Here are brief thoughts about recent happenings in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region.
Teamwork was tremendous during the latest dog rescue, this time on Leverett Pond, after an 11-year-old Husky named Luna fell through the thin ice on Tuesday morning.
Firefighters initially used two ice rescue sleds, both of which are supposed to glide over the ice, but they kept breaking through. It was then that the landowner, where the rescue was being staged off Putney Road, offered his aluminum row boat.
With a channel already cut part-way to the pond’s center, Leverett firefighters Michael Visniewski and Torsten Bidwell paddled out wearing red dry suits. They were joined by Shutesbury Fire Chief Walter Tibbetts in his yellow dry suit, who served as an icebreaker in front of the boat.
Once Luna was safely in the boat and wrapped in blankets, the boat was hauled back to shore using a tethered rope. Quickly, Amherst paramedics took the shivering animal to the waiting ambulance where the heat was cranked up, and where she was surrounded by blankets and warming packs.
First responders from Leverett, Shutesbury and Amherst all pitched in to ensure Luna was brought to safety. Despite initial setbacks due to how thin the ice was, they persevered, thanks to the generosity of the landowner who offered his boat. And in the end, Luna was reunited with her owner and taken to the veterinarian to be evaluated.
This seems like an opportune time to remind residents to be extra cognizant of how thin the ice is before venturing out to go ice fishing, skating or participate in any other winter activity. The first day of spring is only about three weeks away, and with temperatures expected to soar into the 40s and even 50s this week, spring is definitely not as far away as it feels.
Northfield simply wouldn’t be the same without Mim’s Market on Main Street, where residents gossip on the porch over a cup of coffee in the summer and stop by for a deli sandwich that’s been made with ease out of so much practice.
That being the case, we’re thrilled to hear that Northfield Food Mart owner Jody James has taken an interest in the building. The sale from Kim Farmer, who has owned Mim’s Market for 25 years, to James is expected to close in mid-March.
“I feel good about it and am looking forward to when the transfer goes through,” James said.
Most, if not all, of the employees currently at Mim’s Market are likely staying on as staff. He is still reviewing the full logistics of the business model, but plans to keep the sandwich deli.
“I know those are pretty popular over there,” James said.
By expanding to own Mim’s Market, James said he will be able to offer a wider variety of products between the two stores. The Northfield Food Mart typically has more grocery items, James said, for those looking to make a meal. For now, he doesn’t plan to change much about Mim’s, but he may change or add new products over time.
We’re glad that James seems to recognize the store’s successes, and we hope he will live by the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mind set. We are encouraged by his thoughtful ownership of the Northfield Food Mart since 2016, as he seems to have honored the legacy that the Barnes family — who owned the Northfield Food Mart for 67 years — left behind. We believe he will do the same for Mim’s, maintaining the standard that Northfield residents have come to expect.
And lastly, we wish Farmer the best of luck in her future endeavors once the sale goes through. She said she plans to move to Portland, Maine, where her sister lives. After 25 years at the helm of a community staple like Mim’s, she deserves some R&R.