By Peter Spotts

Not wanting to deal with shingle problems on New Hingham Regional Elementary School a second time, town voters voted in favor of a metal roof for the school.

S e l e c t m e n , F i n a n c e Committee and Capital Plan Committee supported Article

Voters support metal roof for New Hingham

By Geoffrey Oldmixon

Town Meeting decided the fate of the fiscal 2020 Gateway assessment formula this week, as Montgomery voters opted by large majority against Article 15, which called for use of the “Alternative Assessment.”

T h e A l t e r n a t i v e Assessment method was proposed by the Gateway Regional School Committee and approved in 2018 by all six

ASSESSMENT, page 7

VOTERS, page 9

1 town’s vote on assessment affects district

MONTGOMERY

GOSHEN

Shared police structure starts to take shape

By Peter Spotts

After a five-year jour-ney, Memorial Day in town will also mark

the official dedication of the Chesterfield Veterans Park.

T h e Ve t e r a n s P a r k C o m m i t t e e began work on the project to r enova te t he patch of land next to Town Hall — adorned with a flagpole, some stones, cannon, and weeds— in 2014. Resident and veteran Gil Smith was the

first to decide the park need-ed work done, and that idea snowballed into a significant endeavor.

“It wasn’t very big at all and it was always weedy,” said Dee Cinner, who has led the committee since 2015. “We

w e n t t o t h e select board and said, ‘we need to spruce this up.’”

The pa rk i s d e s i g n e d for town use

year-round, not just limited to

Veterans Park to make Memorial Day debut

POLICE, page 8

By Michael Ballway

E l i z a D r a g o n i s Cummington’s newest select-man because of her ballot and just one other person’s.

Dragon defeated Joshua Wachtel to take a one-year seat on the Board of Selectmen by a count of 94 to 92 in the annual town election on May 13. She will serve the remainder of the term vacat-ed by former board Chairman Russell “Kip” Sears.

Tow n C l e r k D o n n a Jordan said last week that two of the races might be recount-ed. She was not available by press time this week to elab-orate on whether a recount of the selectman’s race had been requested or scheduled.

ELECTION, page 13

PARK, page 12

Tractors motored down Main Street during the Chester on Track parade last Saturday.

After five years of preparation and construction, Chesterfield is ready to dedicate the new Veterans Park next to Town Hall.

Photo by Peter Spotts

Electiondecidedby 2-votemargin

BLANDFORD / CHESTER

Becket ............................6Blandford ........................8Chesterfield ..................12Classifieds ...............18,19Cummington .................13

Gateway .......................12Goshen ...........................9Hilltowns ....................2, 3Huntington ......................6Middlefield ......................7

Montgomery ...................7Obituaries .....................17Opinion .......................4, 5Otis .................................8Plainfield ......................13

Russell............................8Sandisfield ......................8Westhampton ...............14Williamsburg ...........10, 11Worthington ....................9

CHESTERFIELD

PAGE 7

CUMMINGTON

A TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.com

May 23, 2019 ❙ Vol. 41, No. 4 ❙ 75¢ www.countryjournal.turley.com

“War would end if the dead could return.” — Stanley Baldwin

Devoted to the Needs of the HilltownsCountry Journal

Becket, Blandford, Chester, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery, Otis, Plainfield, Russell, Sandisfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg, Worthington

Main event

The Chester Fire Department filled its old fire truck with local kids and everyone’s favorite duck (Kathy Cotnoir Engwer), advertising the annual Duck Race during the morning parade at Chester on Track on May 18. More photos on page 20. Photos by Adrianne Johnson

Memorial Day events in your town, page 3.

Becket selectman wins by 3 votes,

page 6.

By Mary Kronholm

Blandford and Chester selectmen met Monday eve-ning, May 20, at Chester.

This was a working meet-ing to review language for the intermunicipal agreement for shared police services for the two towns. This discussion was the first foray into the eventual

page 2 Country Journal • Thursday, May 23, 2019

The Country Journal will have early deadlines for advertising and for news and opinion submissions for four weeks from mid-June to early July.

The editions of June 13 and 20 will have early deadlines to accommodate a larger print run for the Country Journal, which will be mailed those weeks to most homes in the Hilltowns, includ-ing non-subscribers. The early deadline will stay in effect for the issue of June 27. For the issue of July 4, deadlines will be advanced farther, to complete production and distribution before the Independence Day holiday.

June 13: Advertising deadline 5 p.m. Friday, June 7. News deadline 9 a.m. Monday, June 10.

June 20: Advertising deadline 5 p.m. Friday, June 14. News deadline 9 a.m. Monday, June 17.

June 27: Advertising deadline 5 p.m. Friday, June 21. News deadline 9 a.m. Monday, June 24.

July 4: Advertising deadline 5 p.m. Thursday, June 27. News deadline 9 a.m. Friday, June 28.

July 11: Regular deadlines resume. Advertising deadline 5 p.m. Monday, July 8. News deadline noon Monday, July 8.

For more information about adver-tising in the Country Journal, includ-ing reaching the newspaper’s biggest audience of the year in the issues of June 13 and 20, contact John Baskin at jbaskin@turley.com or 413-695-4901. For more information about news dead-lines, or to submit a news release, photo or opinion article, contact the editor at countryjournal@turley.com or 413-283-8393.

Early deadlines slated for June

Wild and Scenic Westfield River will host two free workshops this weekend in the Hilltowns.

Participants can join naturalist Charley Eiseman from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 25, as he tracks and talks about insects in the forest. What is a leaf miner, and what is making their exquisite eggs? The answers can be found in Chesterfield.

“Let’s Pull Together” will meet in

Becket from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 26. Land owners and other commu-nity members will learn to identify and remove invasive plants in ponds.

Registration is required; directions to the workshop will be given upon reg-istration. For more information or to reg-ister, contact Meredyth Babcock at 413-623-2070 or volunteer@wildscenicwest-fieldriver.org.

Learn about insects, plantsat Wild & Scenic workshops

OTIS — The Farmington River Regional School District is now accept-ing registrations for its nationally accred-ited full-day kindergarten for the 2019-20 school year.

Children who are residents of Otis or Sandisfield and will be 5 years old before Sept. 1, 2019, are eligible for kindergarten in the fall.

Those who are not currently enrolled in Farmington River’s preschool program may pick up registration packets at the school between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays. An appointment for a

screening will be made at that time. Parents may also call Teresa DellaGiustina at 413-269-4466, or tdellagiustina@frrsd.org, to arrange for a screening, or for any other questions about kindergarten enrollment.

All screenings will be scheduled between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday, May 30. Screenings are required for all newly enrolling children.

No screening appointment is neces-sary for children already enrolled in the Farmington River Regional School pre-school program. The school is at 555 N. Main Road, Otis.

Sign up now for Farmington kindergarten

HILLTOWNS

The Hilltown Arts Alliance will welcome visitors to its studios for a second year, following up on its well-at tended 2018 Open Studio Tour. The 2019 tour will include art-ists’ studios in Chester, Chesterfield, C u m m i n g t o n , P l a i n f i e l d a n d Worthington on Friday and Saturday, June 22-23, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Guests will not only experi-ence the great beauty of rural Western Massachusetts, but also be inspired by the workspaces and a first-hand look at the creative processes of the many tal-ented artists participating.

Thirty artists of a variety of media will be on the tour, hosting guests in their studios and available to discuss

their work from both the technical and the creative side. There is no fee, but many of the artists will have work for sale. Brochures will include a map that interacts with the Arts Alliance website and artists’ profiles. It also connects by GPS to artists and will list suggested locations for lunch and dinner during the tour. Maps and other information are available at www.hilltownartsal-liance.org.

New this year will be a partner-ship with the William Cullen Bryant Homestead in Cummington, which will exhibit the work of sculptor Beckie Kravetz, landscape painter Scott Heyl and metal sculptor James Kitchen. Kitchen will do demonstrations of turn-

ing forgotten pieces of scrap metal from the Homestead barn into art. Tours of the homestead with highlights of Bryant’s influence in the arts will also be available that day to visitors.

“Those fortunate enough to expe-rience the sweeping views of the Westfield River Valley from the Bryant Homestead will understand why our small rural towns are so rich in arts and culture,” commented Kevin O’Connor, president of the Hilltown Arts Alliance. “The artists we are able to feature at the Homestead fit well with Bryant’s work — Scott’s incredibly finely ren-dered landscapes are evocative of the Hudson River School and Beckie’s bust of Bryant has had pride of place in the

Homestead for several years and Jim Kitchen’s works will engage the visi-tors with the landscape and barn.”

After the tour on June 22, visitors can participate in the Hilltown Bash and Cummington Community Picnic, featuring a potluck, dancing, and music from fresh, local talent. On June 23, the Bryant Homestead will host a farm-to-table dinner in the field curated and prepared by Wheelhouse Farm. This multi-course meal will feature locally grown ingredients and the creativity of Wheelhouse’s dynamic chefs served against the dramatic backdrop of the Westfield River Valley. Reservations are required. To make a reservation, visit at www.thetrustees.org/bryanthomestead.

Arts Alliance, Bryant Homestead plan studio tour

HUNTINGTON — The North Hall Association will open its 2019 Arts Festival season with the Opera Showcase at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 25, and again at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 26.

The ensemble of soprano Amy Orsulak, tenor Antonio Abate, baritone Samuel Bowen and pianist Jerome Tan will perform various Italian arias and Schubert art song favorites. Admission is $15 at the door, free for students and youth. All performances take place at North Hall, 40 Searle Road, off Route 66, Huntington.

The program of Franz Schubert’s popular art songs for voice and piano will include “An die Musik,” “Gretchen am Spinnrade,” and “Standchen.” The performance will also be filled with Italian opera gems such as the fierce soprano aria “L’Altra Notte” from Boito’s “Mefistofele,” the emotional

aria “Nessun Dorma” from Puccini’s opera “Turandot,” a few arias from “La Boheme,” and more.

Abate, a graduate of Juilliard, has performed numerous roles in opera performances. He attended the Ravinia Steans Institute and the Marlboro, Bowdoin, and Aspen Music Festivals.

Orsulak is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music. She has had the honor of singing on the stage of the Met, Chicago Lyric Opera, Carnegie Hall and Symphony Space.

Bowen hails from Boston, where he has performed with such companies as Odyssey Opera, Boston Lyric Opera,

Lowell House Opera, OperaHub, and Boston Opera Collaborative.

Tan earned master’s degrees in piano and ensemble performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University. Since receiv-ing the Marilyn Horne Foundation Award for Vocal Collaboration from the Music Academy of the West, he has become a regular collaborator with the highly acclaimed foundation.

A meet-the-artists reception with refreshments will be held at intermis-sion in the hall’s art gallery. The gal-lery will be exhibiting the nature and landscape photography of Richard Chapman.

The hall is wheelchair-accessible and air-conditioned. Information on the entire summer festival and performers can be found at www.northhallhunting-ton.org or by calling 413-667-5543.

Opera classics at North Hall this weekend

CHESTER — Hilltown Senior Outreach will offer a free workshop on understanding Medicare for those who are about to retire in the next few months, and those who will be working past age 65. The program will be held Thursday, May 30, at 6:30 p.m. at the office on 3 Maple St., Chester. Residents of all Hilltowns are welcome.

Topics will include Medicare basics, deciding whether to buy a supple-mental plan or to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, how to choose a pre-scription drug plan, and public benefits that may help with the costs of insurance.

Reservations are required, as space is limited. To reserve a seat, call 413-354-6540.

Medicare talk on Thursdayfor retirees, workers alike

NORTHAMPTON — The Hilltown Artisans Guild will feature a wide variety of locally crafted works to be seen and purchased this weekend.

The Memorial Weekend Art Show and Sale will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, May 25-26, in the Florence Civic Center on Route 9 in Florence. Pottery, paintings in all media, wood-turned and wood-carved items, jewelry, photography, fiber arts — knitted, quilted, ice-dyed, and more —

will be on display. Original, juried, and one-of-a-kind items will be featured.

Plenty of free parking is available, with no admission fee. The Civic Center is handicap accessible.

For more information, email Trish at paintitblue@comcast.net. Members of the Worthington-based Hilltown Artisans Guild are from Chester, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Huntington, Middlefield, Plainfield, Williamsburg, Worthington and surrounding towns.

Artisans Guild show, salethis weekend in Florence

Performers at North Hall this weekend include, from left, Antonio Abate, Amy Orsulak, Samuel Bowen and Jerome Tan. Submitted photos

Send Us Your Photos!countryjournal@turley.com

Country Journal • Thursday, May 23, 2019 page 3

By Peter Spotts

Memorial Day, the national hol-iday honoring members of the Armed Forces who have died in service to the United States, will be commemorated with parades and ceremonies across the Hilltowns this Monday, May 27.

BecketThe Becket Memorial Day Parade

on May 27 will begin at the North Becket Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. Lineup for parade participants begins at 10 a.m. A memorial service will follow the parade at 11 a.m. in Ballou Park. The Becket Praise Team will provide music, along with Becket Washington School students.

BlandfordThe town’s annual Memorial Day

parade and service will take place on Monday, May 27. The parade will step off promptly at 11:30 a.m. from the town office parking lot on Russell Stage Road.

All participants should be at the town offices no later than 11 a.m. that morn-ing. The Gateway Regional High School Band will march and play two patriotic numbers at Veterans Park at the Town Common. The winners of the elementary school essay contest will read their essays and poems.

Following the observation at Veterans Park, the Historical Society Building will be open with veterans’ memorabilia on display. The annual Memorial Day Picnic will be at Watson Park, also after the parade.

Doug Emo, coordinator of this year’s Memorial Day events, said, “We ask all town residents of Blandford to take some time and come pay their respects to those who gave ultimate price for our free-doms.”

Anyone who would like to march in the parade or has any questions should contact Emo at 413-561-3993.

ChesterMembers of the Chester Fire

Department and the Chester Historical Society are planning the town’s Memorial Day program to be held Monday, May 27. The events will begin at 10 a.m. at Town Hall, 15 Middlefield Road, Chester.

Pastor Dan Herr will offer opening and closing prayers. The keynote speak-er will be U.S. Army veteran Richard Holzman. His military background includes serving as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Reserve infantry; ROTC dis-tinguished military graduate; and active duty, 1961, at Fort Benning, Ga., and Fort Dix, N.J. He was a 2014 participant in the Commandant’s Homeland Security Program, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Pa.

Chester’s Purple Heart recipients, as well as all veterans, are invited to march. Veterans will also play a special role in this day as part of the color guard, car-rying the flags of the various branch-es of the military. Richard and Aubrey Rutherford will hand out flags. The Harding children will once again partic-

ipate, with Katie handing out poppies, Jackson playing Taps and Eddie giving a reading of “The Ragged Old Flag.”

Chester scout troops will place wreaths at veterans’ monuments. Selectman Barbara Huntoon, along with others, is expected to offer songs of “remembrance to honor those who died while defending our country.” Schoolchildren have been invited to write essays and create posters. Both will be awarded prizes to be announced on Memorial Day. There will also be a con-test for decorated bikes and wagons.

Light refreshments will be available at the Fire Station following a final salute at the Chester Factory Village Cemetery.

ChesterfieldThe Memorial Day ceremony will

begin at 11 a.m. in the North Cemetery. Upon conclusion of this ceremony, there will be a ceremony to dedicate the new Veterans Park next to Town Hall. Local veterans, U.S. Airforce Captain Kammille Osborne and U.S. Airforce Captain Thomas Osborne will be participants. State Rep. Natalie Blais and state Sen. Adam Hinds are expected to attend.

CummingtonTwo events will be held on Monday,

May 27. There will be a ceremony at the West Cummington Cemetery at 9 a.m. This will be followed by a memorial ser-vice at the Community House Memorial at 9:30 a.m.

GoshenThe town will honor Memorial Day

with a parade followed by a ceremony at the Town Cemetery. The parade will assemble at 9:30 a.m. in the parking lot across from Town Hall, 40 Main St., and step off at 10 a.m., then proceed up Main Street (Route 9) to the Goshen Cemetery off Cape Street (Route 112). Participants include the Fire and Police departments, Scout troops, and featured speaker Joe Roberts.

HuntingtonThis year’s Memorial Day parade

assembles at Pettis Field at 8 a.m. and marches to the gazebo on the Town

Green for a ceremony. All veterans and other groups are invited to participate. Any veteran needing a ride should call Committee Chairman Lori Belhumeur at 413-667-3169 in advance.

In case of heavy rain, the program will be held in Stanton Hall. Following the program, refreshments will be served in Stanton Hall, along with a screening of the video “Hallowed Grounds.” This shows 22 overseas American military cemeteries, including Flanders Fields, where more than 125,000 servicemen and -women from World War I and World War II have their final resting place. Parade observers are reminded to stand, with right hand over their heart, when the color guard passes with the American flag.

MiddlefieldMiddlefield will participate in the

Memorial Day parade starting at 10 a.m. at Chester Town Hall. Everyone is wel-come. Town veterans are wanted to carry the flag.

MontgomeryMemorial Day observance will take

place at noon in the center of town, with readings of “In Flanders Fields” and the Gettysburg Address. It will then proceed to the Center Cemetery for the playing of Taps. The Pitoniak Brothers will provide music. All are invited to honor those who served, rain or shine.

OtisThe Memorial Day parade is on

Sunday, May 26, at 1 p.m. The parade will start at Otis Town Hall and will pro-ceed to the Otis Woodlands. The veterans, Fire Department, ambulances and any local clubs will participate.

PlainfieldA ham and bean lunch and pie auc-

tion will be held at the Town Hall at noon. The Memorial Day parade starts at 1 p.m.

and heads up to the Hill Top Cemetery. The parade will include members of the American Legion color guard, veterans, the Board of Selectmen, the Mohawk Regional High School Band and a few surprises.

RussellThis year the Gateway Regional

High School Marching Band will be participating in Russell’s Memorial Day Parade.

Lineup begins at the Fire Department at 12:30 p.m. The parade route follows Main Street (Route 20) to the cemetery for services, then back to the Town Green for the ceremony. Anyone wishing to par-ticipate in the parade can either show up for lineup time or contact Debbie at the Rec Committee at 413-204-4390. After the parade, all parade participants are welcome to gather at the Russell VFW for food and beverages. Anyone who would like to donate food should drop it off at the VFW. If it should rain, all ceremonies would be held inside the VFW.

WesthamptonThe Memorial Day parade will

assemble at 10:45 a.m. in front of the Veterans Memorial on the town common. At 11 a.m., Cub Scout Pack 209 will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and Julie Holt will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The parade will include the color guard followed by veterans of all conflicts, the Board of Selectmen, antique vehicles, scouts, 4-H groups, schoolchildren, dec-orated bicycles or strollers, townspeople and a fire truck.

When the parade reaches the cem-etery, children will decorate the graves of veterans with bouquets. Keegan Butler, Phoebe Bowser and Ella Cleary will recite the Gettysburg Address and Beth Besser with direct students in the singing of “This Land is Your Land” and “America the Beautiful.”

WilliamsburgParade participants will assemble at

the Fire Station at 12:30 p.m. with the annual Memorial Day parade stepping off at 1 p.m. The parade will head west on North Main Street to Buttonshop Road, Route 9 east and end at Veterans Memorial park. The Memorial Day cere-mony will be held following the parade. If there is heavy rain, the ceremony will be in the Anne T. Dunphy School.

WorthingtonResidents can gather for a memorial

service at 8:30 a.m. at the war memorial across from Town Hall. Members of the American Legion and veterans will march the colors to the memorial and hold a brief ceremony to acknowledge the fallen.

Memorial Day ceremonies planned across the region on Monday

Veterans and town officials stand at attention during 2015 Memorial Day ceremonies in Willliamsburg. File photo

HILLTOWNS

H U N T I N G TO N — G a t ewa y Regional High School will present the environmental documentaries of the Wild and Scenic Film Festival at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 31.

Screenings are in the Gateway Performing Arts Center in the school bui lding at 12 Lit t levi l le Road, Huntington. Donations will be accept-ed at the door to benefit the Gateway Education Foundation. The Gateway Outdoor Club will have a bake sale during intermission.

A total of 10 short films will

be shown, including “Blue Carbon” (Benjamin Drummond, Sara Joy Steele) on climate change, “Climbing Out of Disaster” (Dominic Gill, Nadia Gill) about the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, and the animated “Meet the Real Wolf” (Avela Grenier, Thomas Winston, Mike Phillips, Andy Hahn, Tammi Heneveld), which shows anoth-er side of this species. For more infor-mation on this national film tour, visit www.wildandscenicfilmfestival.org/events/westfield-river-watershed-associ-ation-6-3.

Environmental film festival next week at Gateway Regional High School

Best Prices in Town • Best Selection • Honest Lottery

HUNTINGTON LIQUORS21 Russell Road, Huntington (413) 667-3201

“I cook with wine, I sometimes add it to the food”

- W. C. Fields

• Tricky all 750 ml .......................$9.99• Gino’s Pinot Grigio 750 ml .......$6.49• Frontera 750 ml .............2 for $11.0010% ANY TWO BOTTLES OF WINE - MIX & MATCH!

CHECK OUT THE CHEEKY NEW FASHIONS FOR THIS SUMMER’S SPLASH!

page 4 Country Journal • Thursday, May 23, 2019

Mark this dayto remember

Most calendars nowadays come pre-print-ed with federal holidays, so chances are your desk blotter or smartphone datebook already has an entry for “Memorial Day” on May 27.

But Memorial Day isn’t just a day — it’s a community event. Take a moment now to fill out your calendar properly. Turn to page 3 and find out when your town is holding its parade or commemoration ceremony, and pencil in the time and location. Go ahead, do it now. Come back and continue reading when you’re all set.

Unique among our state and federal holi-days, Memorial Day isn’t a time of celebration. It’s a solemn acknowledgement of the debt we owe to those who died defending our freedom. That debt is not a personal matter; it’s an obli-gation shared by all Americans, and by every community of Americans.

We can’t fulfill our duty to our war dead simply by remembering them or saying a prayer for them individually as we go about our business on Monday. What they did for our society must be acknowledged by soci-ety — by communities gathered in groups, recognizing the sacrifice of war not only to the Almighty and our own consciences, but also to each other.

Share Memorial Day with your neighbors. Participate in the decoration of graves at the town cemetery; the laying of wreaths at the War Memorial; the reading of speeches and “In Flanders Fields”; yes, even the colorful parades. Not only do these annual ceremonies remind us of what the day is about, but they also connect us to the community that our fall-en heroes died to defend.

When we come together for these com-memorations, in public, we strengthen the bonds of gratitude, fraternity and patriotism that undergird the society our military fights to protect. When we see our neighbors marching and saluting side-by-side with us, we deepen our commitment to these shared principles of American civics. Perhaps most importantly, when our children participate in Memorial Day events — and when they see so many others, young and old, participating — we teach the next generation that our society honors and remembers those who defend us, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice defending us.

In a time when the entertainment media, news media and social media deliver a relent-less accounting of what’s wrong with America, it’s important to come together and acknowl-edge that people have died to protect what’s right with America.

Coming together on Memorial Day is also a challenge to each of us to be the best American we can be. Gathered on the town common will be Democrats, Republicans and everyone in between; radicals, traditionalists, religious people and atheists. Seeing them all salute the same flag is a powerful reminder not to get caught up in the tribalism of politics.

Checking off Memorial Day on your cal-endar at home doesn’t provide this experi-ence. Be there in person this year. Be there, as Abraham Lincoln said at Gettysburg, “to be dedicated” to “the cause for which they here gave their last full measure of devotion … gov-ernment of the people, by the people, for the people.”

Be there for those who died. Be there for America. Be there for each other.

What are your thoughts on Memorial Day? Send your letter to the editor to country-journal@turley.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

There are three main reasons why the Friends of the Hamilton Memorial Library Inc. support the library trustees in their efforts to secure a new library for the town of Chester:

1. The old library is a wreck — stained carpets, leaks in the ceiling, damaged books and media, holes in the foundation, doors that won’t close, no meeting spaces, and a boiler that is on its last legs. A child needs to be escorted to the bathrooms because of the need to open three locked doors. Chester deserves better.

2. Many people might say that in the Computer Age, a brick-and-mortar library is no longer needed. Doesn’t everyone have a computer at home? Not everyone, but most. Do those having a computer know how to use it for research or learning? Pictures of kittens are nice, but what does that or play-ing video games, or worse, have to do with education and learning? Libraries are a place

where these skills are nurtured and moni-tored.

3. To those who say, “Chester cannot afford a new library,” or, “Our taxes are too high,” we respond by saying if we can support students in our school system to the tune of $18,000 per student (higher than the state average), we can afford a $50 to $75 per family, per year increase in our taxes to provide those same students, and all of us, with a 21st century, state-of-the-art facility.

We urge and encourage you to vote for the new library on June 10 at 7 p.m. at the Chester Town Meeting.

Friends of the Hamilton Memorial Library Inc.

This letter was signed by Duane Pease, president of the Friends group; Joe Sullivan, treasurer; Jason Jacob, clerk; and Shari Laurie, board member.

Why we support the new library for Chester

Corrections policyIf you notice a factual error in our

pages, please let us know, so that we can set the record straight. Email information to countryjournal@turley.com, or call us at 413-283-8393.

Corrections will be printed in the same section where the error originally occurred.

EDITORIAL

OPINION

Country Journal

The Country Journal (USPS 483-550) is published every Thursday by Turley Publications, Inc., 24 Water St., Palmer, Mass. 01069. Telephone (413) 283-8393, Fax (413) 289-1977. P O S T M A S T E R : S e n d address changes to Turley Publications, Inc., 24 Water St., Palmer, Mass. 01069.

PATRICK H. TURLEY CEO

KEITH TURLEYPresident

EDITORMichael J. Ballway

countryjournal@turley.com

STAFF WRITERPeter Spotts

pspotts@turley.com

ADVERTISING SALESJohn Baskin

jbaskin@turley.com

SPORTS EDITORGreg Scibelli

sports@turley.com

SOCIAL MEDIA

@ Country Journal

WEBcountryjournal.turley.com

www.turley.comTurley Publications, Inc. cannot assume liability for the loss of photographs or other materials submitted for publication. Materials will not be returned except upon specific request when submitted.

EDITORIALPOLICY

Letters to the editor should be 5 0 0 w o r d s o r l ess in length . W e r e q u i r e letter writers to i nc lude h i s o r her name, town of residence and home telephone number. We must a u t h e n t i c a t e authorship prior to publication. We reserve the right to edit or withhold any submissions d e e m e d t o b e libelous or contain unsubs tan t ia ted a l l e g a t i o n s , personal attacks, d e f a m a t i o n o f c h a r a c t e r a n d offensive language. All unknown or alleged facts and quotations offered by the author need to cite credible, unbiased sources.

Mail letter to Country Journal, 24 Water Street, P a l m e r , M A 01069 o r ma i l your l e t t e r to : countryjournal@turley.com.

ISSN NO. 0747-2471

This past weekend was full of flower talk. Be it with my mom, a family

friend or co-workers, it seems all eyes are on our early bloom-ing perennials. Whether it be lily, peony or iris, each one is prone to at least one insect or disease. Here’s what to look for and what to do about unwanted guests at your perennial gath-ering.

This time of year can’t go by without my mentioning something about the lily leaf beetle. Handpicking and destroying the bright red insects over the last couple of years has thankfully inspired a resurgence in my patch of tiger lilies. It can in yours too! Look for adults early in the season, beginning in mid April, when they are hanging around looking for a mate or in the process of mating. Pick them up and drop them into soapy water. Well-seasoned and especially fed-up gardeners can simply squish the bug. Chances are you won’t be able to get every adult before some eggs are laid. Find them on the undersides of the leaves; they are brownish-red in color, and are easily “done in” by running your thumb along the vein of the leaf. If you miss some eggs, dealing with the larva is your final option before real damage ensues. Squishing the slug-like, poop-covered larvae deserves a “bravest gardener of the year” award - hard to do even by this “well-seasoned and especially fed-up” gardener’s standards! If you just can’t bring yourself to handle the buggers, try an insecticide made from neem extract.

My peonies are loaded with buds this year! I am hopeful that the weather won’t be too hot when they begin to open so that they will look pretty in the border for more than

just a couple of day’s time. A few seasons back, however, the buds never opened at all! They wilted and dried up just prior to bloom. The culprit was botrytis. Good hygiene can reduce the risk of this fungus invading your garden. Each fall simply cut the stems down to the ground. Haul them off to the trash; don’t compost. If you need to water your peonies, do so early in the morning and water at the plant’s base rather than overhead

to keep the leaves dry. Any stems that show signs of wilting during the growing season should be cut away and thrown in the trash as well. Disinfect clippers in between cuts to help prevent the spread of the fungus. Many gardeners wonder why peony buds usually have ants crawling all over them. Ants are drawn to the sweet nectar substance exuded by the buds - they don’t hurt the plant, nor do they help buds to open as once thought. They are simply a nuisance that should be shaken off prior to bringing cut peonies indoors.

Do you notice any chewed edges, small holes, or tan colored water marks running down the leaves of your bearded iris? If so, your patch could be infected with iris borer. Look for larvae within the leaf and crush them before they have a chance to burrow into the rhizome. Once they do, they begin to hollow out the fleshy roots causing the foliage to collapse and rot to take over. Good hygiene is also the best means of control for this pest. In the fall, after a hard frost, cut iris foliage back to the ground as low as possible. Throw it and any nearby debris or mulch away. With any luck, overwintering eggs will be removed by your efforts. When

Roberta McQuaid

Turley PublicationsColumnist

i n t h eGaRden

GARDEN, page 5

Foes of our favorite flowers

Country Journal • Thursday, May 23, 2019 page 5

PAGES OVERThere’s something about the feel of a printed product in your hand, and

both college to retirement-age readers continue to choose print over digital. Printed articles also keep an audience engaged significantly longer

and have more subscribers than digital publications.

PICK UP A COPY OF YOUR HOMETOWN PAPER TODAY!

13 WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS SERVING 50 LOCAL COMMUNITIESAgawam Advertiser News • Barre Gazette • Country Journal • Chicopee Register • Ware River News

The Journal Register • The Ludlow Register • Quaboag Current • The Sentinel • Shopping GuideThe Holyoke Sun • Wilbraham-Hampden Times • Town Reminder

www.newspapers.turley.com

By Deborah Daniels

No trip to Otis is complete without stopping in at the Knox Trail Inn, 1898 E. Otis Road in East Otis.

Many a motorist, motorcyclist as well as boater will attest it is the place to sate your appetite for food and drink. There is an intriguing wall hanging inside that celebrates the history of the Knox Trail, as well as the Otis area. Further down Route 23 is an eyepopper of a sculpture of Henry Knox standing by a cannon (Gordon Chandler, artist). So who was this guy?

He was a celebrated patriot tasked by George Washington in 1775 to get the artillery from captured Fort Ticonderoga and Fort Crown Point in New York down to Boston, ASAP.

Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys had captured Ticonderoga from the lobsterbacks (British) three weeks after the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The Revolution was on! But Boston Harbor was still controlled by the British. The Continental Army badly needed ammunition to reinforce the camp that was being set up on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston Harbor.

Henry Knox (1750-1806) heeded the call to duty. This was a young man who began working in a bookstore in Boston at the age of 9 to help support his family after his father left. He was the seventh of 10 children. He educated himself with books about battles and the military. He was known for holding his own in street fights growing up. He also shot off two fingers of his left hand at the age of 23 in a rifle accident. Scrappy kid.

He had distinguished himself at the Battle of Bunker Hill and gained Gen. George Washington’s notice. Mind you, he had no military standing at the time he took the assignment. He did receive a military appointment during the trip.

He traveled to Ticonderoga on Dec. 5, figuring he would need two weeks to get the artillery to Boston. It would be closer to seven weeks of winter-ravaged

travel, hauling 60 cannons and arma-ments weighing tons over 300 miles of ice and snow.

Do you think the Berkshire Mountains can be forbidding in winter? Tom Lovell Dixon’s painting depicts how this was a journey of endurance, though it is not entirely accurate. Knox had to hire help and arrange sleds to be made and hire draft animals. Knox states in his diary that he wanted 80 oxen to accom-plish the trip. What he got was horses.

The population in upstate New York was scarce, mostly farmers, not too pre-pared to loan a much-needed ox, never mind volunteer for a journey to Boston. What he found was that the local team-sters inflated the price for oxen. He also had to convince the locals to step up to the plate and help make the journey. Who knew where these men were on the rev-olution spectrum, from Tory/loyalist to rebel/patriot?

Somehow he inspired these moun-tain men to accompany him. And away they toiled. It was not one long train that traveled together, but small teams of two to eight horses hauling the cargo, with local mountain men changing out at the next outpost. So the feat was an amazing effort to persuade settlement people all along the route to replace any men and horses that quit the trip at that juncture.

Knox always petitioned for oxen first, but horses were the main beasts of burden. He notes many times how the heavy cannons would break through the ice when crossing rivers. He never lost any cannons to the river, such was the strength of the mountain men. The journey was completed Jan. 27, 1776. Washington fortified Dorchester Heights with the cannon and the British ships withdrew to Halifax, Nova Scotia. This was a huge victory for the American patriots.

Henry Knox continued to transport military artillery for Washington. He did so at the Delaware River, helping to win the Battle of Trenton. He was instrumen-tal in creating an armory in Springfield in 1777.

Among other accomplishments, he was secretary of war for the new nation. He established the Army and Naval acad-

emies (West Point and Annapolis) to train men for military service.

He was married and had 13 children, of which only one survived to adult-hood. He was also known for attaining a healthy size, weighing some 300 lbs. later in life. He would definitely have approved of the Knox Trail Inn!

There are plaques all along the Knox Trail, from New York to Cambridge, commemorating this early Revolutionary feat. Be proud this Memorial Day that American history was made right here in the Hilltowns. Read one of these plaques — make it an interactive monument. And don’t let the parade pass you by — salute a veteran.

Do you have a memory or historical curiosity from the Hilltowns that you’d like to share with your neighbors? Send your story and photos to countryjour-nal@turley.com.

Ammo man for the RevolutionHILLTOWN HISTORY

“Through this place passed General Henry Knox …” reads a historical marker on Route 23 in East Otis, one of several marking the Knox Trail throughout Massachusetts and upstate New York.

Submitted photo by ToddC4176

An old postage stamp shows the likeness of Henry Knox. Submitted photo

PoetryCorner••

DestinyBy Fred Caron

There once was a moon in our night skyWe saw cycles of life and mystery

There once was a sun in our day skyWe saw the fires of eternity

There once were the grasses and woodlandWe saw seasons of all of our days

We once embraced earth’s harmonyBut all this is now — forgotten

OPINION

Tom Lovell Dixon’s painting “Noble Train of Artillery” shows Fort Ticonderoga in the distant background and Henry Knox, now Gen. Knox, on the horse. Submitted photo

it is time to divide your irises be sure to discard any rhizomes that are soft or rotten and start over with a fresh patch and better sanitation practices.

Enjoy your favorite perennials as they begin to brighten up the border but be ever vigilant for foes that go hand in hand with beautiful flowers.

Robert McQuaid graduated from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts. For the last 28 years, she has held the position of staff horticulturalist at Old Sturbridge Village. She enjoys grow-ing food, as well as flowers. Have a question for her? Email it to dfarm-er@turley.com with “Gardening Question” in the subject line.

GARDEN from page 4

NEWS & FEATURESAs a paper of record, we attempt to cover all general news,

personality profiles, and community features that we know about. This includes all selectmen and school committee meetings as well as spot planning board, board of health, finance, and other town meetings determined by the issue’s relevance to our readers. There are the annual major community event features that we should always cover, but we are more than open to suggestions of other features to celebrate the fabric of our communities and their many interesting occupants. Our loyal advertisers provide funding for this paid staff coverage.

For more information on news or community features for the Country Journal, please emai: countryjournal@turley.com.

page 6 Country Journal • Thursday, May 23, 2019

HUNTINGTON — The Huntington Council on Aging will host a bird com-munication program presented by Lois Kiraly and a summer birthday celebra-tion Thursday, June 13, at 2 p.m. It will take place at Stanton Hall, 24 Russell Road, Huntington.

Participants will learn if birds are born with their songs or if they have to learn them; how they can sing more than

one pitch at a time; how a mockingbird can sing so many songs; what birds are talking about; how birds can “fool” other birds with their calls and why; and if they understand “bird to human talk.”

The COA will celebrate senior sum-mer birthdays with strawberry shortcake. To make a reservation, call 413-512-5205 by Thursday, June 6. The public is welcome.

Learn about birdsong at COA program to be held in June

HUNTINGTON

HUNTINGTON — The Huntington Historical Society will host the “History of Early Traditional Dancing and Modern Western Style Square Dancing” in June.

The event will begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 6, in Stanton Hall at 26 Russell Road, Huntington. There will

be a short presentation of two styles of dance, followed by a demonstration by dancers. Callers will be Gene King and Rich Sbardella.

Audience participation is encour-aged. The event is free to the public and refreshments will be served.

Square dancing presentation set for June

By Michael Ballway

HUNTINGTON — Ed Renauld and Jim Helems successfully defended their seats as assessor and constable during Saturday’s town election.

Renauld, who is also a selectman in town, won another three years on the Board of Assessors 76-32 over chal-lenger Joseph Henning, according to Town Clerk Kathleen Thomas. Helems won another three years as constable, 63-36, over AmyBeth Perry.

Incumbents were re-elected with-out opposition to several other seats on the May 18 ballot: Selectman Darlene McVeigh, Board of Health mem-ber Thomas Hart and Library Trustee Laurie Mikalaunas, all for three-year terms; and Moderator George Peterson and Tree Warden Walt Wittshirk, both for one-year terms.

There were several positions on the ballot with no nominated candidates. Melissa Nazzaro garnered 33 write-in votes to win a three-year term on the Gateway Regional School Committee;

Linda Siska was elected to a one-year term as library trustee, with eight write-in votes; Alicia Hackenson took five write-in votes to become a trustee of the A.P. Pettis Fund for three years; and Jim Arnold will serve a two-year term as Whiting Street Fund trustee after receiving four write-in votes.

Two other seats on the Whiting Street Fund board were also avail-able, for one- and three-year terms. As there were no other write-in candi-dates in the election, these seats will be filled for the next year by appoin-tees. Anyone interested in serving as a trustee should send a letter to the Board of Selectmen at P.O. Box 430, Huntington, MA 01050.

Thomas reported that there were 115 votes cast, a 7.5 percent turnout of the town’s 1,533 registered voters.

The annual Town Meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 3, at S tanton Hal l , 24 Russe l l Road, Huntington. For more information, call the clerk’s office at 413-512-5209 or email townclerk@huntingtonma.us.

Incumbents re-elected on town ballot Saturday

Amy Williams gives the opening speech welcoming guests and local faith leaders to the May 9 candlelight vigil on the Huntington Town Green sponsored by the Hilltown Domestic Violence Interfaith Initiative and Southern Hilltown Domestic Violence Task Force. More photos were printed in last week’s Country Journal.

Photo by Adrianne Johnson

SPEAKING OUT

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHHuntington Evangelical Church

invites all to worship God on Sunday mornings at 9:30 at 17 Russell Road in downtown Huntington. This Sunday,

Pastor Charles Cinelli will address the second and third of “A Person’s Most Probing Questions.” Fellowship and refreshments will follow the service.

NORWICH HILLThe First Congregational Church,

UCC, welcomes everyone wherever they are on their journey of faith, seekers, believers, and wonderers alike, to join in 10 a.m. Sunday worship. The church is at 6 Searle Road, on Norwich Hill in Huntington.

This week’s message, from John 5:1-9, asks the question, “Do you want to be well?” as it invites worshipers to won-der what it means to be well and whole.

The second annual Art and Craft Exhibition Show and Sale will take place Saturday, June 8, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Huntington Town Green at the intersection of Route 120 and Route 112. It is sponsored by the Men’s Club of the church and will include local and region-al Yankee quality crafters.

For more information, call 413-667-3935 or 860-798-7771 or email firstchur-chofhuntington@gmail.com.

The “History of Early Traditional Dancing and Modern Western Style Square Dancing” will be offered free to the public June 6 at Stanton Hall in Huntington. Submitted photo

BECKET

By Michael Ballway

BECKET — The only contested race on the town ballot on Saturday came right down to the wire.

Christopher Swindlehurst was elected selectman with 103 votes, just edging out Maria Wallington, with 100. Also on the ballot was Laurel Burgwardt, who polled 41.

Town Clerk George Roberts said on Monday that he does not believe there will be a recount of the results. If the results stand, Swindlehurst will serve a three-year term on the board, taking the place of Nicole Ledoux, who did not run for re-election.

All three selectman candidates had run in the town caucus on April 6. Swindlehurst actually lost votes between the caucus and the election, as

he had polled 106 in April. At that time, Wallington had trailed much farther behind, with 79 votes, and Burgwardt in third place at 37. Swindlehurst and Wallington qualified for the ballot as the two top caucus candidates; Burgwardt sub-mitted nomination papers.

Also on the ballot, Howard Lerner garnered 18 write-in votes for Planning Board, enough to win the election. Nobody had been nominated for the five-year term to replace Charles Andrews.

Incumbents who won re-election unopposed included Board of Health mem-ber Gale LaBelle, Cemetery Commissioner William Cavanaugh and Finance Committee members Ronald DeFoe and Dan Parnell, all for three-year terms.

There were 245 ballots cast on May 18, a 16.28 percent turnout of the town’s 1,505 registered voters.

Selectman elected by 3-vote marginHam dinnerto benefit First Congregational

B E C K E T — F i r s t Congregational Church will host a tavern ham dinner Saturday, June 1, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. It will be held at the Guild Hall on YMCA Road in Becket.

The menu will also include potato salad, baked beans, green bean and pea salad, and strawberry shortcake. Takeout dinners will be available.

To order takeout, call 413-623-8300 the afternoon of the dinner. Funds will be used to install an ADA handicapped ramp at the church.

Christopher Swindlehurst, pictured at a meet-the-candidates event in April, was named Becket’s newest selectman this week after winning the town election by three votes. Photo by Michael Ballway

Country Journal • Thursday, May 23, 2019 page 7

MONTGOMERY

MONTGOMERY — On May 8, the town of Montgomery joined other towns and cities in honoring military heroes by designating itself a Purple Heart Community. A proclamation was signed by the select board in December 2018, and street signs were ordered.

Retired U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brian Willette, commander of the Western Massachusetts chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, came to Montgomery with a small contingent to lead the dedication ceremony on May 8. Montgomery selectmen and several town

residents were also on hand. The Military Order of the Purple Heart Society hopes to eventually see all 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts honor veterans who earned the Purple Heart, a military deco-ration awarded to those who are wound-ed or killed while serving.

Montgomery has had at least one of its own earn the Purple Heart: George Schenna, who served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Schenna was presented with two Purple Hearts. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago.

Town signs up to honor Purple Heart recipients

By Michael Ballway

MONTGOMERY — Challenger Donald Washburn won the only contested race on the town’s May 6 ballot, and is now Selectman Donald Washburn.

Washburn defeated incumbent Selectman Daniel Jacques, 92-72, Town Clerk Judy Murphy reported this week. His term on the Board of Selectmen will run three years, until the town election of 2022.

There were several single-vote

write-ins for an open Gateway Regional School Committee seat, but nobody had enough support to win the election. The seat will have to be filled by an appoin-tee; anyone who wishes to serve on the school board should send a letter to the Board of Selectmen at 161 Main Road, Montgomery, MA 01085.

Other positions on the ballot were uncontested. Incumbents re-elected included Assessor Timothy Baker, Town Clerk Judith Murphy, Constable Daniel Flechsig, A.P. Pettis Fund Trustee Laura

Flechsig and Moderator Peter Brady. Others elected with no opposition were Karen Chaffee as library trustee and Philip Camp as a write-in candidate for tree warden.

There were 166 ballots cast, a 27.35 percent turnout of the town’s 607 regis-tered voters.

The annual Town Meeting will be held Monday, May 20, at Town Hall, 161 Main Road, Montgomery. For more infor-mation about the election, call the town clerk at 413-862-4478.

Selectman unseated, school seat is open

Montgomery Veterans Service Agent Dan Flechsig, center, holds up a “Purple Heart Community” sign at a dedication ceremony on May 8. Standing with him are town selectmen and other officials, and representatives from the Military Order of the Purple Heart.

Brian Willette, right, stands with other members of the Western Massachusetts chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart during Montgomery’s dedication ceremony as a Purple Heart Community. Submitted photos

Basic knitting classbegins next month

MONTGOMERY — Grace Hall Memorial Library will offer a basic knit-ting skills class with Robin Knowlton at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 6 and 20, and Thursday, Aug. 8 and 22. The starting proj-ect is a dish cloth. Participants will need to bring one skein of 100 percent cotton yarn and size 8 wooden knitting needles. Drop-ins are welcome as well as experienced knitters who just want to finish a proj-ect and socialize with other knitters. The library is at 161 Main Road, Montgomery.

member towns — Blandford, Chester, Huntington, Middlefield, Montgomery and Russell. The new assessment meth-od uses longer-tail averages and other factors in an effort to stabilize town expenses over the long term.

Though the School Committee referred to the proposal as a five-year pilot, state law mandates that towns must assent annually if a district is to over-ride the traditional (or “statutory”) meth-od. Compared to the statutory formula used in fiscal 2018, Montgomery saved $19,487 in fiscal 2019 with the alterna-tive assessment. This year, however, the alternative formula called for the town’s appropriation to increase by $26,516. As a result, the Montgomery Finance Committee did not recommend passage of the alternative method.

Because Town Moderator and Finance Committee Chair Peter F. Brady was on vacation, town resident Jennifer Arvanitis was nominated acting moder-ator and called on Finance Committee member Michael Lafleur to explain his committee’s position on Article 15.

“We all recommended not voting

for this method,” Lafleur told voters. “We’re recommending we don’t go with the alternative method.”

Selectman Michael Morrissey sup-ported the Finance Committee’s deci-sion. He pointed out that the Gateway Regional School Committee will be compiling the would-be assessment costs for each town under each model for five years, regardless of how the town votes.

“During that five years, you have the right to vote either way,” he said. “Then, in five years, we’ll know what pattern to look at.”

Morrissey further argued that Montgomery, with a population of 781, doesn’t incur the big student population changes its larger neighbors.

“We don’t have any big multi-dwell-ing units,” he said.

While Morrissey made a point of saying the School Committee deserves “a lot of credit for having a good bud-get,” he also pointed out the proposed fiscal 2020 alternative assessment would have Montgomery paying “the highest per-pupil rate” of all member towns.

Town resident Don Washburn stated his reluctance more plainly.

“I believe we should vote for the statutory,” he said, “because, why should we have to pay to educate other people’s kids? We have to be responsible for our own kids.”

Outgoing Selectmen Chairman Daniel Jacques defended the alternative assessment, saying “As student popula-tions increase and decrease, the budget can sometimes take wild swings.” He added: “It’s been the opinion of those involved in this project that this what makes sense to bring more stability.”

Montgomery resident Karan Miller agreed with Jacques, making the argu-ment that the alternative assessment model isn’t designed for year-to-year votes based on the lowest-cost option.

“I think, overall, the alternative method would work for our town,” she said. “It’s short-sighted to go from year to year to see which is cheapest. I think that’s disingenuous. People are voting if it benefits us at the time rather than the overall term of the project. For us to pick and choose — that doesn’t work.”

Stephanie Fisk, assistant superin-tendent for finance and operations for the Gateway Regional School District, reminded Montgomery voters that the alternative assessment is one that bene-fits towns over time. “If you went with the statutory, it would be lower [this year], for sure,” she conceded, adding that the state Department of Education approves the alternative method and that “It will take some time to level out.”

The state’s “Guidance for Regional School Districts” outline states that under Chapter 71, Section 16B of state law, all member towns of a regional dis-trict “must unanimously approve” an alternate assessment method and “a vote must be taken each year to utilize this method.”

Because it only takes a single mem-ber town to opt a regional district out of the alternative assessment, the defeat of Article 15 at the Montgomery Town Meeting means the Gateway assessments for fiscal 2020 in all six towns will be based on the statutory method. The school budget should remain unchanged, according to town officials.

ASSESSMENT from page 1

MIDDLEFIELDMIDDLEFIELD SENIOR CENTER

Lunch is served at the Senior Center, 169 Skyline Trail, Middlefield, each Wednesday at noon.

A $3 donation is suggested. Reservations should be made and meal choice stated, by calling and leaving a message at 413-623-9990 the Monday before. The menu on Wednesday, May 29, is baked haddock florentine,

California blend, Spanish rice, wheat roll and fresh fruit. At 12:30 p.m., Chuck Winn, Middlefield’s oldest resident, will be honored by awarding him the Golden Cane. He is giving up his exercise class in order to attend. Thanks, Chuck. The Golden Cane has been passed down from Priscilla Suriner, who died this winter at the age of 94.

BLOSSOM COMMUNITY CENTERBuffet meals are held twice week-

ly at Blossom Community Center, 16 Bell Road, Middlefield.

Meals are open to people of any age and any town. Donations keep these going. Volunteer clean-up wel-comed. Diners should sign in upon arrival; advance notice is not neces-sary.

Vegetarian side dishes, home-made soups and bread, salad bar, des-sert, and beverage selections round out the menu options. Entrees for this week are:

Tuesday, May 28: Dinner at 5:30 p.m. is turkey.

Thursday, May 30: Lunch at 12:30 p.m. is sloppy Joes.

page 8 Country Journal • Thursday, May 23, 2019

RUSSELL

RUSSELL — Eversource recent-ly made a donation to the Friends of Scouting campaign, supporting the Western Massachusetts Council of Boy Scouts of America.

“We’re grateful for this dona-tion from Eversource, as it will help us continue in our mission towards building the next generation of lead-ers in our community,” commented Ruthann Eagen, senior executive for the Appalachian Trail District of the Western Massachusetts Council.

Scouting provides local youth with the opportunity to learn responsible citizenship, build character, and make life-long friendships through adven-ture-filled outdoor activities and edu-cational programs. Eversource’s dona-

tion will help fund the H.A. Moses Scout Reservation in Russell, located on over 1,000 acres of land surround-ing Russell Pond. More than 4,000 boys and girls, in Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, participate in programs includ-ing fishing, climbing, and archery each year.

“I’m so glad I had to opportuni-ty to see the camp for myself to get a glimpse of what the scouts experi-ence,” said Eversource Community Relations Specialist Melissa Hancock, who recently toured the facility. “We’re thrilled to be providing a grant towards the ‘Friends of Scouting’ program so they can continue to make a positive impact in the lives of many boys and girls in Western Massachusetts.”

Power company donates to scout camp

Eversource representative Melissa Hancock, right, stands with Ruthann Eagen from the Boy Scouts of America at H.A. Moses Scout Reservation in Russell. Submitted photo

RUSSELL —The Russell Finance Committee will hold a forum from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 1, to dis-cuss and try to answer residents’ ques-tions about the budget for the upcoming Town Meeting.

The forum will be held at Town

Hall, 65 Main St., Russell. Handouts and information on the Gateway Regional agreement will be distributed. All are invited.

Town Meeting is slated for 7 p.m. Monday, June 10, at Russell Elementary School.

Budget forum slated for next Saturday

By Geoffrey Oldmixon

RUSSELL — On the heels of Montgomery’s Town Meeting vote rejecting the Gateway Regional School District’s proposed alternative assess-ment formula, the Russell Select Board voted on Tuesday to remove referenc-es to the alternative assessment from Russell’s annual Town Meeting warrant.

T o w n A c c o u n t a n t a n d Administrative Assistant Nancy Boersig is preparing the warrant for the town’s June 10 vote. She turned to the Select Board to verify she could remove the Alternative Assessment article.

“Based on the information I received,” Boersig explained, “when Montgomery voted down the new meth-od, it [the GRSD budget assessment method] now defaults back to the statu-tory method.” She went on to ask, “Do

we even need to vote on the method?” Russell Selectmen Chairman Keith

Cortis cited written communication from town legal counsel stating that Chapter 71, Section 16B of state law did indeed set the “statutory method” as the default assessment formula in the event any sin-gle member town voted against a pro-posed alternative in any given year.

“This year, we’re going to statuto-ry,” Cortis confirmed.

Cortis asked Boersig to verify again with legal counsel this week, but indi-cated he was confident. As such, both Cortis and Selectman member Jeffrey Bean voted to remove the article from the warrant. Selectman Wayne Precanico was absent.

Last year, Russell voters opted to try the alternative assessment meth-od formula. As a result, the town paid $137,783 more than it would have paid using the “statutory” assessment formu-

la. If the alternative assessment method had been approved for fiscal 2020, as well, the two-year cost to Russell would have reached $292,415.

Ruth Kennedy, who is running for Gateway Regional School Committee and served previously from 2010 to 2016, told the Select Board the School Committee would be meeting this week. She went on indicate some adjustments to the budget may be floated as options in the wake of Montgomery’s decision.

“These other four towns are going to push for a new budget,” she speculat-ed.

“Why?” Cortis responded. “No one is arguing the dollar amounts. They were voting on the assessment method, not voting on the budget. If three towns already had their meetings and voted, they can’t change midstream.”

With regards to other warrant arti-cles, Boersig explained that switching to

the Gateway statutory method means the budget would use only $240,000 of free cash, rather than $300,000. She reported, however, the town would still need to borrow for a new Highway Department.

“I’m not completely thrilled about that,” she said. She also explained Russell Police Chief Kevin Hennessey was requesting roughly $10,000 in increases to his department. Another approximate $5,000 would be set aside for the ambulance relief fund. Increases in school insurance and school utilities were also cited.

Bean expressed suppor t fo r Boersig’s work on the budget, but he reminded her the town needed to work toward lowering its tax rate.

“We have to figure out a way to have no tax increase right now,” he said.

Russell’s annual Town Meeting will be held Monday, June 10, in the Russell Elementary School building.

Warrant amended to reflect assessment vote

OTIS

OTIS — The Otis Cultural Council will hold a tag sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 25. It will take place in the parking lot at the Otis Ski Ridge, 159 Monterey Road, Otis.

Spaces are available at a cost of

$10 per space for Otis residents, $15 per space for non-residents.

All vendors must provide their own table.

For more information, call Vicki at 413-269-4008.

Tag sale to benefit Cultural Council

SANDISFIELD

SANDISFIELD — The Sandisfield Council on Aging will offer a free health and wellness fair Saturday, June 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the American Legion Pavilion on Route 8

in Sandisfield. Vendors at the fair will include representatives from Hospice, Fairview Hospital, Elder Services, Age Friendly Berkshires, and the CHP van. All are welcome. Admission is free.

COA to offer free health, wellness fair

SANDISFIELD — Write-in can-didate John Field was elected to the Planning Board in Monday’s town elec-tion.

Field took 62 votes for the two-year seat on the Planning Board, despite not appearing on the printed ballot. There had been no nominees for the seat, which is currently a vacancy on the board. The only other write-in can-didate in the May 20 election with more than two votes was Alex Bowman, who polled 4 votes for the open Planning Board seat, as well as 2 for selectman.

All other positions on the ballot saw the official nominees win with

no significant opposition: Selectman George Riley, Board of Assessors mem-ber Bethany Perry and Board of Health member Kim Spring, all incumbents for three-year terms; Planning Board mem-ber Paul Gaudette and Library Trustee Clare English, both incumbents for five-year terms; and incumbent Moderator Simon B.A. Winchester, for a one-year term. Jennifer Hibbins was the only candidate nominated, and only person receiving votes, for a three-year seat on the School Committee.

Of the town’s 586 registered voters, 98 voted on Monday, a turnout of 16.72 percent.

Write-in fills Planning Board vacancy

BLANDFORD

BLANDFORD — On behalf of the Blandford Board of Selectmen, Chairman Cara Letendre issued the follow-ing statement this week in appreciation of the years for-mer Selectman Bill (William) Levakis served his town.

“Bill served the town for over six years, often volunteer-ing his time to support the com-munity. He spearheaded the ice rink the last few years, going

out on his own time to put it together for the people to enjoy. He is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the workings of the town and its infrastructure. I would like to thank him for his ser-vice.”

Levakis did not win re-election on May 11. I n s t e a d , vo t e r s c h o s e Thomas Ackley for a three-year term.

Chairman thanks outgoing selectman

Bill Levakis

partnership or shared service agreement. The towns have received over

$43,000 in funding for this project from the state’s District Local Technical Assistance grant program and more through the Community Compact.

P i o n e e r Va l l e y P l a n n i n g Commission’s municipal services coor-dinator, Eric Weiss, was present to facil-itate discussion of topics covered by the intermunicipal agreement.

Topics considered included the role of the police chief, the responsibilities of the two towns, budgeting, determin-ing assets and financial assessments and how to proceed.

Both boards seemed to feel that an open agreement would be best, that is, having no term limit. There is a with-drawal clause, but all the language will have to be reworked and refined, accord-ing to Weiss.

The boards discussed how to estab-lish wages, how the organization would

look, and who would have oversight and how this would be conducted.

At least two selectboard members from each town will meet quarterly to discuss oversight, along with the two town administrators and police chief.

The discussion on equipment — for example, the cruisers — boiled down to each town owning and maintaining its own assets.

Police Chief Daniel Ilnicky said, “If we structure this the right way,” it will serve as a model for other communities.

“There is no precedent,” Weiss said.Selectmen Chairman Cara Letendre

and newly elected Selectman Thomas Ackley represented Blandford, along with Town Administrator Joshua A. Garcia. Chester selectmen present were Chairman Barbara Pease Huntoon and Vice Chairman John Baldasaro, with Town Administrator Kathe Warden.

The next joint working meeting will be June 17 in Blandford at 6:30 p.m.

POLICE from page 1

Country Journal • Thursday, May 23, 2019 page 9

WORTHINGTON

Serving dinner at the Worthington Rod and Gun Club last Saturday were, from left, Bob Gilbert, Clark Jones, Jim Mayhew, Carl Kelton, Bill Santos, Jen Cleveland, Pat Gilbert, John Marge and Dean Cleveland.

DINNER AT THE CLUB

By Sherrie Keith-Higgins

May, a beautiful time of year. Green and flowers are coming up and blooming. Can’t forget

the tree pollen that is also here.May is also the time for Mother’s

Day, graduations, confirmations, baseball and playoffs. But we can’t forget the real reason for the Memorial Day weekend, and that is honoring our veterans who have given up their lives to safe others and our country. But I feel that all veter-ans, K-9s, police, fire, rescue have given their lives, as well.

And that brings me to me. This will be my last column, as I am retiring “My Sunflower Teepee.” It’s been a wonder-ful and exciting five years that I’ve been writing the column. Sharing our life and others, recipes, questions, ideas and more. For that success, I first owe the

Country Journal for taking a leap of faith and letting me fly for all this time.

More importantly, I thank all the readers for your support and sharing with me. It’s been wonderful, but it’s time for me to retire. The one question I always get is about my grandmother’s recipe box. Yes, there is one, worn and loved and not what you would think of a reci-pe box. She loved to write, make notes, and put some in your lunch or package. Although she has been gone many years, she remains close.

So, with this I wish you all happi-ness, blessings and love. Mostly, don’t forget to hug the one you love.

You can still write me at P.O. Box 34, Worthington, MA 01098, or email me at sdspirit1@msn.com. Be safe and know you are loved.

Thank you, Country Journal, for everything!

My Sunflower TeepeeW O RT H I N G T O N — T h e

Worthington Library will host an art reception Saturday, June 8, at 1 p.m., to celebrate the talent of the R.H. Conwell Elementary School students.

Artwork from throughout the school year is displayed throughout the library, with each student repre-

sented. The works displayed are stel-lar examples of the talent of local youth.

All are invited to meet the art-ists and celebrate their achievements. Refreshments will be served.

The library is at 1 Huntington Road, Worthington.

Artist reception at libraryto feature Conwell pupils

WORTHINGTON — Spurred by the positive reaction to the pot-luck dinner at last year’s 250th Celebration, the town is planning “Founders Day” on Saturday, June 29.

Festivities will begin at 3:30 to 5 p.m. with house tours at the Worthington Historical Society, fol-

lowed by potluck setup and happy hour from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Dinner fol-lows brief announcements at 6:30.

From 8 to 9:30 p.m., live music will be performed by Pete McLean’s Old Country Road and Friends, with socializing to continue until 11 p.m.

More information, and potluck signups, will be available soon.

Founders Day potluck tobuild on 250th celebration

Diners enjoy a variety of food at the Worthington Rod and Gun Club’s annual game dinner on May 18. Submitted photos

GOSHEN

Poet from town to give reading at library

The Goshen Public Library will sponsor a poetry reading by Goshen poet Alice Barrett at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 1, in the library at 40 Main St., Goshen.

Selections from her book “The Bridge” will be read. Admission is free. All are welcome. Refreshments will be served.

28, funding for an asphalt shingle roof, but town voters ultimately voted it down, 35-38, and passed the more expensive metal roof proposal, Article 29, with an overwhelming majority.

“The architect designed a couple schools in the area with metal roofs,” said Chesterfield-Goshen Regional School Committee Chairman Edward Sturtevant. “When budget time came, the towns felt it was too much money and changed the design to a shingle roof. When the shingle was put on, it was defective. … The metal roof is a long-term investment, so we don’t have to go back the next 15 years.”

S ev e r a l r e s i d e n t s e c h o e d Sturtevant’s sentiments, expressing con-cerns the funding the asphalt shingle roof, to repair the current leaking and tarped roof, would only lead to a similar situation again in the future. The cur-rent roof is 20 years old.

An architect’s estimate was used for the cost of both roof options on the warrant, as the project has not gone out to bid. The asphalt shingles are listed at $440,000 to be borrowed by the School Committee, with the metal carrying an $800,000 estimated cost. Finance Committee Chairman Dawn

Scaparotti noted that these costs can see up to a 30 percent increase due to con-struction season already being under-way — increasing the shingles to over $570,000 and the metal roof to up to $1 million.

“We haven’t bid the project yet. As a result, we go to an architect or engineer and say what is your esti-mate of the probable cost,” Scaparotti explained. “They’ve given an assess-ment … however, when they gave that number, they put in several caveats. … There’s more than likely a premium for whatever bid comes in, because it’s peak construction season.”

Scaparotti also walked voters through the calculation for the tax impact each roof option will have. After several calculations, Scaparotti con-cluded the difference between the two options would be about $60 per year for the average home in town, which is valued at $243,000.

Selectmen Chairman Angela Otis said she would support the metal roof, but her concern is that residents will pass the more expensive option now because it’s what before them, then vote down future capital needs in the coming years as tax-impacting projects begin to

stack up.“I am in support of a metal roof, if

I can be sure that townspeople will also support some of these other infrastruc-ture needs that we have been dismissive of,” Otis said. “I want to make sure that includes a new pumper truck, a new highway shed … that’s my point of view. Go big or go home.”

“If we increase the pie, then that means more taxes for those things, if you’re willing to pay for those,” Scaparotti added. “I’m a little bit skep-tical you’ll pay for this now, because this is on the docket. Next year, there’s no telling. We have to start funding the capital plan, so we can pay for the things that you’ve voted on.”

The vote on Article 28 was con-ducted with ballot cards, as Moderator Keith Wright could not certify a major-ity by voice vote. The asphalt shingles failed to pass the majority vote 35-38, with one abstention. Wright deemed Article 29 to pass by a vocal majority.

Chesterfield voters approved funding for both options at a special Town Meeting last month. Both towns’ approvals were necessary. The Regional School Committee voted its recommen-dation for the metal roof, as well.

VOTERS from page 1

READ OR SUBSCRIBE TO THE COUNTRY JOURNAL ONLINE AT: COUNTRYJOURNAL.TURLEY.COM

page 10 Country Journal • Thursday, May 23, 2019

90 Meat Outlet

BUY DIRECT FOR SAVINGS • SELECTION • SERVICE

SALE DATES: 5/23/19 - 5/29/19

$599BEEF RIB EYE

lb

$296lb

$498lb

USDA INSP. FRESH BONELESS

USDA INSP. FRESH BONE-IN

BEEF TOP ROUND LONDON BROIL STEAKS

BEEF SHORT RIBS or FLANKEN CUT

ea

USDA INSP. FROZEN

COUNTRYSTYLEPORK RIBS ........................

lb

lbUSDA INSP. FRESH

PORK SHOULDERPICNIC .............................

USDA INSP. FRESH

BONELESS & SKINLESSCHICKEN BREAST 10 LB BAG ....

lb

47¢

lb

USDA INSP. FRESH

HILLSHIRE FARMSPOLSKA KIELBASA 13-14 OZ

USDA INSP. FROZEN

CHICKENQUARTERS 10 LB BAG ..............USDA INSP. FRESH

CHICKENDRUMSTICKS 10 LB BAG .........

90meat.com

USDA INSP. FRESH BONE-IN

HoursMon. - Wed. 8-4

Thurs. 8-6 • Fri. 8-6 • Sat. 8-3

lb

88¢

95¢ $449

90 AVOCADO STREET, SPRINGFIELD 413-737-1288

USDA INSP. FRESH

CENTER CUT PORK LOIN BONE-IN CHOPS $197

lbUSDA INSP. FROZEN

PORK BABY BACK RIBS TWIN PAK lb

$279

USDA INSP. FRESH STOREMADE

ITALIANSAUSAGE FAMILY PAK ..........$199

USDA INSP. FRESH DELI SLICED

RAREROAST BEEF .................. $499

lb

lb

$129

$249

We reserve the right to limit

quantities.

$1145ea

USDA INSP. FROZEN STOREMADE

HAMBURGER PATTIES

ea

USDA INSP.

KAYEM OLDTYMENATURAL CASINGHOT DOGS 2 1/2 LB BOX ........... $799

ea

USDA INSP. IYC FROZEN

SHRIMP RAW PEELED13-15 CT 2 LB BAG .................$1499

ALL VARIETIES

lb

ea

lb

USDA INSP STORE MARINATED

KOREAN BBQ BONELESS PORK BUTT STRIPS.........

USDA INSP STORE MARINATED

ITALIAN CHICKEN BREAST BONELESS .........

USDA INSP STORE MARINATED

TERIYAKI BEEFSKIRT STEAKS ................

$209

$229

$799

GREAT ON THE GRILL

(KOREAN STYLE)

$1195ea

3 oz20 per box

4 oz20 per box

GREAT FOR SKEWERS!

Happy

JOIN US FOR “GRILL & CHILL” MAY 25TH 10AMGrilling Tips, Raffles, Grill Giveaway & Samples Mr Gutter

S

E

A

M

L

E

S

SG U T T E R

• Residential • Commercial • Cleaning • Repairs

“Foreverclean” Gutter SystemLifetime Warranty

For All Your Gutter Needs

536-7451MA LIC #163177 • CT #2489990

Family Operated for over 43 yearswww.mrgutter.biz

WhalenInsuranceProtecting you is our only business.

AutoHome

Business71 King Street

Northampton, MA 01060413-586-1000 • Fax: 413-585-0401

www.whaleninsurance.com

NOTICEERRORS: Each advertis-er is requested to check their advertisement the first time it appears. This paper will not be responsible for more than one corrected in-sertion, nor will be li-able for any error in an advertisement to a greater extent than the cost of the space occu-pied by the item in the advertisement.

Ouradvertisersmake this

publicationpossible.

Let them knowyou saw their

ad in the

CountryJournal

WILLIAMSBURG — Dr. Siegfried Haug will discuss his novel “Bad Sleep,” a Key West mystery of pharmaceu-tical intrigue, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 13, at the Meekins Library, 2 Williams St., Williamsburg.

Haug is retired from teaching and practicing mar-riage and family therapy. He

lectured nationally and inter-nationally, and still appears on a local news program as a sleep expert. He is the author of “I Want to Sleep: Unlearning Insomnia” and hopes his mystery novel, “Bad Sleep,” will soon be pub-lished.

He lives with his wife in an old farmhouse in Goshen.

Local mystery author to speak at Meekins Library

WILLIAMSBURG

By Peter Spotts

WILLIAMSBURG — Residents running paid off for the town as the Police and Fire departments unveiled seven new semi-automatic external defibrillators last week, purchased in part by proceeds from the inaugural Police and Fire 5K run and one-mile walk on April 14.

The AEDs are replacing units that date from 2006. One will go in each fire truck and both police cruisers. Police Chief Denise Wickland said that it’s important for the departments to have these replacements.

“They’re completely obsolete and outdated,” Wickland said. “We can’t buy replacement parts anymore.”

For example, explained Fire Chief Jason Connell, “we do monthly checks and they say the battery is charged. Then we get on scene and it’s not [charged] and you’re scrambling to find another defibrillator. To have 10-year batteries on [the new ones]. It takes that worry out.”

The old AEDs use batteries that require replacing after two years.

The Fire Department also does monthly training on AEDs and CPR. Springman said it will be nice to have “good” equipment for those sessions.

T h e d e p a r t m e n t s p r e s e n t e d the fresh-out-of-the-box defibrilla-tors at a brief event on Monday, May 13. Wickland said that the fundraiser raised about $9,000, about three-fifths of the goal of $15,000. The difference was covered by contributions from the Williamsburg Firefighters Association and Police Relief Association. The AEDs are used by town first responders who arrive at a medical emergency before an ambulance does, increasing survival rates for patients.

“This is an important part in the chain of survival for patients in cardiac arrest,” said Deputy Fire Chief Daryl Springman.

“I think i t ’s fantast ic ,” said Selectman Denise Banister. “I’m very proud of the Police and Fire [depart-ments] combining to do this so they have the equipment they need to do their jobs and save lives.”

Wickland and Connell are pleased

with the fundraiser’s performance. There were 166 participants, along with sev-eral sponsors and individual donors for the event. Wickland said the plan is to make it an annual event and next year’s run and walk has been scheduled for April 26. Potential funding items for the proceeds include equipment needs

the departments may have and Wickland said they’d like to start a scholarship in the future.

“I think it was well received. People are looking forward to next year,” she said.

“It’s all been positive feedback,” added Connell.

Run funds new defibrillators for safety departments

TRYOUTS 2019-2020 SEASON

Tryouts by birth year:2012 to 2015 June 3-June 62006 to 2011 June 3-June 62001 to 2005 June 10-June 13

For moreinformation visitwww.westernunitedpioneers.org

@wupfc @WUP_FC @wup_fc

Western United Pioneers Futebol Club (WUP FC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development of soccer players on and off the field. The organization provides the best coaches, facilities, and programs to ensure players and teams compete at the highest levels of soccer.

Boys and girls programs available for a range of skill levels and ages.

OpenHouse( )

Home of Men's & Women'sPre-Professional Teams

Police Sgt. Jason Soukup, Police Chief Denise Wickland, Selectman Denise Banister, Fire Chief Jason Connell and Deputy Fire Chief Daryl Springman present seven new defibrillators at the Police and Fire Station in Haydenville on Monday, May 14. Photo by Peter Spotts

Country Journal • Thursday, May 23, 2019 page 11

• Woodland Management

• Chapter 61 / Stewardship Plans

• Careful Timber Harvesting

• Always Buying Logs & Timber

• Family Owned & Operated

www.hullforest.com Station Road, Russell, MA

Call today for a free consultation!

(413) 862-3340

• Woodland Management

• Chapter 61 / Stewardship Plans

• Careful Timber Harvesting

• Always Buying Logs & Timber

• Family Owned & Operated

www.hullforest.com Station Road, Russell, MA

Call today for a free consultation!

(413) 862-3340

• Woodland Management

• Chapter 61 / Stewardship Plans

• Careful Timber Harvesting

• Always Buying Logs & Timber

• Family Owned & Operated

www.hullforest.com Station Road, Russell, MA

Call today for a free consultation!

(413) 862-3340

• Woodland Management

• Chapter 61 / Stewardship Plans

• Careful Timber Harvesting

• Always Buying Logs & Timber

• Family Owned & Operated

www.hullforest.com Station Road, Russell, MA

Call today for a free consultation!

(413) 862-3340

200 Worthington Road (Rte. 112), Huntington

413-667-3300 TheRapidsBar.com

TAKE OUT OFFERED ON FULL MENU!Open Tuesday-Friday - Bar Open at 4pm • Kitchen 5-9pm

Saturday 11am-9pm • Sunday 11am-8pm • Bar Open Later

Annie has bartended at The Rapids since 2014, where she has been a prominent and a stable fixture behind the bar. Annie has worked in the

food and beverage industry for close to 15 years. She is talented at mixing up new concoctions and

also brings a knowledge of wine and our ever-changing local craft beer selection.

You will see her Tuesday evenings in the dining room. She is behind the bar on Thursdays and Sundays (her favorite shift!)

GET TO KNOW USMeet Annie

18 Different All Organic Double Ground Premium MulchesPine • Spruce • Hemlock • Cedar • Red, Black & Brown

Playground • Forest Blend • Topsoil • Seasoned Firewood

Chester Office: 585 Rt. 20

(413) 351-5277 Cellemail: Joy.Salvini@comcast.net

59 West Silver StreetWestfield, MA 01085

Joy SalviniRealtor

Experience the Joy of buying or selling your home

Visit us atwww.

turley.com

Serving Hampden & Berkshire CountiesW W W. C O O P E R E X C AVAT I N G M A . C O M

413-568-3164

EXCAVATINGAND TRUCKING INC.

...But, got a problem with your pooper? Call...

Not Just

Septic Work...

SEPTIC SYSTEMSDESIGNED & INSTALLED

GRAVEL & ASPHALTDRIVEWAYS

SEPTIC PUMPING

SITE WORK

DRAINAGE

WILLIAMSBURG

Evelyn Beals kisses her husband Roy, after they arrived in style at the prom at Anne T. Dunphy School in Roy’s vintage Pontiac GTO, “The Judge.”

Enjoying the Town Prom on May 18 are, from left, Candace Black, Elaine Hyde, Norma Kellogg — standing, the eldest (at 95) and best dancer of the group — as well as Melinda McCall and Carol Hendricks. Submitted photos by Jenn Burdick Photography

PROM PHOTOS

Nancy Noyes fixes her husband Worth’s hair in the style of Fonzie from “Happy Days.”

Emily O’Connell, 11, really got down with the hippies at the photo booth. Artwork by Trish LaFreniere. Though the first-ever Williamsburg Town Prom was originally conceived as a Council on Aging event, it welcomed residents of all ages.

page 12 Country Journal • Thursday, May 23, 2019

CHESTERFIELD — The New Hingham Elementary School PTO will host the Udder Insanity Carnival and Craft Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 9.

The event will take place at the New Hingham Elementary School, 30 Smith Road, Chesterfield, and will include games presented by Boy Scout Troop 705, a petting zoo presented by the Hampshire County 4-H, and horse and wagon rides from noon to 1 p.m. by

Clay Hill Farm. Items by local crafters and vendors will be available for pur-chase, as well as food prepared by the Chesterfield Fire Department.

Tickets for the “Cow Plop” fund-raiser are available from any New Hingham student or by contacting the PTO at newhinghampto@gmail.com before Saturday, June 1. Tickets are $10 each. A limited number of tickets will be sold for a chance to win $500.

‘Udder Insanity’ carnival to aid PTO

CHESTERFIELD

CHESTERFIELD — Whether for an hour or two, or for the whole day, the town could use a little help for its July 4 parade and festivities.

Recreation Director Don Willard announced last week that he’s looking

for volunteers — both adults and kids are welcome — to sell concessions and perform other tasks necessary for the annual Independence Day celebration.

Anyone interested in helping should call Willard at 413-695-4015.

Volunteers sought for July 4 festivities

Veterans and Memorial Day ceremonies. It’s wired for electricity and Cinner said that the central area can hold a 20-by-30-foot tent. Residents should talk to the Town Administrator Sue Labrie if they want to use the park for an event.

“This is not a park that’s just going to be used on Memorial Day. It’s for the town to enjoy,” Cinner said. “It’s such a beautiful nice quiet place.”

The nine-member commit tee has been supported over the past five years by many volunteers from in and out of town. Residents have donated labor, time and materials to the project. Williamsburg’s Nick Dines designed the park for free.

“The committee absolutely went above and beyond what we expected this park to turn into,” said Labrie. “Instead of just making it accessible to what existed, they really enhanced the entire area and it’s absolutely beautiful.”

Cinner said they received $12,000 worth of donated materi-als, $13,500 of donat-ed labor, $7,200 in monetary donations, $10,000 in grant fund-ing and $34,400 from the town during the project. Altogether, the committee has invested approximately $77,100 into the park.

The renovations have included add-ing new benches, replacing the flagpole, removing the old stone wall, adding a watering system, planting new grass and flowers, and expanding the park to cover more area. There also was some exten-sive excavation work that surprised the committee when they went to level the land out.

“The site, where it is, we thought we’ll just level it out,” Cinner explained. “When they started doing that, they found out there was an old house, it had burned down, and they had just plowed

it over. The basement was still there and had to be removed. It was much more involved than we thought.”

S h e a d d e d , “ t h e H i g h w a y Department saved my bacon many, many, many times. When I thought ‘How are we going to do that,’ and the Highway Department really helped a lot.”

As the final touches are put on the park and the remaining plants put to earth, Cinner said she is glad that the work is coming to a close. It’s been a long journey, but it’s finally time for the town to enjoy its newest addition.

“I’ll be relieved. It was so surpris-ing how people just stepped up,” she said. “We were lucky to get it done for Memorial Day. It was really hard getting all the stuff planted last summer and fall, it was really hard getting the stuff in. now that’s all in.”

“It’s just perfect it worked out this way, because you already have group

of people that are used to coming to the Memorial Day parade that will be coming to [the dedication]. We will be able to make it a bigger event,” added Labrie. “[Cinner] did the hard work on this. She was great at solic-

iting businesses and people to even donate the cost of a plant. She really went above and beyond to try and get this done as frugally for the town as possible.”

The town’s Memorial Day ceremo-ny will begin at 11 a.m. in the North Cemetery. Upon conclusion of that cer-emony, the dedication will take place at Veteran’s Park. Local veterans, U.S. Air Force Capt. Kammille Osborne and U.S. Air Force Capt. Thomas Osborne will be participants. State Rep. Natalie Blais and state Sen. Adam Hinds are also expected to attend.

PARK from page 1

Anglers cast for fish in Bisbee’s Pond during the annual fishing derby. Submitted photo

Fishing Derby participants gather around a tent displaying prizes to be won.

Bisbee’s Pond in Chesterfield was stocked with more than 300 brook trout at this month’s Four Seasons Club fishing derby.

Clear day for youth fishing derby at pond

CHESTERFIELD — Amidst the rainstorms of early May, the Chesterfield Four Seasons Club had a clear day on May 11 for the club’s annual Youth Fishing Derby on Bisbee’s Pond.

Harrison Roberts took first place, with Margaret Sturtevant in second. Two bikes were won by Joe Krupa and Morgan Whittaker. More than 100 fish were caught, after 300 brook trout were stocked into the pond.

Peter and his daughter Paiton Smith bring in their catch for weighing at the Chesterfield Four Seasons Club Youth Fishing Derby, held May 11.

GATEWAY

HUNTINGTON — Gateway Athletic Director Matt Bonenfant has announced that the online registration for fall sports at Gateway Regional High School is now open. Any student entering grades 6-12 who wishes to take part this fall in boys or girls soc-

cer, or boys or girls cross-country run-ning, may sign up now at www.grsd.org/athletics (click “Fall Sports Sign-Up” under the “Quicklinks.”). Tryouts for fall sports will begin Thursday, Aug. 22; times will be posted over the summer.

Fall sports signups are now open

If you have a special animal companion in your life, send us a photo by email to countryjournal@turley.com or by mail to Country Journal, 24 Water Street, Palmer, MA 01069.

We look forward to hearing about your pet.

Country Companions

“I’ll be relieved. It was so surprising how people just stepped up. We were lucky to get it

done for Memorial Day.”– Dee Cinner

Country Journal • Thursday, May 23, 2019 page 13

PLAINFIELD

PLAINFIELD — The Plainfield Historical Society will present a two-month-long exhibit of a 19th century botanical collection of pressed plants and flowers, manuscripts, books, photographs and other items from its collection, com-plemented by botany-themed art by Plainfield residents, from June 1 through July 31 at the Shaw Memorial Library, 312 Main St., Plainfield.

All are invited to the opening from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 1, including a formal opening at 10 a.m., followed by a nature walk with Nan Childs, rain or shine. Flower-themed refreshments will be served.

The fields and woods of Plainfield have inspired residents since settlement to collect and dry flowers and leaves, study botany, and make art. Plainfield’s first doctor, Dr. Jacob Porter, was an avid botanist in close contact with the era’s leading scientists. The Plainfield Historical Society was recently given an “herbarium,” a collection of dried plants and flowers labeled with their scientif-ic names, created in 1854 by Samuel

Francis Shaw, Porter’s neighbor and a doctor in the U.S. Navy, in the cen-ter of Plainfield for a class at Williams College. The herbarium was lost, saved fortuitously, and found its way to the Historical Society thanks to Robin Sauve of Longmeadow.

The exhibit is built around the her-barium, with materials on and by Porter, including a floral calendar of Plainfield, the Shaw family’s pursuit of wildflowers, and art and poetry by later and current Plainfield residents.

The exhibit will be accompanied by a number of other programs at the library in addition to the opening on June 1.

• Saturday, June 8, 10 a.m. to noon: Talk on 19th-century botanicals by Pamela Weatherbee, author of “Flora of Berkshire County.”

• Saturday, June 15, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Botanical painting with local artist Beverly Duncan. Open fundraising event.

• Thursday, June 27, 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.: Presentation on 19th century scien-tific illustrator and botanical artist Orra White Hitchcock by Reba-Jean Pichette,

curator of the Shelburne Historical Society.

July events will include a fern-fo-cused nature walk, a program on gar-dening and field management for polli-nators (including monarch butterflies), and a walk-in participatory poetry-in your-pocket reading. Dates will be announced.

The exhibit and events are free and open to the public. Donations to fund care of the Plainfield Historical Society and Shaw Hudson House collections will be accepted. This program is funded in part by the Plainfield Cultural Council, which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

For more in format ion , con-tact Historical Society curator Pleun Bouricius at pleunbouricius@gmail.com or 413-634-2250.

History, art entwined in botanical exhibit at library

A two month-long exhibit of a 19th-century botanical collection will begin June 1 at the Shaw Memorial Library in Plainfield.

Submitted photo

CUMMINGTON

CUMMINGTON — All are invit-ed to the Massachusetts Sheep and Woolcraft Fair at the Cummington Fairgrounds, 97 Fairgrounds Road, Cummington, on Saturday and Sunday, May 25-26.

Admission is free; parking is $10 per car for one day, or $15 for both days.

Gates open and breakfast is avail-able starting at 7 a.m. Saturday, 6:30 a.m. Sunday. A potluck supper and ice cream social closes the day at 6 p.m. Saturday. Several food vendors will be on hand for lunch and snacks.

Sheep dog trials start at 8 a.m. both days. Other demonstrations and com-petitions include sheep shearing; speed wheel and drop spindle spinning; speed knitting; several craft workshops; and a sheep show at 9 a.m. Sunday. Exhibits are open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Demonstrators from the William

Cullen Bryant Homestead will be on hand from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with an ongoing demon-stration of 19th century natural wool dyeing.

Visitors will learn about the history of wool dyeing in early America with nature-based materials. The demonstra-tion will include a discussion about the history of wool in New England, its uses and showcase the different materials utilized during Bryant’s era. An example of a knitting pattern from Mrs. Bryant’s Book of Receipts will be shared.

All fair attendees are welcome to visit the Bryant Homestead at 207 Bryant Road, Cummington, for a free tour during Memorial Day weekend. For more information about the fair, visit masheepwool.org.

Wool fair is Memorial Day weekendCUMMINGTON — Friday Night

Café returns next week to the Village Congregational Church, with the Old Fashioneds playing 7-9 p.m. Friday, May 24.

These three young women have a fresh sound rooted in traditional music, with a banjo, a guitar, a fiddle, and tight three-part harmony. Featured is Chenda Cope, with one foot in Brooklyn and another Cummington. They began sing-ing together outside a bar one night, and haven’t stopped since. Across genres, they interpret old songs with a love of tradition and intuitive feel for the music’s

emotional core.As always, snacks are provided but

guests should bring their own drinks. Admission is free and open for all; a sug-gested $10 donation benefits the Village Church. The church is at 32 Main St., Cummington. Friday Night Café per-formances are sponsored from the cul-tural councils of Ashfield, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Plainfield, Williamsburg, Windsor and Worthington.

The café is now a fragrance-free venue. Attendees are asked to make an effort to maintain an environment that is comfortable for everyone.

Friday Café returns this week

CUMMINGTON — Tours of the William Cullen Bryant Homestead will be offered this weekend.

“William Cullen Bryant: Poet, Editor and Conservationist” will be pre-sented Saturday and Sunday, May 25 and 26. Tours will be offered at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Tours are free for adult members of the Trustees, $10 for adult non-members, and free for Sheep and Woolcraft Fair attendees.

Guides will lead visitors through the historic house, highlighting the unique objects that once belonged to Bryant and his family while telling stories of this remarkable man and his important contri-butions to American poetry, politics, and conservation. The tour lasts approximate-ly 45 minutes and includes walking up a flight of stairs.

The Bryant Homestead is at 207 Bryant Road, Cummington.

Bryant Home open for tours

Dragon, for her part, said on Tuesday that she has been sworn in as a selectman in the week since the election, and expressed her “deepest gratitude” to the voters who elected her.

“I had no idea which of us would win this election,” she said. “I would like to thank all the Cummington folks who came out on election night, regardless of who they voted for. I feel that taking the time to come out and vote in our small-town election makes all the difference. Every vote counts!”

In addition to the votes for Dragon and Wachtel, three voters wrote in the name of Kenneth Howes, and two wrote in June Lynds.

The one-year seat on the Board of Selectmen was one of two contested races on May 13. In a three-way race for two seats on the Finance Committee, Jill Figlozzi (126) and Stephanie Bean (109) were the top finishers, ahead of June Lynds with 97.

There were several single write-in votes for Board of Health, one-year term, but no winner.

Elsewhere on the ballot, sever-

al incumbents were unopposed for re-election: Selectman William Adams, Assessor Joy Johns, Almoner Bernard Forgea, Board of Health member James Wettereau, Municipal Light Plant Board member Scott Keith, Recreation and Field Commission members Geraldine Wilcox and Nicole Wortis, and consta-bles Sharon Cunningham and Michael Perkins, all for three-year terms; Library Trustee John Maruskin for another five years; and Moderator Donna Forgea for a year. Midterm appointment Robert Josh Mobley was elected, with no oppo-nent, to the remaining one year of his term as assessor.

Robert Godfrey III was the only candidate receiving votes for Vocational School Committee, a three-year seat. Todd Emerson was elected water com-missioner, a three-year seat. On the Planning Board, incumbent Judith Bogart was elected to a two-year seat and Kathryn Eiseman won a five-year term, both with no opponents.

There were 194 ballots cast in this year’s Cummington town election, repre-senting about a 30 percent turnout.

ELECTION from page 1

CUMMINGTON — The Bryant Homestead will offer a “Fundamentals of Natural Wool Dyeing” workshop 1-4 p.m. Sunday, June 2. The workshop will feature natural wool dyeing, a his-tory of wool, and a discussion of what plants, barks, and other nature-based items are used in dyeing.

All participants will take part in dyeing New England-produced skeins

of yarn to take home for their own proj-ects. Advance registration is required by May 24 and can be done at www.thetrustees.org/bryanthomestead. The cost for Trustees members is $24 and for nonmembers, $30.

The Bryant Homestead is at 207 Bryant Road, Cummington. For more information, contact Rachel Niswander at rniswander@thetrustees.org.

Sign up now for wool dyeing workshop

The public will have the opportunity to learn how wool dyeing was done 200 years ago at a workshop on June 2 at the Bryant Homestead. Submitted photo

page 14 Country Journal • Thursday, May 23, 2019

WESTHAMPTON

By Peter Spotts

WESTHAMPTON — All it will take to ban recreational marijuana busi-nesses is a ballot vote on June 1.

A zoning bylaw prohibiting marijua-na dispensaries, manufacturers, cultiva-tors and laboratories passed overwhelm-ingly at Westhampton’s annual Town Meeting on May 11. Only four voters out of the more than 100 assembled res-idents voted against it. The bylaw, which had been proposed by the Zoning Bylaw Review Committee, now needs a majori-ty “yes” vote at the annual town election.

Marijuana was legalized by a statewide referendum in 2016, but Westhampton — like many towns — has had a moratorium on marijuana business-es since then. The town’s temporary ban expires June 30 of this year.

The ZBRC will set up a subcom-mittee to look at what bylaws other towns enact, and what problems may result. Board member Steve Gagne said Westhampton’s bylaws can be amended in the future to allow establishments, once the subcommittee has a better han-dle on what the industry is and what the town wants.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty, as far as we can tell, in this new industry,” said Gagne. “The collective opinion of the ZBRC is to take a slower and more cau-tious approach … tailor something that fits this town and limits the amount of litigation we might get if we rush into this. If there are loopholes or things other people didn’t think of … we don’t want to pay the price for that with litigation.”

He emphasized that the bylaw does not contradict state law.

“These articles have nothing to do with outlawing or prohibiting with what the law allows — in terms of growing small amounts at home, smoking it, pos-sessing it,” he said.

There were five articles passed relat-

ed to recreational marijuana at Town Meeting. Article 3 removed the tempo-rary moratorium on marijuana estab-lishments currently on the town books. The town had been informed that state Attorney General Maura Healey would not have allowed the moratorium to be extended.

Articles 4, 5 and 6 amended the town’s zoning bylaws to define and pro-hibit recreational marijuana establish-ments in all zoning districts. Article 7 added the definitions of marijuana estab-lishments to the town’s general bylaws, as well, with Article 8 giving the Police Department the authority to enforce the ban on public consumption of mar-ijuana in public places such as streets, sidewalks, parks, playgrounds, school grounds and other town properties, with fines of $50 per offense. All of these arti-cles will take effect only if a majority of voters endorse them on the June 1 ballot.

“This bylaw is necessary for the Police Department,” said John Shaw,

another member of the ZBRC. “Right now, it’s illegal even without this bylaw. It’s necessary to have it on the books so the police can enforce this bylaw and set a fine to it … so they do have the right to issue a fine.”

Budget passesThe town budget of about $5.8 mil-

lion did pass, after several held items were discussed or held until the Town Meeting continuation on June 4. A pro-posed raise for the Council on Aging coordinator, from $3,100 to $5,000, drew the most debate. Current Coordinator Julia Lennen, who is stepping down at the end of the year, said she proposed the raise because currently she works more hours than what is allocated in the bud-get. Lennen earns $15 an hour.

Select board Chairman Philip Dowling said he calculated — based on the $3,100 and $15 per hour — that Lennen works about four hours a week on the town’s dime. She covers an addi-

tional couple hours with funds from a state formula grant. Lennen believes a compensation increase is needed to get a qualified candidate to take the position after she’s gone.

“This is a reckoning of getting this position to be an acknowledgement of not just how many seniors we have in town the COA is supporting, but also the increased professionalization of various positions,” she explained. “There’s just a lot of aspects to this position.”

Dowling proposed amending the raise down to $4,500, which would give the coordinator position six hours a week paid by the town along with the addition-al couple hours from the formula grant. Town voters approved the $4,500 num-ber, raising the coordinator line item by $1,400.

The Hampshire Regional School Distr ict budget passed painless-ly. Westhampton’s assessment for fis-cal 2020 is $1,273,148, along with an $63,207 capital assessment, which is the final payment on the high school reno-vation. Article 15 approved $1,776,429 for Westhampton Elementary School’s budget. There were also two vocational costs — $350,000 for vocational school tuition, about $17,000 per student, and $60,104 for vocational school transpor-tation.

Residents approved $2,100 for annu-al shared services document management system costs, $20,000 for anticipated unemployment benefits for town employ-ees in accordance with state law, and a solar payment-in-lieu-of-taxes plan.

Article 22, the raising and appropri-ating of a sum to match an Assistance to Firefighters Grant for the purchase of a new ambulance, was tabled until the Town Meeting continuation on June 4 at the request of Fire Chief Chris Norris. Articles 32 and 33, both relating to upcoming road work on Kings Highway, were also tabled until the continuation.

Marijuana ban advances to town ballot next month

Residents cast secret ballots during a vote at Town Meeting on May 11. Photo by Peter Spotts

WESTHAMPTON — Grown in Westhampton will host “Treat Lyme with Herbs” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 30, at the Westhampton Public Library.

Hannah Jacobson-Hardy, commu-nity herbalist and founder of Sweet Birch Herbals in Ashfield, will discuss herbal approaches, lifestyle and dietary

suggestions whether treating chron-ic conditions or preventing Lyme dis-ease. There will be demonstrations of making herbal preparations that reduce inflammation, strengthen the immune system, and eliminate bacteria carried by ticks.

The library is at 1 North Road, Westhampton.

Local herbalist to discuss treating Lyme disease

W E S T H A M P T O N — T h e Wes thampton F ie ld o f Dreams Summer Concert Series, sponsored by Florence Bank, Easthampton Savings Bank, Westhampton Cultural Council and Marek Builders Inc., begins next month.

The concerts are free to the pub-lic and will take place on the lawn behind the library at 1 North Road, Westhampton. In the case of inclem-ent weather, they will be moved to Westhampton Town Hall. Donations are welcome. Snacks and desserts will also be available by donation only. The concerts will begin at 6:30 p.m. and last approximately two hours.

Following is the schedule.Friday, June 21: Johnny and the

Flashbacks will transport the audi-ence back in time to old-time Rock

’n’ Roll.Friday, July 12: Mamma’s

Marmalade, an acoustic band using classic bluegrass instrumentation, brings fresh vibrancy to old tradi-tions.

Friday, July 26: Katherine First and Kitchen Party offer traditional, Celtic, Appalachian old-time tunes with a twist.

Friday, Aug. 9: Dez Roy is an Americana artist known for original songs and telecaster guitar. A crowd pleaser, he offers danceable country and honky-tonk music.

Friday, Sept 6: Blue Rendezvous will light up the Westhampton Town Hall dance floor with great soul, R&B, and swing music. Swing dance lessons will be offered at Town Hall prior to the concert.

Summer concerts beginJune 21 on library lawn

WESTHAMPTON — Returning artist Doris Heierli, who was born in Zurich, Switzerland, in 1955, will be exhibiting her work at the Westhampton Library for the month of June.

Heierli finished her education at Commercial School and worked in various places, including England and Geneva, Switzerland, as an administrator. It was important for her to learn various languages and she traveled abroad when-ever possible.

Heierli began to take up the craft of paper cutting in her 50s and taught her-self through reading instruction books,

starting with simple images. While she was still working, she found it to be a peaceful pastime. Now that she is retired, it continues to be a rewarding activity. With time, she has dared to cut more difficult pieces, always aspiring to refine her work. While she enjoys using tradi-tional styles, she has also been experi-menting and improvising, trying to dis-tinguish many of her pieces from the traditional paper cutting technique.

Heierli will have a reception in the Community Room of the library at 1 North Road, Westhampton, 6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 6.

Artist to exhibit paper cutting crafts at library

WESTHAMPTON — Attorney Mary Melnik-Penney will give a presen-tation on Medicaid, trusts and probate law at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 30, in the Westhampton Public Library.

Her talk is sponsored by the Massachusetts Bar Association and Westhampton Council on Aging, and will help seniors “take control of their future.” All ages are welcome to attend.

Also coming up at the library, at 1 North Road, Westhampton:

Saturday, May 25: Storytime with Comet the Bright Spot Therapy Dog, 10 a.m.

Monday, May 27: Closed for Memorial Day.

Tuesday, May 28: Playgroup, 10 a.m.; Book Group, 7 p.m., “Dear Mrs. Bird” by A.J. Pearce — all are welcome

to attend.Wednesday, May 29: Storytime

(“horses” theme), 10 a.m.; Coffee ’n’ Chat, 10 a.m.

Thursday, May 30: Big Brothers/Big Sisters informational session, 6-7 p.m. The organization is looking for mentors for kids in your communi-ty. Current “Bigs” and staff from Big Brothers/Big Sisters will explain how the simple act of spending time with a kid can have a huge impact, and be super fun. For more information, or to learn about future BBBS info sessions, email bbbshc@chd.org or call 413-259-3345. Also on Thursday, Hannah Jacobson-Hardy of Sweet Birch Herbals will give a class on “Treating Lyme with Herbs” at 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 1: Yoga, 10:15 a.m.

Medicaid, senior law talk next week

Country Journal • Thursday, May 23, 2019 page 15

Paul’sPlumbing & Heating

238-0303PAUL GRAHAMMass. License 23299

ARCHITECTJEFFREY SCOTT PENN

77 Worthington Road, Huntington, MA 01050Tel. 413w-667-5230fax. 413-667-3082

Email: jspsed@verizon.net

new construction, renovation,historic preservation

DOWN TO EARTHEXCAVATING

413+667+ 5269

Highly Regarded Professionals: Complete Site Work,Septic Development and Repairs. Fully insured.

INC

DOWN TO EARTHEXCAVATING INC

Paul & Randy LaPointe, Owners Huntington, Mass.

Rev. Down to Earth ad #2:Davis 10/30/12 8:44 AM Page 1

PROPANE GASPLUMBING • HEATING

(413) 268-8360TOLL FREE 1-800-464-2053

Family Owned & Operated3 Berkshire Trail West (Route 9), P.O. Box 102, Goshen, MA 01032

www.georgepropane.com

GeorgePROPANE INC.

Serving the Hilltowns for over 50 Yrs.

Washed Sand & StoneLoaders & Bulldozers

Worthington Rd., Huntington413-667-5789

Yard Open Saturdays8:00 am - Noon

DONOVANBROS.

46 Pitcher Street Donald WashburnMontgomery, MA 01085 862-3301

HIC #171266MA CSL #082683

Mike Phillips Inc.413-268-0193

Additions • Decks • Framing • SidingPorches • Windows • Doors • Sheetrock

www.mikephillipsinc.comFree Estimates • References • Fully Insured

24 Hour Emergency Service • Experienced Service PersonnelFull Inventory of Service Parts • Fully Licensed & Insured

Quality Service & Installations at Discount Services

David Frasco, Owner2383 Westfield St., West Springfield, MA 01089

734-3578 or 1-800-696-9666

WHITINGENERGY FUELS

Heating Oil & Dieselwhitingenergy.com

300A KING ST., NORTHAMPTON584-3500

11 CLEVELAND RD., DALTON1-800-722-0014

• Tune Ups• Installations

• Oil Tanks

Huntington, Massachusetts

Office 413.667.0245Cell 413.530.7037

jeffsoilburnerservice@hotmail.com

Structural Repairs - Wood - MasonrySagging Floors • Beams • Sill Timbers • Columns • Termite Damage

Foundation Repairs • Piers & Footings • Chimney Rebuilds

413-667-3149

Dale’s Structural & Carpentry

Home Improvement • Additions • Restorations • Remodeling

Timber Frame HomesResidentialSeasonal Homes & CampsGarage RepairsCarriage & Colonial Barns

Kitchen & BathsDrywall • Paint • Trim WorkWindows • DoorsDecks & StairsInterior & Exterior Finishes

MIKE’S PAINT Services

• Commercial • Residential • Power Washing• Interior • Exterior • Wallpapering

• Painting • Staining • Textures Ceilings

FREE ESTIMATESLicensed & Insured

HUNTINGTON413-218-8782

Kirke R. Henshaw, Inc.Water Well Drilling, Water Pump Sales & Service

800-232-4725 • Fax 413-296-4565Charles R. Henshaw

130 Cummington Rd., W. Chesterfield, MA • 413-296-4725

WaterTesting

•Water System

Repairs

SystemEvaluations

•Hydrofracture

to Increase Flow

FEED • PET SUPPLIES • CLOTHING • COAL WOOD PELLETS • WILD & CAGED BIRDSEED POOL SUPPLIES • MOTOR OILS • FENCINGLAWN & GARDEN SUPPLIES • FERTILIZER

GATEWAY FARM & PET

59 RUSSELL ROAD, HUNTINGTON, MA 01050

1-413-667-2279TARA GRENIER • PAUL GRENIER

M-F 8am-5pmSat. 8am-4pm

Chester Village CutsCorner of Main & Maple

3A Maple Street, Chester, MA 01011Phone: (413) 354-2233

Call for an Appointment! Walk-ins Welcome

KATHY CREANHair Stylist

Specializing inDECKS + PATIOS + ADDITIONS

GENERAL CONSTRUCTIONJon@TimberRidgeLLC.com

JONATHAN HORNING

413-418-7705

Time toCLEAN UP Hilltown

Cleaning ServicesEstablished in 1982 • House Cleaning Plus

Carpet & Upholstery Steam CleanedWood Floors, Waxed & Buffed

No Wax Floors, Stripped & RefinishedHauling Trash • Appliance Removal • Pressure Washing

Gutters Cleaned Out • Cleaning Out Cellars & Attics

Carol LabontePaul Labonte

P.O. Box 244Worthington, MA 01098

Phone: (413) 238-5966Fax: (413) 238-0459

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

•

Contact John Baskin

to advertise at413-283-8393

or email:jbaskin@turley.com

Baby's name

Parents (names & home town)

Siblings (names & home town)

Maternal Grandparents (names & home town)

Paternal Grandparents (names & home town)

When was the baby born?

Additional Information

It's a ...

Use this form as a guideline to

send in your birth announcement.

PICTURES ENCOURAGED!

announcementsbirth

...boy!...or girl!

Place your FREE announcement in the Country Journal.

EMAIL INFORMATION TO countryjournal@turley.com or through .com/pages/CountryJournal

EMAIL INFORMATION TO countryjournal@turley.com or through .com/pages/CountryJournal

Name

Parents (names & home town)

Education

Current job/student status

Name

Parents (names & home town)

Education

Current job/student status

Who is making the announcement?

Date and place of upcoming nuptials

Additional Information

Use this form as a guideline to send in your wedding announcement.

PICTURES ENCOURAGED!

Tell the world you said "YES"!Place your FREE announcement in the Country Journal.

EMAIL INFORMATION TO countryjournal@turley.com or through .com/pages/CountryJournal

Tell the world you said "I do"!Place your FREE announcement in the Country Journal.

Use this form as a guideline to send in your wedding announcement.

PICTURES ENCOURAGED!

Name

Parents (names & home town)

Education

Current job/student status

Name

Parents (names & home town)

Education

Current job/student status

Who is making the announcement?

Date and place of ceremony

Additional Information

page 16 Country Journal • Thursday, May 23, 2019

CLUES ACROSS 1. Guitarists use them 5. Makes less intense11. Julia Louis-Dreyfus

series12. Once in a while16. Up to the time of17. A moon of Jupiter18. “Riddley Walker”

writer19. Basketball’s

“Grandmama”24. Gallium25. Stocky sea duck26. Expressions of delight27. Albanian monetary

unit28. Some are electric29. Refine30. Clusters31. Get rid of33. Female body part34. Passerine bird38. One who is killed for

their religion39. Green (Spanish)40. Partner to awe

43. Flightless, running Aussie birds

44. One who breaks up the ground

45. Sacred language of some Hindu texts

49. Get free of50. Furnace of burning51. Sent in large

quantities53. Type of medical patent

(abbr.)54. Failure to follow the

rules56. Egyptian unit of

capacity58. A public promotion

of some product or service

59. Strongly scented subshrub

60. Miserable in appearance

63. Coagulated blood64. Boil at low

temperature65. Republic of Ireland

CLUES DOWN 1. Pull or tear away 2. Dennis is one 3. Gas 4. Popular rec activities 5. Owl genus 6. Cries 7. Morning 8. Pass catcher 9. Spirit of an era10. Suffix13. Megabyte14. In an expectant

manner15. More curving20. Plural of thou21. Son with the same

name22. Not one23. The woman27. Uncouth man29. Laugh30. Sustained viral

response (abbr.)31. Between northeast

and east32. In the matter of

33. A tree that bears acorns

34. Supervised35. Not quite a full earner36. Unpleasant substance37. Some are fake38. Hammer is a famous

one40. Type of cup41. Poisonous Eurasian

plant42. An alternative44. Belongs to he45. Bond actor’s real

name46. Ring-shaped objects47. One who reads in a

church service48. Conceive50. One educated in Japan51. Rural delivery52. Robot smarts (abbr.)54. Women55. German river57. Delaware61. Automaker62. Mystic syllable

answ

ers

Al's Tire & Auto RepairWhen it comes to tires we do it all,

from wheelbarrows to big rigs.MOST MAJOR TIRE BRANDS AVAILABLE

Brakes, Shocks, Struts, Front End Repairs & AlignmentsAir Conditioning Service

918 Southampton Road, Westfield, MA 01085Mon.-Fri. 8-5 ~ Open Saturdays 8-12

Mike Morin 562-3391 ~ 562-1704 Rich Waitt

THIS WEEK’S HOROSCOPES

NATIONALLY ADVERTISED MERCHANDISE FOR ALL MAKES & MODELSWESTFIELDAUTO PARTS INC

AUTO PARTS & SUPPLIES

WHOLESALE RETAIL

Dial 568-8944 or 568-1611 FAX # 568-1554

★ Complete Auto Machine Shop Service ★ Engine Rebuilding Of All Kinds★ Authorized Caterpillar Hydraulic Hose Dealer ★ Hydraulic Hoses

Call “DALE” 8-12 BIRGE AVE., WESTFIELD

Now stocking Car Quest

Filters made by WIX,

Amalie Oil,Bailing Twine

&Tractor Parts

Fun By The NumbersLike puzzles? Then you’ll love sudoku. This mind-bending puzzle will have you hooked from the moment you square off, so sharpen your pencil and put your sudoku savvy to the test!

Fueling Generations Since 1966

79 Union St., Rear 2, Easthampton, MA 01027413-527-0194

Open Mon.-Fri. 7:30 am - 4:00 pm

• Locally Owned & Operated for 50 Years• Oil Customers - 24 Hour Emergency Service & Automatic Delivery Available• New System Installations - Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Dealer• Heating Oil Plus - Maximize Energy Dollars: Keep system running Clean

ARIES Mar 21/Apr 20You are a terrific planner, but something is getting in the way of plans to so-cialize in the days ahead. Commit to seeing friends regardless of the obsta-cles in your way.

TAURUSApr 21/May 21You can handle difficult situations with ease, Taurus. Others may think that you are uncaring, but you focus on the facts and not the emo-tions of the situation.

GEMINI May 22/Jun 21Others look to you for guidance this week, Gemini. Try to lead them in the right direction. If you do not have all of the answers, try to find them.

CANCERJun 22/Jul 22Take some time to sort through personal issues that may be holding your career back, Can-cer. Once you clear your mind, you can focus fully on your career.

LEO Jul 23/Aug 23If you find yourself spending more time with your social circle rather than family, you may have to reassess your priorities. Don’t let responsibilities slide.

VIRGO Aug 24/Sept 22Direct your energy to-ward work in the days ahead, Virgo. There is a possible promotion in the works, so now is a great time to put your nose to the grindstone.

LIBRA Sept 23/Oct 23Sometimes the key to success is to know when to step back and take a break, Libra. Periodic re-spites from the daily grind can help you recharge and refocus.

SCORPIO Oct 24/Nov 22Scorpio, you may be looking for something new to keep yourself occupied. Try learning a new sport or a lan-guage. This is a fun way to meet new people and stay busy.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23/Dec 21Sagittarius, if you have been procrastinating of late, keep in mind that you will ultimately need to get things done. Bet-ter to get back on track sooner rather than later.

CAPRICORN Dec 22/Jan 20Capricorn, support a reputable cause or charity. Doing so sets a positive example, and you will feel better for having done so. Even small efforts can make a profound impact.

AQUARIUSJan 21/Feb 18It isn’t enough to sim-ply get the job done, Aquarius. You need to do everything to the best of your ability. If you do, you will have a sense of accomplish-ment and pride.

PISCESFeb 19/Mar 20Pisces, ask others for help if you are having any difficulties in your personal life. They can bring a new perspective to the situation.

Country Journal • Thursday, May 23, 2019 page 17

Town of HuntingtonConservation Commission

Legal NoticeAt its regularly scheduled

meeting on Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at 7:30 PM at the Hunt ington Town Hall, 24 Russell Road, the Huntington Conservation Commission will consider a Request for Determination of Applicability (RDA) for construction of an addition to a seasonal cottage within a wetland buffer zone. The property is located at 123 Searles Ave. in the Town of Huntington (Assessors Map L4-13-0) . Request sub-mitted by Prime AE Group, Inc. representing Frank D. and Jeanne A. DelMonte. The Commission will make its determination in accor-dance with the provisions of the Wetlands Protection Act, M.G.L. c 131, Sec. 40 (as amended).

Plans and additional infor-mation are on record in the Office of the Conservation Commission.

Susan McIntosh, ChairTown of Huntington

Conservation Commission5/23/19

LEGAL NOTICE TOWN OF BLANDFORD

CONSERVATION COMMISSION

In accordance with the Massachusetts Wetlands P r o t e c t i o n A c t , M G L Chapter 131, Section 40, the Blandford Conservation Commission wi l l hold a public hearing on June 3, 2019 at 6:00 PM at the Blandford Town Hall locat-ed at 1 Russell Stage Road, Blandford, MA 01008 to review a Notice of Intent (NOI) permit application sub-mitted by Epsilon Associates, Inc. on behalf of Blandford

Sun, LLC for the proposed construct ion of a so lar power generation facility and stone access roads locat-ed off Otis Stage Road in Blandford, MA (Parcel 402-0-43). Disturbance associated with the project as proposed is located within Bordering Vegetated Wetland and the 100-foot Buffer Zone.

Copies of the applica-tion and plans are available for review at the office of the Blandford Conservation Commiss ion by ca l l i ng 413 848 4279 ext. 202 in advance.

Richard Gates, ChairBlandford Conservation

Commission5/23/19

TOWN OF CHESTERZONING

BOARD OF APPEALSThere will be a meeting

of the Chester Select Board/Zoning Board of Appeals on Monday, June 3 at 6 p.m. at Chester Town Hall, 15 Middlefield Road, Chester MA.

The fol lowing request for a special permit will be on the agenda: David Neal (owner), Renée Spizz & Robert Freund (tenants) of 17 Olin Avenue in Chester, MA 01011 wish to add a first-floor extension to the house total-ing approximately 625 sq. ft. A zoning variance is required because the house is built on a non-conforming loca-tion. The proposed addition will not be any closer to the property lines than the current non-conforming location.5/16, 5/23/19

Town of Huntington Various Departments

Bids for Equipment and Operators for FY2020

July 1st - June 30th, 2020

• Excavator with operator per hour

• Dozer and operator per hour

• 10 Wheel dump truck w/ operator per hour

• 6 Wheel dump truck w/operator per hour

• Roller w/ operator per hour

• Laborers per hourOSHA 10 cards or high-

er and Hoisting License are mandatory.

Must be able to respond within a reasonable time for emergencies.

Quotes will be accepted until June 7th, 2019.

P l e a s e m a r k a s “Equipment Bids” and mail to:

Huntington Highway Department

P.O. Box 430Huntington, MA 01050

Jennifer PeloquinAdministrative Clerk

5/16, 5/23/19

Chester Conservation Commission

Legal Notice Public Hearing

The Chester Conservation Commission will be holding a public hearing on

Monday, June 3, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. at Chester Town Hall, 15 Middlefield Rd Chester MA

To review an: Request for Determination of Applicability

Submitted by Jeff Penn, architect on behalf of Dave Neal (property owner) and the tenants (Renee Spizz and Bobb Freund)

For construction of an addition (approx. 625 sq. ft.) to the existing house located at 17 Olin Avenue, Chester MA 01011.5/23/19

Chester Conservation

CommissionLegal Notice

Public HearingThe Chester Conservation

Commission will be holding a public hearing on Monday, June 3, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. at Chester Town Hall, 15 Middlefield Rd Chester MA

To review an: NOI S u b m i t t e d b y H i l l

Engineering for Joseph and Paula Plante

For construction of a new driveway from an existing crossing through the buffer zone of an intermittent stream and bordering vegetated wet-lands to access a new sin-gle family home to be located outside of the buffer zone at 638 Skyline Trail Chester MA.

This hearing is in accor-dance of M.G.L.131 S40 of the Mass Wetland Protection Act. 5/23/19

Commonwealth of Massachusetts

The Trial Court Hampden Probate and Family

Court50 State Street

Springfield, MA 01103(413)748-7758

Docket No. HD19P0978EAEstate of:

Edward G StewartDate of Death: 09/04/2018

CITATION ON PETITION FOR FORMAL

ADJUDICATIONTo all interested persons:A Pet it ion for Formal

P r o b a t e o f W i l l w i t h Appointment of Personal Representative has been filed by K a r e n G P e d e r c i n i o f Williamstown, MA and Craig A. Pedercini of Williamstown, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition.

The Petitioner requests that:

K a r e n G P e d e r c i n i o f Williamstown, MA and Craig A. Pedercini of Williamstown, MA be ap point ed as Person al Rep­resenta tive(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond in an unsuper vised administration.

IMPORTANT NOTICEYou have the right to obtain a

copy of the Petition from the Petit ioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this pro­ceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before: 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 06/11/2019.

This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an affida­vit of objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without fur­ther notice to you.

UNSUPERVISEDADMINISTRATION UNDER

THE MASSACHUSETTSUNIFORM PROBATE

CODE (MUPC)A Personal Represent ative

appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not re quired to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including the distri­bution of assets and expenses of administration.

WITNESS, Hon. Barbara M Hyland, First Justice of this Court.Date: May 14, 2019

Suzanne T SeguinRegister of Probate

5/23/19

MassachusettsThe Trial Court

Probate and Family CourtHampden Division

50 State StreetSpringfield, MA 01103

(413)748-8600Docket No. HD19P0676EA

Estate of:PATRICIA JEAN TRZASKO

Date of Death: 1/19/2019

INFORMAL PROBATEPUBLICATION NOTICETo all persons interested

in the above captioned est-ate, by Petition of Petit i oner J I L L K T R Z A S K O o f Chicopee, MA a Will has been admitted to informal probate

JILL K TRZASKO of Chicopee, MA has been infor-mal ly appointed as the Personal Representative of the estate to serve without surety on the bond.

The estate is being ad min-istered under informal proce-d u r e b y t h e P e r s o n a l Representative under the Massachusetts Uniform Pro-bate Code without supervi-sion by the Court. Inven tory and accounts are not re quired to be filed with the Court, but interested parties are entitled to notice regarding the admin-istration from the Personal Repre sentative and can peti-tion the Court in any matter relating to the estate, includ-ing distribution of assets and expenses of administration. Inter ested parties are entitled to petition the Court to insti-tute formal proceedings and to obtain orders terminating or restricting the powers of Personal Representatives appointed under informal pro-cedure. A copy of the Petition and Will, i f any, can be obtained from the Pet itioner.5/23/19

Turley Publications offers two types of obituaries.

One is a free, brief Death Notice listing the name of deceased, date of death and funeral date and place.

The other is a Paid Obituary, costing $100, which allows families to publish extended death notice information of their own choice and may include a photograph. Death Notices & Paid Obituaries should be submitted through a funeral home to: obits@turley.com.

Exceptions will be made only when the familyprovides a death certificate and must be pre-paid.

Obituary PolicyCountry Journal

LAFOND, DIANNE C. (CHALIFOUX)Died May 16

Memorial service TBAO’Brien Hilltown Funeral Home

WELLSPEAK, PATRICIA A.

Died May 18Funeral Mass May 24

Holy Family Parish

DEATH NOTICESOBITUARIES

PUBLIC NOTICES

HUNTINGTON — Dianne C. (Chalifoux) LaFond, 73, a retired registered nurse, passed away on May 16 with her loving family by her side.

Born in Holyoke on Jan. 7, 1946, she was the daughter of the late Raymond Chalifoux and Lorraine (Brisbois) Chalifoux. She l ived in Huntington for 21 years.

She graduated from Holyoke Community College with a degree in nursing. She worked as a registered nurse at Mass. General Hospital, Holyoke Hospital and the Northampton VA. She was a 4-H group leader, a counselor for the Battered Women’s Organization and an instructor for the American Red Cross. She was a member of the First

Congregational Church of Huntington. Dianne leaves her beloved husband, Dean

E. LaFond; a son, Christopher D. LaFond of Northampton; a daughter, Lori A. Hannah of Enfield, Conn.; a brother, Mark Chalifoux of Holyoke, and a sister, Amy Nyzio of Granby, Mass., and three grandchildren, Sam, Sage and Casey Naumowicz. She also leaves behind beloved nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the D’Amour Center for Cancer Care, 3350 Main St., Springfield, MA 01107. A memorial service in Dianne’s memory will be held at a later date. O’Brien Hilltown Funeral Home in Huntington is in charge of the arrangements.

Dianne C. (Chalifoux) LaFond, 73

CHESTER — Patricia A. (Exware) Wellspeak, 81, a retired paper inspector for 27 years for the former Strathmore Paper Company in Woronoco, passed away Saturday, May 18, with her loving family by her side. Born in Amsterdam, N.Y., on Nov. 13, 1937, she was the daughter of the late David Exware and Hazel (St. Amour) Exware.

She lived in Chester for the past 50 years, where she cherished spending time with family and friends, gardening, hunting and fish-ing with her husband Fred. She was a communicant of Holy Family Parish in Russell.

Patricia leaves her husband of 34 years, Frederick Wellspeak; three sons, Derek Friend of Chester, Marvin Friend of Middlefield and Stacy J. Friend of Pittsfield; three daughters, April Schulz of Dalton, Melodie Mazzaferro of Chester and Holly Whitaker of Westfield; four brothers, Harold Exware of Potsdam, N.Y., Donald Exware of Westfield, Ronald Exware of Youngsville, N.C., and Frederick

Exware of Tupperlake, N.Y.; five sisters, Rita Corrow, Alice LaFlamme and Brenda Hoffman, all of Tupperlake, N.Y., Cecile Lavoie of Fabius, N.Y., and Mary Jane Colvin of Tully, N.Y.; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-greay-grandson. She was predeceased by her brothers, Francis Exware, Herman Exware, Eugene Exware and Roger Exware; and her sisters, Janet Baker and Thelma Santerre.

There will be a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Friday, May 24, at Holy Family Parish, 5 Main St., Russell. Calling hours will be held at Holy Family Parish from 9-11 a.m. Burial will take place in St. Thomas Cemetery in Huntington.

Donations may be made to Hilltown Community Ambulance, 1 Bromley Road, Huntington, MA 01050, or to the Chester Fire Department, 300 Route 20, Chester, MA 01011. O’Brien Hilltown Community Funeral Home in Huntington will be handling the arrangements.

Patricia A. Wellspeak, 81

Public NoticesWE’VE EXPANDED OUR WEB SITE

ARE NOW ONLINE

visitwww.publicnotices.turley.com

Email all notices tonotices@turley.com1Access archives anddigital tear sheets by newspaper title.2Find a quick link to the state of Massachusetts’ public notice web site to search all notices in Massachusetts newspapers.3 Public notice deadlines are Mondays at noon, Fridays noon for Monday holidays.

page 18 Country Journal • Thursday, May 23, 2019

ClassifiedsA TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.com COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE Call us toll free 800.824.6548

13 WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS ❙ SERVING 50 LO CAL C OMMUNITIES

ANTIQUE AND PERIOD CHAIRS – Restored with new woven seats – Many styles and weaves available. Call (413)289-6670

CENTRAL BOILER CLASSIC EDGE OUTDOOR WOOD FUR-NACE. Heat more with less wood. Call today! 413-296-4320.

PREMIUM IMPORTED KOI and pond supplies at New England Koi, South Hadley, Massachusetts. Hun-dreds of Koi in stock 413-533-5993.

MISCELLANEOUSA PLACE FOR MOM. The nation’s largest senior living referral service. Contact our trusted, local experts to-day! Our service is FREE/no obliga-tion. CALL 1-855-799-4127

DEALING WITH WATER DAM-AGE requires immediate action. Local professionals that respond immediate-ly. Nationwide and 24/7. No Mold Calls. 1-800-506-3367

DO YOU HAVE chronic knee or back pain? If you have insurance, you may qualify for the perfect brace at little to no cost. Get yours today! Call 1-800-217-0504

INVENTORS- FREE INFOR-MATION PACKAGE Have your product idea developed affordably by the Research & Development pros and presented to manufacturers. Call 855-380-5976 for a free idea starter guide. Submit your idea for a free con-sultation.

LIFE ALERT. 24/7. One press of a button sends help FAST! Medical, Fire, Burglar. Even if you can’t reach a phone! FREE brochure. CALL 800-457-1917

MOBILEHELP, AMERICA’S PRE-MIER MOBILE MEDICAL ALERT SYSTEM. Whether you’re Home or Away. For Safety and Peace of Mind. No Long Term Contracts! Free Bro-chure! Call Today! 1-844-892-1017

OXYGEN-ANYTIME. ANY-WHERE. No tanks to refill. No deliv-eries. Only 2.8 pounds! FAA approved! FREE info kit: Call 1-800-732-0442

PROMOTE YOUR PRODUCT, ser-vice or business to 1.7 million house-holds throughout New England. Reach 4 million potential readers quickly and inexpensively with great results. Use the Buy New England Classified Ad Network by calling (413)283-8393, classifieds@turley.com. Do they work? You are reading one of our ads now!! Visit our website to see where your ads run communitypapersne.com

SPECTRUM TRIPLE PLAY TV, Internet & Voice for $29.99/ea. 60 MB per second speed. No contract or com-mitment. We buy your existing contract up to $500.! 1-844-592-9018

STAY IN YOUR HOME longer with an American Standard Walk-In Bath-tub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation! Call us at 1-866-945-3783.

STOP STRUGGLING ON THE STAIRS. Give your life a lift with an ACORN STAIRLIFT! Call now for $250. OFF your stairlift purchase and FREE DVD & brochure! 1-844-286-0854

TAG SALEFUNDRAISER/ TAG SALE to ben-efit multiple organizations. May 25th, 9am. Goshen Town Hall Parking Lot.

HUGE FAMILY TAG SALE May 24-25, 9am-2pm. Please no early birds! Clothes, glassware, jewelry, cookbooks, camper gear, vintage ring-er tub holder, Party Lite items, small fridge. 12 Pine St., Huntington. Sale in meadow behind house.

NOW ACCEPTING CONSIGN-MENT items for our 2nd annual outdoor Spring auction. Antiques, col-lectibles, motorized equipment, house-hold, furniture, etc. Sorry, no tag sale items please! Consign now! Auction is June 22nd at Happy Days Family Fun in Granby. Call Denis 413-467-9073 or 413-335-9236.

WANTED TO BUYWANTED- GOLD, SILVER and Vin-tage costume jewelry. Please call for more information or text (413)512-3714

*****A CALL WE HAULWE TAKE IT ALLWE LOAD IT ALL

Lowest Rates,accumulations, junk, estates,attics, garages, appliances, basements, demo services

10% disc. with this ad.All Major CC’s

CALL NOW (413)531-1936acallwehaul@gmail.com

ADAM QUENNEVILLE ROOF-ING, SIDING, WINDOWS- Shin-gle, Flat and Metal Roofs, Slate Roof Repairs, Roof and Siding Shampoo Service, Gutter Covers, porches. Life-time Vinyl Siding, Windows, Skylights & Sun Tunnels. Call (413)536-5955

CHAIR SEAT WEAVING & re-finishing - cane, fiber rush & splint - Classroom instructor, 20+ years expe-rience. Call Walt at (413)289-6670 for estimate.

DRYWALL AND CEILINGS, plas-ter repair. Drywall hanging. Taping & complete finishing. All ceiling textures. Fully insured. Jason at Great Walls. (413)563-0487

WE RENOVATE, SELL & PUR-CHASE (any condition) horse drawn vehicles such as sleighs, carriages, surreys, wagons, dr’s buggies, drive-able or lawn ornaments. Some fur-niture and other restoration services available. Reasonable prices. Quality workmanship. Call (413)213-0373 for estimate and information.

DEMERS & SONSBELCHERTOWN, MA

CHILD SERVICES*NEW STATE LAW. Anyone adver-tising caring of children must list a li-cense number to do so if they offer this service in their own home.

GARAGE DOOR SERVICES

MENARD GARAGE DOORS Spe-cializing in the best quality and selec-tion of insulated Haas garage doors. Sales, Installation, service and repairs of residential and commercial garage doors and openers. Fully insured. Free estimates. Call (413)289-6550, (413)626-1978 or www.menardga-ragedoors.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT

ACOMASONRY, HEATING &

AIR CONDITIONINGAll types of masonry work.

Chimney repair, tile work, stucco,stone, brick, block, concrete,

flat work, pavers, retaining walls.Heating & Air Conditioning

Service & InstallationFurnaces, Sheet Metal

Power WashingLicensed & Insured

Commercial & ResidentialFree Estimates

Competitive RatesCall Adam Ouimette

413-374-7779

DELREO HOME IMPROVEMENT for all your exterior home improve-ment needs. ROOFING, SIDING, WINDOWS, DOORS, DECKS & GUT-TERS. Extensive references available, Fully Licensed & Insured in MA. & CT. Call GARY DELCAMP @ 413-569-3733

LANDSCAPINGBOBCAT SERVICES Helping Homeowners with there outdoor proj-ects at affordable rates. Spread, Move, hauling. Dirt, sand, stone. Site clean up, Demo, Grading, Etc.$240/4 hour, $480/8 hour rental In-cludes operator/ bucket/ bobcat. Load/ travel fee for each location extra charge. Tony 413-301-2155

T & S LANDSCAPING Highest quality, lowest price. Serving the Pio-neer Valley. Weekly, bi-weekly mow-ing, Spring, Fall and Gutter clean-ups. (413)330-3917

MASONRY

STOP WET BASEMENTS

ABC MASONRY & BASEMENT WATERPROOFING

All brick, block, stone, concrete. Hatch-way doors, basement windows, chim-neys rebuilt & repaired, foundations repaired, basement waterproofing sys-tems, sump pumps. BBB+ rating. Free estimates. Lic #14790. Call (413)569-1611, (413)374-5377

PAINTINGFORBES & SONS PAINTING & STAINING Interior, exterior, residen-tial, commercial, new construction, wallpaper removal, sheetrock, plaster and carpentry repairs. Quality prod-ucts. Since 1985. Free consultations. Insured. HIC Lic #190875 www.forbe-sandsonspainting.com Call/ text 413-887-1987.

PAVINGA.S.A. ALL SEAL ASPHALT Hot asphalt repairs, seal coating, hot crack repairs, line marking, saw cut and patching. Free estimates. 413-348-4805 Gerry.

HORSESHORSEBACK RIDING LESSONS offered year round at our state of the art facility. beginner to advanced. Ages 4 years to adult. Boarding, sales and Leasing also available. Convenient lo-cation at Orion Farm in South Hadley (413)532-9753 www.orionfarm.net

FOR SALE SERVICES SERVICES SERVICES

MAIL TO: Classifieds, 24 Water St., Palmer, MA 01069or call toll free: 800-824-6548

Name: ____________________________________________________ Phone: ______________________

Address: _______________________________________________________________________________

Town: _____________________________________________________ State:_______ Zip:_____________

Number of Weeks: _________________________________________ X per week rate = $______________

Credit Card: ❏ MasterCard ❏ VISA ❏ Discover ❏ Cash ❏ Check# ___________

Card #: ______________________________________________ Exp. Date ___________ CVV __________

Amount of charge: ___________________________________________________Date: _______________

First ZONE base price ___________

Add a second ZONE ___________

Add a third ZONE ___________

Subtotal ___________

x Number of Weeks ___________

TOTAL Enclosed ___________

$10.00$5.00

Quabbin❏

Suburban❏

Hilltowns❏

Run my ad in thefollowing ZONE(s):

Includesadditional words

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28

29 30 31 32

33 34 35 36

37 38 39 40

Base Price$9.50

Base Price$10.00

Base Price$10.50

Base Price$11.00

Base Price$11.50

Base Price$12.00

Base Price$12.50

Base Price$13.00

Base Price$13.50

Base Price$14.00

Base Price$14.50

Base Price$15.00

Base Price$15.50

Base Price$16.00

Base Price$16.50

Base Price$17.00

Base Price$17.50

Base Price$18.00

Base Price$18.50

Base Price$19.00

Base Price$19.50

FILL OUT AND MAIL THIS MONEY MAKER

CATEGORY:

DEADLINES: HILLTOWNS – MONDAY AT NOON QUABBIN & SUBURBAN – FRIDAY AT NOON

OUR CLASSIFIEDS REACH 50 COMMUNITIES EVERY WEEK!

HilltownsCirculation: 11,900

Buy the Hilltowns ZONE for $9.50 for 20 words plus 50¢ for each additional word. Add $10 for a second Zone or add $15 to run in ALL THREE ZONES.

Find archives of this local newspaper at www.newspapers.turley.com

Country Journal • Thursday, May 23, 2019 page 19

For your convenience, you can securely subscribe online by visiting countryjournal.turley.com

New Renewal Gift A GIFT CARD WILL BE SENT TO ANNOUNCE YOUR GIFT!

CJ18TMC

Yes!Yes!❑ $31 ���������������������������������������������������������1 year in state

❑ $36 ���������������������������������������������������1 year out of state

❑ $46 ���������������������������������������������������������2 year in state

❑ $56 ���������������������������������������������������2 year out of state

CHECK ENCLOSED CHARGE MY CREDIT CARD

Enclosed is my payment for:

I want to subscribe to the Country Journal!

CALL OUR TOLL-FREE NUMBER

1-800-824-6548THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL NEWSPAPER!

Name ______________________________________________________

Address _____________________________________________________

City: ______________________ State: ________ Zip: ________________

Phone: _____________________________________________________

Credit Card #: ________________________________________________

Exp� Date: ____________________ CW2 code: ______________________

Signature: ___________________________________________________

❑ GIFT TO:

Name ______________________________________________________

Address _____________________________________________________

City: ______________________ State: ________ Zip: ________________

3 WAYS TO SUBSCRIBE1

3

2Use our website to securely subscribe online at

COUNTRYJOURNAL.TURLEY.COM

Please complete the form below, and mail it in a secure envelope to:

Country Journal24 Water St., Palmer, MA 01069

ClassifiedsA TURLEY PUBLICATION ❙ www.turley.com COMMUNITY MARKETPLACE Call us toll free 800.824.6548

13 WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS ❙ SERVING 50 LO CAL C OMMUNITIES

ANDRE GROSZYK FARM LLC, Enfield, CT need 13 temporary work-ers 5/1531/2019 to 11/30/2019, work tools, supplies, equipment provided without cost to worker. Housing will be available without cost to workers who can not reasonably return to their residence at the end of the work day. Transportation reimbursement and subsistence is provided upon com-pletion of 15 days or 50% of the work contract. Work is guaranteed for 3/4 of the workdays during the contract period. $13.25 per hr. or applicable piece rate. Applicants to apply contact CT Department of Labor at 860-263-6020 or apply at the nearest local of-fice of the SWA. Job order #218900. Must be able to perform and have prior experience in following duties; plant, cultivate, and harvest broad leaf tobac-co. Use of hand tools such as but not limited to shovels, hoe, knives, hatch-ets, and ladders. Duties may include but are not limited to applying fertilizer, transplanting, weeding, topping plants, suckering, cutting, hooking, stripping, packaging, and handling harvested tobacco. Also, may participate in irri-gation activities and general repair of barns and buildings. Must be able to climb and work at heights up to 20 ft. in tobacco barn for the purpose of hang-ing tobacco lath weighing up to 50 lbs. 2 months experience in duties listed.

FOSTER CARE.You can help change

someone’s life. Provide a safe home for children

and teens who have been abused or neglected. Classes in late September. Call Devereux Therapeutic Foster Care

413-734-2493

PET SITTER NEEDED in Worthing-ton for occasional overnights or quick visits. Adorable dog and 2 sweet cats July-September. Call 413-238-5876 or 941-465-0982.

TOWN OF WILBRAHAM P/T SUMMER BASKETBALL

SCOREKEEPERS For application & more information please visit www.wilbraham-ma.gov. Application Deadline: May 31, 2019 at 4:30PM

FOR RENT

ALL REAL ESTATE advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.” We will not know-ingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

BEAUTIFUL “BARN” ATTACHED to my home. Contains full kitchen, bathroom, laundry and gorgeous bed. All you need to just move in. No smok-ing, no pets. $850/ mo. Must share oil bill. Hot water included. First, last and security. Call Maryann at 508-451-0229. Wont last long!

VACATION RENTALS

WARM WEATHER IS Year Round In Aruba. The water is safe, and the dining is fantastic. Walk out to the beach. 3-Bedroom weeks available. Sleeps 8. Email: carolaction@aol.com for more information.

HELP WANTED REAL ESTATE

$12.50Each

Purchase a photo that recently ran in one of our publications.

Go to newspapers.turley.com/photo-request

Digital PhotosTURLEY PUBLICATIONS, INC.Classified Advertising

DEADLINESQUABBIN & SUBURBANFRIDAY AT NOON

HILLTOWNSMONDAY AT NOON

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status (number of children and or pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, or any intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate that is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertising in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain about discrimination call The Department of Housing and Urban Development “ HUD” toll-free at 1-800-669-9777. For the N.E. area, call HUD at 617-565-5308. The toll free number for the hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275.

FOR RENT

announcementsbirth

This paper publishes birth, engagement, wedding and signifi cant anniversary announcements free of charge.Simply log on to our web site, choose the paper you want the announcement to appear in, then use our SUBMISSION link to email your information.

www.newspapers.turley.com

page 20 Country Journal • Thursday, May 23, 2019

The Country Journal will feature a special graduation issue on June 13th. To wish your graduate a special message go to our website countryjournal.turley.com or contact sales representative

John Baskin at 413-786-7747. Don’t delay – deadline is Thurs. May 30th.

CONGRATULATE Your Graduate!Don’t

Miss Out!

Scan the QR code to

take you directly to

the website page

The Country Journal will feature a special graduation issue on June 13th. To wish your graduate a special message go to our website countryjournal.turley.com or contact sales representative

John Baskin at 413-786-7747. Don’t delay – deadline is Thurs. May 30th.

CONGRATULATE Your Graduate!Don’t

Miss Out!

Scan the QR code to

take you directly to

the website page

The Gateway Regional Middle School Band marches in the Chester on Track parade on Saturday.Photo by Adrianne Johnson

Paul and his sister Judy Young dressed as George and Martha Washington for the event, which featured re-enactors portraying several historical eras — including the Great Depression, the Civil War and the Revolutionary War.

Photo by Adrianne Johnson

Tractors round the corner onto Main Street in Chester during the May 18 parade. Photo by Adrianne Johnson

Members of the Gateway Little League take part in the parade on May 18. Photo by Adrianne Johnson

From left, state Rep. Natalie Blais marches with Chester Selectman Barbara Huntoon, Selectman John Baldasaro and Selectman-elect James Higby. Photo by Adrianne Johnson

The Carmichael and Boland Rail Road Contractors re-enactment showed how the railroads were built and maintained. Photo by Adrianne Johnson

Kenny, Karen and Aaden Gamell enjoyed their day at Chester on Track, along with Tobias, a Rhodesian ridgeback.

Photo by Richard Chapman

Maggie the Clown brings a smile riding her bike in the parade.

Photo by Adrianne Johnson

Granddad Paul Pappus takes everybody for a ride on his tractor in the parade. Riding along are mom Jennifer Pappus, Jake (8), Evan (5) and Hazel (2).

Photo by Richard Chapman