Brief thoughts on some of the events making news from around Franklin County and the North Quabbin area:
We don’t know how many people were surprised by Ann Hamilton’s announcement that she will be retiring as head of the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce at the end of the year. But for the past 32 years, Hamilton has been a very public face in the county, one who has strived to put the area on the map in many different ways.
“Ann’s been the heart and soul of the Chamber for so many years,” said Kim Levitch, a past president who continues to sit on the chamber’s board of directors. “She’s started so many events, like the Green River Festival, for example, and others. She’s been a quick adaptor, and she’s been great about bringing people to the table, to solve various problems in town. She’s a fantastic person … It’s going to be a big change when she’s gone.”
Big shoes to fill, for sure, but also different shoes, as Hamilton would likely admit; she has seen plenty of changes during her tenure.
We understand the decision to close Savages’ Market in South Deerfield, after running the family store on Greenfield Road for the past 41 years. The family is ready for a change. They will be missed, by the people traveling through the area who stumbled upon the store with its deli and discovered the wonderful food inside and by area residents who called the market their own. Even though we hope that the walnut chicken salad recipe will get passed on to some other sandwich-maker in the area, it won’t quite taste the same. We wish the Savages well as they head off to a new chapter.
People who work on cars and machines know that the best understanding comes from knowing how things work inside and out. While that might not have been the prime motivation for having students at Franklin County Technical School’s computer programming and web design program assemble the machines that they’ll be working on, it has to be beneficial. If nothing else, they have a better understanding of the mechanics of a computer.
We have to think that Chrystal Kornegay, the state undersecretary of housing and economic development, has a better understanding of what state money has accomplished in Athol following a visit and tour there last week. Some of that money has benefited neighborhoods in different ways, including streetscaping and sidewalk work. Perhaps more important will be that Kornegay takes what she saw and heads back to Boston and puts impressions, ideas and requests to work for Athol and other communities that continue to struggle finding new economic development. These communities aren’t looking for a handout from the state. Rather, they’re seeking a hand up.