Highway superintendent updates Selectboard on road maintenance

NORTHFIELD — Contractors are scheduled to repair the Town Hall parking lot from July 31 to Aug. 11, as well as replace diseased spruce trees along the edge of the lot.

“It’s going to be a little chaotic,” Highway Superintendent Tom Walker informed the Selectboard during a meeting earlier this month. “We’re hoping we can do it in a week, but it’s probably going to be closer to two depending on what we find when we get into all the digging and everything.”

Walker said the Highway Department will make provisions for limited parking and build a temporary handicap ramp. According to a notice on the town website, the document dropbox will be relocated and will contain meeting postings in the enclosed top drawer until the back entrance is accessible again.

Once the Town Hall parking lot is finished, Walker said the Highway Department will pave Lower Farms Road. According to Walker, paving Gulf Road “was slated to be done,” but winter storm cleanup delayed the process until August or September. The department also plans to pave Linden Avenue at the end of September into early October.

“It’s on the docket as soon as we finish up these other things that have been on the list for over three years,” Walker said, “plus regular maintenance.”

Northfield applying for LAND grant

NORTHFIELD — With the Selectboard having recently approved its letter of support to apply for a Local Acquisitions for Natural Diversity (LAND) grant, Town Administrator Andrea Llamas said the town will know whether it receives the grant by early fall.

If the town receives the grant, the funding will cover 58% of the cost of two properties, including land the Selectboard previously considered for a public safety complex as well as the bordering property that the Open Space Committee “expressed an extreme amount of interest in” for its trails, according to Llamas. The property is mostly wetlands but “could support some development around the edges,” Llamas said. However, she emphasized that applying for and receiving the grant does not require the town to purchase the property.

“The point is to have a solid commitment to the funding before we purchase,” she said.

According to mass.gov, the LAND grant program “helps cities and towns acquire land for conservation and passive recreation purposes.”

Selectboard addresses appointments, resignations

NORTHFIELD — The Selectboard recently addressed a series of appointments and resignations from town boards and committees.

■Robert Pelman was appointed to the Open Space Committee, term expiring Dec. 31, 2025.

■Upon Lisa McLoughlin’s resignation from the Historical Commission, the Selectboard appointed alternate commission member Mary Mayshark-Stavely to serve as a full member with a Dec. 31, 2025 term expiration.

■Robin Conley resigned from the Conservation Commission and Open Space Committee. After serving as an associate member, Sarah Kerns became a full member of the Conservation Commission, term expiring June 30, 2024.

Leyden to host first-ever ‘ReadyFest’

LEYDEN — The town will host its first-ever ReadyFest, a community event aimed at educating residents on emergency preparedness, on Sept. 30.

Erica Jensen, Selectboard member and co-director of the Emergency Management Committee, said the event will “bring the community together” through its “fun and informative” activities, including a gameshow asking residents to identify emergency situations and a chainsaw safety demonstration. According to Jensen, solidifying “neighbor to neighbor” connections through events like ReadyFest is the “best way” to prepare for an emergency. Sara Seinberg, the Emergency Management Committee’s public information officer, is organizing the event.

Fire Department hires two new firefighters

LEYDEN — Fire Chief Nik Adamski and Capt. Tom Raffensperger shared with the Selectboard their plans to hire former firefighter Carey Barton and former police officer and current Ralph C. Mahar Regional School physical education teacher Tina Riddell on the Fire Department.

Adamski said Riddell’s EMT training and Barton’s firefighting background will strengthen the department.

“We decided they’d be a good fit for the town,” Adamski told the board during last week’s meeting. “They want to help move the town forward.”

As recently as February, the Fire Department consisted solely of Adamski after former Chief Brian Pelletier resigned and several part-time members stepped away. Since then, Adamski and the town recruited Raffensperger to be captain, and started training six people to rebuild the Fire Department, including Barton and Riddell.

Adamski and Raffensperger also shared their plans to start a junior firefighter program that will be “very similar to the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, it’s just about firefighting,” specifically firefighting education, according to Raffensperger. Adamski clarified that participants will not respond to emergencies due to their age.

Raffensperger is working with the National Volunteer Fire Council, “who has extensive materials on junior firefighter programs,” to form the group. He said there is already one interested candidate.

Following a Fire Station cleanout on July 8, the Selectboard also approved Adamski and Raffensperger’s list of surplus items, including several vending machines, a chest freezer and a harness. Besides a few “high-ticket items” that will be auctioned off, the surplus items will be discarded, Caffery said.

Selectboard approves bonfire policy

LEYDEN — The Selectboard approved its first bonfire policy last week. The policy can be viewed at townofleyden.com/p/3121/Policies.

The policy requires written approval from the Fire Department based on the fire danger, air quality, timing, oversight, size, location, materials involved and “any other factors deemed important.” If the Fire Department approves the bonfire, the Selectboard must also approve it in writing after a majority vote.

To earn approval, the bonfire must comply with state and federal regulations, take place under safe conditions according to the Fire Department and be monitored by the Fire Department. In addition, requestors must submit a plan to the Selectboard regarding repair of damage at the bonfire site. The policy also outlines acceptable sources of fuel, differentiates between a campfire and open burn, and lists resources to view relevant regulations.

When reached by phone, Selectboard Chair Glenn Caffery said the board decided to implement the policy after a missed opportunity for a bonfire. According to Caffery, the Avery Field Pavilion’ grand opening was “the perfect opportunity for a bonfire,” but Selectboard members were unaware that written approval of a bonfire from the Fire Department and their own board was necessary. To inspire safe bonfires in the future, Caffery said the policy puts in place a “clear and streamlined” approval process.

Selectboard reviews social media policy

LEYDEN — The Selectboard reviewed and discussed the first draft of a social media policy last week, outlining guidelines for official sites that town officials, employees and committees may choose to run in the future.

According to Caffery, the guidelines ensure social media pages comply with state laws, including ethics laws and “sunshine laws” governing the public’s access to government records, such as the requirement to archive removed posts on social media.

Caffery said he listened to input from Librarian Karin Parks and Historical Commission Chair Nanette Rolstad before writing the draft to bolster the policy with their “wealth of experience” running websites.

Once the board approves a final draft of the policy, the Selectboard will establish its own social media presence to allow for “real-time” updates in emergency situations. Caffery said the Selectboard will continue redrafting the social media policy during its working sessions before officially implementing the guidelines.

To Caffery, the policy is the “starting point” for giving town officials “the ability to use social media for community building.”

Powers Institute Museum open Aug. 6

BERNARDSTON — The Powers Institute Museum at 20 Church St. will be open Sunday, Aug. 6, from 1 to 4 p.m.

The Powers Institute was a high school from 1857 to 1957. Initially founded a private preparatory school, it became a public school in the late 1800s. The renovation process took 10 years before it reopened in 2002 as a Senior Center, with the museum on the second floor.

“Please visit us to become familiar with the town’s roots and the ancestors who made it possible,” reads a notice from Bernardston Historical Society President Louella Atherton.

Attendants will be on hand to assist guests. There is ample parking behind the building off Library Street. An elevator is available to access the second floor, as well as stairs. Admission is free.

Summer Luncheon set for Aug. 2

NORTHFIELD — The Trinitarian Congregational Church at 147 Main St. will hold a summer luncheon, with takeout or dine-in options, on Wednesday, Aug. 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The menu features ham, assorted salads, bishop’s bread and mini cheesecakes. Gluten-free options are available by request.

The meal is $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 12 and under. RSVP by Sunday, July 30, by calling 413-498-5839.

Ridge Sunday set for Aug. 6

NORTHFIELD — The Rustic Ridge community of East Northfield celebrates its association with the church that evangelist Dwight L. Moody founded — the Trinitarian Congregational Church — with its 22nd annual Ridge Sunday service on Aug. 6, at 10 a.m.

Mary Key, executive director of the C.S. Lewis Study Center in Northfield, will bring the message. Gary Garletts, renowned organist and music director from Ardmore Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania, will bring joyful, sacred music and accompany the community choir, led by Heather Tower. A coffee hour will follow the service.

The church is at 147 Main St. and is fully accessible.

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