Here are some brief thoughts on some of the events making news from around Franklin County and the North Quabbin area:
It seems the tiny town of Warwick has roared loudly enough to get telecom giant Verizon to pay attention. In January, Warwick filed a complaint about poor landline phone service against Verizon with the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunication and Cable. A hearing that had been scheduled in town was canceled and the complaint withdrawn after Verizon offered to repair Warwick’s faulty equipment at no charge.
Warwick is keeping its powder dry, and may still refile the complaint if service does not improve after the repairs. The town’s leaders feel they have saved legal expenses and sped up improvements to the landlines in a town with spotty cell service. Score one for the little guys.
The heritage of Greenfield’s famed poet of the 19th century, Frederick Goddard Tuckerman, was evoked again this week at the 27th Annual Poet’s Seat Poetry Contest. As contemporary local poets read their entries, Thursday night, audience members listened to each poet’s words with quiet respect, occasional “oohs” and “ahhs” or small bursts of laughter.
The contest was begun in 1991 by a Greenfield librarian in honor of the poet who lived in Greenfield from 1847 until his death in 1873 and after whom the town’s landmark Poet’s Seat Tower is named.
Tuckerman was considered by his contemporaries like the more famous Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau to be a talented poet. No doubt he would be thrilled to see his work continues to inspire others young and old to write.
If you like your scary movies with a bit of thrill, mystery and local flavor, then the locally made “Silenced” may be your thing.
“Silenced” is a “psychological thriller horror” according to writer-director Julian Lowenthal, inspired partially by Turners Falls, where the independent movie was shot and where Lowenthal lives.
The film, produced by Vermage Productions and in association with Baer Budget Films, tells the story of a group of thieves that have been on a burglary spree, robbing homes in the Turners Falls area. Their biggest target, though, is the Shea Theater.
Lowenthal hopes the film can draw more filmmakers to the area. Of course, the area has drawn mainstream Hollywood productions in years past, such films as “Little Women,” “Cider House Rules” and more recently, “Labor Day” and “The Judge.”
But the more the merrier.
The town of Gill is celebrating its 225th birthday this year, and residents are ready for a year full of celebration. Sept. 28 will mark the anniversary of the 1793 incorporation of the Town of Gill.
Live in a town long enough and you develop a deep affection for its people and history and Gill residents are no exception. They have planned a series of events to celebrate this milestone, including music events, a forest walk and river paddling.
Sunderland is also planning a similar celebration, but it’s marking its 300th year.
After 11 years as many people’s favorite Franklin County spot for breads and sweets, 2nd Street Bakery is changing.
Owners Laura and Josh Puchalski are moving their business to Maine, where they’ve always wanted to live.
However, they don’t want Turners Falls to lose its longtime bakery-cafe-caterer, and hope is to sell the business, including equipment and those all-important recipes.
The bakery opened on 2nd Street in 2007, giving it its name but moved to 4th Street in 2012, keeping the original name.
We’re hoping the Puchalskis find happiness along the Maine seacoast, but not before finding replacements as successful and friendly as they were.
Annual Town Meeting season is upon us. We encourage everyone to attend the annual gathering of voters where local spending priorities are set, determining how we use our local property tax dollars for what municipal services. This year, many Franklin County towns also will be deciding if they want to allow the sale of recreational marijuana within their boundaries and if so, where and under what conditions. These are not insignificant things, and the more viewpoints and voices put to the task of deciding these issues, the better.
Just do it.