Sunshine at Last and Activities to Go with It!

Dear Friends—Happy Memorial Day. Let’s be grateful today and every day to those who have laid down their lives for this country. I hope you have been able to gather with family or friends this weekend.

This Thursday, May 29, is a big day at our schools.

Hawlemont School will hold an all-school celebration that day from 4:30 to 7 p.m. This is a special commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the school’s innovative agriculture program, HAY. The afternoon will include a plant sale, a seed swap, an exciting game of cow/sheep/pig patty bingo, student exhibits, an art show, and dinner. Come see what our wonderful school has been up to!

That same day (alas) from 4 p.m. on, Mohawk Trail Regional School will celebrate the closing of its Smithsonian exhibit, “Museum on Main Street: Voices and Votes” in the school library. Student projects in relation to the exhibit will be on display, the teachers and others will deliver their thank yous, and pianist Jerry Noble and I will present a short concert of election and social-issue songs from American history. (This will be rendered a little challenging if my current bout of laryngitis still lingers, but the show must go on!) At 6 p.m., after the Smithsonian presentation, the school will hold its annual awards night in the auditorium.

County-Wide Repair Event

Information from the FRCOG Public Health Team on Rabies.

Rabies is a very serious disease that affects mammals—wild animals, pets, and (rarely) people. Rabies has been found in over 5,000 animals in Massachusetts since 1992. Local Boards of Health respond to numerous incidents of potential or confirmed rabies exposure each year. The rabies virus spreads when saliva of an infected animal gets into the nose, mouth, eyes or wound of another animal.

Preventing contact between wild animals and people (and our pets!) is a great way to prevent the spread of rabies to humans. Enjoy wild animals from a distance and teach children never to approach animals they don’t know, even if they appear friendly. You cannot tell if an animal has rabies simply by looking at it. Vaccinate your pets against rabies and don’t feed or water your pets outside. Even empty bowls attract wild animals.

If you are bitten or scratched by a bat or wild animal: immediately wash the wound with water and soap for 10 minutes. Call your health-care provider and the Cooperative Public Health Service that serves Hawley’s Board of Health at 413-774-3167, extension 106. The Health Service will get in touch with our animal control officer. If your pet is bitten or scratched, call the veterinarian and the Town Office. More information/prevention tips can be found on mass.gov/rabies.

That’s all for now. I have no doubt I’ll be back soon.

Warmly,

Tinky Weisblat
Gal Friday
Town of Hawley