CONWAY — After being closed for more than a week, Whately Road has been reopened to traffic.
The road — closed for about a half-mile near Route 116 — was initially blocked off when a tornado ripped through Pumpkin Hollow on Feb. 25. This allowed emergency crews a chance to assess the situation, workers space to clear trees, and homeowners an opportunity to start cleaning up debris and repairing damaged structures.
According to Town Administrator Tom Hutcheson, the road was reopened Monday evening following extensive cleanup efforts by town and state crews and volunteers alike.
On Sunday, Whately Road resident Grant Ingle and a few others helped organize a large community cleanup. In an email, Ingle said about “60 to 70 volunteers from Conway and surrounding towns” helped clean up the roadside and some lawns on the most affected section of the road.
Looking ahead, Ingle noted difficulties many landowners face in cleaning up felled or damaged trees on their property — which may not be covered by insurance.
“It was a great success, but only phase one,” Ingle said about Sunday’s event. “Now we need to raise funds for chippers to dispose of the huge number of branches from downed trees in the area. And after that, Conway residents need funds for excavators and logging equipment to remove the many dangerous leaning, suspended and downed trees in our yards and backyards.”
Upcoming tornado relief benefits
On Sunday, March 19, the town will hold a “Conway Strong” fundraising event at the Grammar School from 2 to 4 p.m.
The event will give residents a chance to see images of the tornado’s damage, hear stories, and participate in a silent auction benefiting those affected – featuring a painting by artist Jim Murphy of the Maggs’ barn, completed the week before the tornado.
A few days before that, on St. Patrick’s Day, Friday, March 17, a “Contra for Conway” dancing event will be held at Guilding Star Grange Hall at 401 Chapman St. in Greenfield to raise money for those affected by the tornado.
Dancing will start at 8 p.m. and run till 11 p.m., with a suggested $10 donation and “barter welcome.”
“Cynthia Thomas, one of our fiddlers, was at her brother’s house in Conway when the tornado hit and tore off the front wall and roof of one section of the building,” wrote David Kaynor in an email, who’s helping to organize the fundraiser and will call the dancing.
“The big deal is just that we’re donating all our money to the fund, and the more people who attend, the more money the fund will get,” Kaynor added, noting that contra dancing is typically held at the hall the third Friday of every month.
Also March 19, Leverett Crafts and Arts at 13 Montague Road in downtown Leverett will host the “Festival Benefit for the Conway Tornado Relief Fund,” a music and dance party.
Dance instruction will be held from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m., with dancing to live music starting at 3:30 and running until 5:30 p.m.
According to a press release, the event will feature a few different types of dancing including line dancing, square dancing, contra dancing, and circle dancing in styles hailing from France, Scandinavia and New England.
Other organizations holding benefit events include Chandler’s Restaurant, which is having a few benefit dinners on March 20, and Berkshire Brewing Company, which is hosting a beer tasting fundraiser this Thursday, March 9.
For all events, checks should be made out to the Conway Tornado Relief Fund.
Meanwhile, it’s too soon to know if the town will receive state assistance. So far, a GoFundMe account set up by the town has raised $16,806. $52,000 was given during a benefit dinner at the Conway Inn. Local Lions Clubs have donated a $10,000 grant and also provided gift cards.
Fundraising efforts will officially close March 21.