HEATH — State Sen. Adam G. Hinds’ staff will hold office hours in Heath on Wednesday, June 21.
The senator’s staff will be available to meet with constituents from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sawyer Hall, 1 East Main St.
Appointments are not necessary but can be booked in advance by calling the Pittsfield office at 413-344-4561 or the Williamsburg office at 413-768-2373.
These office hours, according to a press release, provide an opportunity for those seeking assistance with state agencies or programs to speak with Hinds’ constituency services staff in person.
Those seeking to interact with Hinds and his staff may email him at Adam.Hinds@masenate.gov or call the offices during normal business hours, Monday through Friday. The State House office, where the budget and policy, media relations, and scheduling functions are handled, can be reached at 617-722-1625.
HAWLEY — The Conservation Commission has encountered a few cases recently that have involved logging in or near wetlands. The forest cutting practices act allows landowners to cut up to 25,000 board feet of timber, or 50 cords of wood in a given year, without having to submit a cutting plan for approval by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
But if you are considering work in or near wetlands, the commission recommends you file anyway. An approved cutting plan exempts you from having to file with the Conservation Commission under the wetlands protection act. Overall, you will encounter less fees and fewer restrictions if you have a cutting plan, the Commission advises.
SHELBURNE — Andrew Baker is now chairman of the Selectboard, Robert Manners is vice-chair, and newly elected member V. Matthew Marchese is the board’s clerk.
SHELBURNE — Although annual town meeting voters approved lowering the voting age in local elections to 16, Selectman Andrew Baker said he didn’t vote “yes” on the measure for one reason: “There weren’t any 16-year-olds in the room,” he said at this week’s Selectboard meeting.
“If they want to expand the franchise, they have to show up,” Baker said. Noting that only 75 people attended this year’s annual town meeting, he added, “I would love to see some 16-year-olds at the next annual town meeting.”
HAWLEY — A multi-town tag sale, to help pay for repairs to the Sons and Daughters of Hawley’s 1846 Meetinghouse, will be this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hawley Grove, 327 East Hawley Road.
The tag sale proceeds will help pay off repairs made to the 10 original windows. More online information is available at:
https://sites.google.com/site/sonsdaughtersofhawley/events/tag-sale