.m. We are hoping to attract a large crowd of Hawleyites so please consider joining us … and bringing something to eat. I’ll have more details soon.
News from the Sustainability Study: Steering Committee Launches Phase III
The 2 District 8 Town (2D8T) Steering Committee has launched Phase III of the Mohawk Trail/Hawlemont Sustainability Study. Phase II was completed this summer with the approval of a Plan of Action. BERK12 was selected to continue as the project’s lead partner. Phase III will move the project from analysis to implementation, focusing on:
• Educational Visioning – stakeholder groups will be convened to refine educational plans for the elementary, middle and high schools in a merged district.
• Targeted Analysis – additional studies will be conducted in areas such as transportation, facilities reuse, fiscal/tax implications, economic impacts on towns, staffing, and special education.
• Transition Planning – key milestones in the centralization process will be identified and contingency plans created to address potential delays or setbacks.
Ultimately, Phase III work will provide a draft regional agreement for approval by the School Committees and by Town Meeting voters in all 8 district towns (Fall 2026 at the earliest), as well as a public information campaign plan to help prepare voters for making their decisions.
The next Steering Committee meeting is September 24, at 5 p.m. at Mohawk Trail Regional School. Steering Committee representatives will also be at the annual Mary Lyon Foundation Resource Fair on September 17, from 3:30 to 7 at the school. All updates, reports, and resources are available at 2districts8towns.org.
That’s all I have for this week. I’ll see you in September.
Warmly,
Tinky Weisblat
Gal Friday
Town of Hawley
