Smiles of a Summer Night
No, I’m not referring to the 1955 film by Ingmar Bergman, the only comedy I have seen from that dour Swedish director. I’m talking about the experience of listening to the Shelburne Falls Military Band in Charlemont on Wednesday. The weather was perfect, just cool enough for sweaters, with only wispy clouds and a quarter moon in the sky. The music was lively. Sitting there, I felt transported back to the early 20th century when my grandmother enjoyed band music on the town common in Rutland, Vermont. The concert was free, community was in the air, and popcorn and root-beer floats cost only a dollar each. I know a couple of Hawleyites were there. I encourage more of you to take advantage of this opportunity when the band returns next year.
Now, on to news and events….
Tomorrow Afternoon (Saturday, July 25): Lawns Into Meadows
Saturday, August 1: Hilltown History Trail
Two Hawley locations will again be featured on this year’s Hilltown History Trail next Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Stop by the Old Town Common at 235 East Hawley Road (next to the Hawley Bog) for a guided tour to what was once the bustling center of town. Then go to the Hawley Meeting House at 332 East Hawley Road to enjoy the excellent acoustics, a few artefacts from the town’s history, and my own delicious butterscotch brownies. We also encourage people to visit the historic nearby Charcoal Kiln … and to travel to the other towns on the tour.
Crafting at the Library
Household Hazardous Waste Day Is Coming!
The Franklin County Solid Waste District will hold the 2026 household hazardous waste collection on Saturday, September 19, at Greenfield Community College (GCC) and the Orange Transfer Station.
Residents and businesses must pre-register by September 9. Online pre-registration for the 2026 collection will open in mid-August at franklincountywastedistrict.org. Mail-in registration forms will be available in mid-August at town transfer stations (as supplies last) and in local newspapers.
Participants will be assigned an appointment time to bring waste to the collection; an appointment time and instructions will be provided by mail after registration is processed.
This collection event is free for Hawley residents. Businesses may participate but must pay for disposal costs. For business registration information, call (413) 772-2438.
This event provides an opportunity to dispose of hazardous items that should not be put in the trash, such as leftover oil-based paints, stains, thinners, pesticides, herbicides, pool chemicals, motor oil, antifreeze, household cleaners, and other household chemicals. A more complete list of acceptable items is at franklincountywastedistrict.org.
Batteries and mercury-containing items such as fluorescent light bulbs, thermometers, and thermostats are not accepted at this collection. However, these items, which may contain mercury or heavy metals, should not be put in trash or recycling. Handle them carefully, bring them to a municipal transfer station or a Regional Hazardous Waste “Super Site” and hand to the attendant. In addition, fluorescent light bulbs are accepted free of charge at Lowe’s Stores (all types of fluorescents), and Home Depot (CFLs only).
For more information, visit franklincountywastedistrict.org or contact the District at info@franklincountywastedistrict.org, (413) 772-2438. MA Relay for the hearing impaired: 711 or 1-800-439-2370 (TTY/TDD).
Lithium Ion Battery Safety
The Fire Department would like residents to know that fires from lithium ion batteries are on the rise. Take a look at this safety guide for more information.
Hawley Day Is Sunday, August 9!
The Sons & Daughters of Hawley are preparing a special USA 250th version of Hawley Day, the town’s annual reunion. We hope to see many of you then at the Hawley Grove and Hawley Meeting House. (Just head up East Hawley Road and look for a big church; you can’t miss it!)
The day will begin a little after 10 a.m. with the traditional Kaffeeklatsch, a time to sip, nosh, and catch up with neighbors.
At 11 we’ll go inside the Meeting House for the Sons & Daughters’ annual meeting. Those gathered will learn about events, past and present; pay tribute to Hawleyites who have died in the past year; and of course sing “The Hawley Song.” (Very few towns with only 300 people have their own anthems!)
At noon, lunch will be served at the Grove across the road. The Fire Department will sell grilled meats, and the Sons & Daughters will provide salads and sides. (If you’d like to contribute something to eat, please contact me, Tinky, at info@townofhawley.com. We can always us a little help!)
All day, visitors will be able to see—and in some cases purchase—examples of Hawley creativity. Bakers, authors, and artisans–including Headwater Cider, Marian Ives, and Trina Sears Sternstein—will be there. If you think you might want to buy something, please bring along cash or checks; cell service, which powers many folks’ credit-card readers, is iffy in the area.
Finally, at 1 p.m. we’ll return to the Meeting House to read the Declaration of Independence. (We enjoyed doing this so much on July 4 that we want an encore!) Then pianist Jerry Noble, Hawley teen Landon Clark, and I will present a short musical tour of American history through song.
The basic events of the day are free; the concert is sponsored in part by the Charlemont-Hawley Arts Council and Mass Humanities. Participants are encouraged to donate to the Sons & Daughters if they are able, however; this historical society is getting ready to embark on a number of projects, most expensively the replacement of the roof on the Meeting House.
See you then if not before….
Warmly,
Tinky Weisblat
Gal Friday
Town of Hawley
413-339-5518
