ASHFIELD – St. John’s Episcopal Church has started “SPIN,” (Soap and Paper Initiative) to provide needed cleaning products and paper goods to the roughly 185 families from 11 towns that rely on the Hilltown Food Pantry. St. John’s goal is to collect enough soap and paper items to provide food pantry distributions quarterly.
Donations of paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, adult diapers, laundry soap, hand soap, dish detergent, shampoo, toothpaste and other personal care products are needed.
The SPIN project is supported in part by a Loaves and Fishes Grant from the Community Foundation of Western Mass. St. John’s invites community members, local groups and other congregations to participate. Donations may be dropped off at St. John’s Church in Ashfield, in the SPIN bin in the entry foyer. Or, contact project coordinator Mary Link at maryclink@gmail.com with “Loaves and Fishes” in the subject line.
The towns served by the Hilltown Food Pantry include Ashfield, Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Conway, Hawley, Heath, Monroe, Plainfield, Rowe and Shelburne.
ASHFIELD – The annual Town Caucus takes place this Tuesday, March 13, at 7 p.m. It’s the time when town voters can nominate up to two candidates for each town position to come up for election on May 5.
One seat is on the ballot for each of these three-year terms: Selectboard, Board of Assessors, Finance Committee, Board of Health, Park Commission, Sewer Commission, Constable, and Mohawk Trail Regional School Committee.
One five-year term is available on each of two boards: Planning Board and Board of Library Trustees. Town Moderator and Tree Warden positions are one-year terms that are also on the election ballot.
For a candidate to appear on the ballot, they must either be nominated at caucus or have filed nomination papers with the Town Clerk by 4 p.m. on Friday, March 16. All registered voters may participate.