Brief thoughts on some of the events making news from around Franklin County and the North Quabbin area.
Union 38 School District is likely moving its central offices to Frontier Regional School. Given the air quality issues and other complaints associated with the existing offices in its older building on Christian Lane in Whately, the move makes sense.
The move also works from a financial viewpoint since the cost of improvements in the current space was tagged at around $50,000. Plus, it will allow the administration to see more of what happens at one of the district’s schools on a daily basis.
And unlike a similar situation in Greenfield, the move wasn’t an issue that dragged on seemingly forever. The subcommittee that investigated finding a new place deserves kudos for its timely and thorough work.
It’s good to see the town of Monroe pushing forward when it comes to the site of the old Ramage Paper Mill on the Deerfield River. The Selectboard is going to Housing Court to get a demolition order, so that a wooden section of the building is taken down before it falls into the river and causes issues for river users and health.
And what of the owner?
Town officials haven’t heard from him, which probably isn’t surprising. Jeffrey Phillips of Pleasant Valley, Conn., bought the mill property in 1996 and, according to the town, stopped paying taxes on the property in 1999. That alone should add significant weight to the town’s case before the court.
The first Monday of September means, of course, that it is Labor Day. For many people, it’s the end of summer, the last bit of time off as our attention turns toward fall. But we shouldn’t forget the history that is behind the story of Labor Day and the contributions to our way of life by the labor movement in this country. Although the celebration may no longer include massive parades or picnics as such, it remains important to see how the American workforce helped shape such conditions as a 40-hour work week, a minimum wage and other workplace-related conditions.
The formation of the Community Committee by residents of the Pioneer Valley Regional School District has the potential to provide the district and community with another resource in support of the schools. As Michele Giarusso, Leyden Finance Committee chairwoman and a member of the new committee said, “anytime you can have better communication and collaboration, it’s important.”
The first week of September means many things: schools get going in earnest, the fall athletic season gets underway, etc.
But this year on this week, Massachusetts holds its primary for state offices — Thursday to be exact. While some voters will see races and others won’t, the day nevertheless signals that we’re in the home stretch for the November general election, when we select a new president in an unprecedented election cycle, and in Massachusetts, decide whether to legalize marijuana and expand charter schools. Fasten those seatbelts.