Brief thoughts on some of the events making news around Franklin County and the North Quabbin area:
We like the latest approach that Greenfield Rights of Nature is taking when it comes to reducing the amount of plastic in the community’s waste stream.
Having seen its effort to get a single-serve plastic bottle ban in Greenfield rejected by voters, the group has turned its attention to providing access to free drinking water downtown, places where people could refill reusable bottles. The effort has resulted in 16 businesses, as well as the library, town hall and Chamber of Commerce, agreeing to allow people to get water. While it may take a bit to catch on, in time this should help curb some of the single-use plastic use. It’s perfect timing, too, as the weather heats up again this week.
We’re glad to see the work started at the Greenfield Middle School in anticipation of moving the Greenfield Public Schools’ administrative offices there. For too long the administrators and staff have had to deal with a building, the former Davis Street School, that had become something of a money pit. While charming, the former elementary school was not handicap-accessible and was drafty and hard to heat. The investment in adapting unused GMS spaces into offices will likely prove to be money well-spent. And an added bonus: Having the offices actually part of an active and working school could have added benefits of connecting administration to not just school staff but students as well.
As the construction work continues on the Franklin County Courthouse expansion and renovation project, it also brings into sharp focus the need for additional parking in the area. Greenfield Mayor William Martin and others have to be keeping their fingers crossed that an economic development bill that is working its way through the state legislature will include money that could be used for a parking garage. Finding the money for a garage has, and continues to be, a stumbling block. Greenfield cannot — and should not — pay for the parking garage on its own. But even if state money materializes, there is still going to be a long gap between the reopening of the courthouse and the opening of any potential garage. We want to think that the mayor is working on contingency plans for both a temporary and long-term solution. The clock is ticking.
Action speaks louder than words. And in the case of Atlas Farm in Deerfield, it is impressive to see that charitable giving is part of its business model. Besides providing the area with another source for fresh produce, the farm is also finding ways to provide organizations that help the less fortunate to get healthy food as well. Gideon Porth, Atlas Farm founder and owner, talks about food justice, and the farm’s effort here seems to be a serious and welcome step in addressing the issue.