Here are brief thoughts on some of the events taking place around Franklin County and the North Quabbin area.
It was a matter of doing the right thing.
Bank of New York Mellon, on behalf of Bank of America, dismissed its eviction case without prejudice against Robert McCollum, a 74-year-old Bernardston man — at least for now.
In 2003, McCollum took out a $153,000 loan, approved by Countrywide Bank, which was later purchased by Bank of America.
But then McCollum, who works as an independent contractor, fell behind in his mortgage payments. The loan was a 30-year variable, which means he would finally pay it off when he was 89.
Supporters of McCollum say it was a predatory loan. Then there was the threat of eviction after the bank bought the house back at a foreclosure sale last year.
Recently, McCollum has suffered a setback in his health.
And although it may only be temporary, we say Bank of America showed compassion in letting McCollum continue to live in the home he has had since the late 1990s.
Hopefully, it will give McCollum time to make other living arrangements he can afford.
The Poirier family — Jeff and Teri, and their children, Ben and Hannah — is big into recreation. And for their efforts, the Poiriers were awarded the Fortin Family Award, which recognizes families who volunteer for the Greenfield Recreation Department.
The Poiriers have been helping out for the past 15 years, whether it’s coaching (Jeff’s forte) or helping at events and camps.
The award was given at the city’s Fourth of July fireworks event, which was held July 5. The award is named for Ken and Tina Fortin, who spearheaded the movement to get the fireworks display back to Greenfield.
Their son, Ken Fortin, said, “When we see this award and this event — we see them and their work.”
It is indeed an honor to be recognized. Congrats to the Poirier family.
For Dean Cycon, founder of Dean’s Beans, coffee isn’t just a beverage. It’s a “social movement.”
Now his company has earned a Flourish Prize, a global award that recognizes companies who adhere to the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals in eliminating poverty.
Dean’s Beans Organic Coffee Company was one of 17 award winners worldwide.
Cycon was once a lawyer who advocated for indigenous people’s rights. Then he got into coffee.
His business model is to pay indigenous people a living wage while selling their coffee beans at low prices internationally. It’s a model that works.
And Cycon’s company spends thousands each year on development projects in small villages globally.
This is hardly the way many companies do business in Third World nations.
So it is commendable that Cycon and his business take the high road when it comes to buying coffee directly from the grower. We say, well done.
What would you like the Greenfield Recorder to ask the three candidates running for mayor in the Sept. 10 primary?
The Recorder is holding a forum Aug. 8 that will be televised live on GCTV.
We have already received questions from readers to ask the three candidates: Brickett Allis, Sheila Gilmour and Roxann Wedegartner. We would like to have more.
Send your questions to Editor Joan Livingston at jlivingston@recorder.com.