Brief thoughts on some of the events making news from around Franklin County and the North Quabbin area:
A serious message was delivered at Frontier Regional School last week about addiction and the threat to high school athletes. The program, which included a video presentation put together by Northwestern District Attorney’s Office, Baystate Health and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, was one that young athletes and their families should hear.
“Very critical brain development happens between 12 and 25,” addiction specialist Dr. Ruth Potee said during the video’s narration. “If exposed to substances that are addicting, this is the time a pathway is laid down for a lifetime of addiction.”
This kind of presentation should go to all the schools.
Elena Pirozhkova may have come up short in her quest for an Olympic medal in freestyle wrestling at the games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but she was a winner to her family and many fans in Greenfield and elsewhere in the county. It’s not often that our community gets to send someone to the Olympics, but Pirozhkova has now competed there twice. That’s quite an accomplishment no matter the final results.
The regional agricultural nonprofit organization, Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA), has been named the recipient of a three-year federal grant worth $595,500 to help out farmers just getting started across Massachusetts. In particular, the focus is on the business end of farming, with plans to provide 78 workshops over the course of the three years, dealing with entrepreneurship, financial planning, risk management, diversification and marketing strategies. Also planned are networking events for beginning farmers, as well as individual technical assistance.
“To ensure that local agriculture remains viable and thriving, the next generation of farmers must have the skills and resources to be successful. These grant resources will enable us to improve the sustainability and profitability of beginning farm businesses in Massachusetts,” Philip Korman, executive director, said in response to getting the grant.
It’s clear that the federal government is confident that this money will do the right kind of work with CISA’s guidance. And given what the area has seen, that confidence is well deserved.
Time marches on. This old axiom seems its truest in August as summer winds down and children gear up for the new school year. The good news here is that there are still plenty of opportunities to get outside and enjoy what’s left of summer. That includes taking in the various festivals, “days” and fairs. Each event has its own particular take on fun.
Take advantage of what’s offered before it’s too late.