Here are brief thoughts on recent happenings in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region.
In the pre-coronavirus days, the term “drive-by” was apt to be linked to something bad, as in drive-by shooting. Not any more.
Peter Cottontail himself popped up through the sunroof in a drive-by organized by the Montague Police and Fire Departments for Easter, a sort of consolation event in place of the popular Eggstravaganza scheduled for Easter Weekend. But from the smiles on children’s faces, it looked like the kids were all in on this. Montague residents who viewed the drive-by said it was an opportunity to get out of the house — and opportunities for that don’t come along often these days.
Speaking of drive-bys, we’ve recently seen a Kiwanis supper drive-by, a church grocery drive-by, a memorial drive-by and a welcome-home-from-the-hospital drive-by. We predict more drive-bys in the future: How about birthday party drive-bys, graduation drive-bys and anniversary drive-bys? They could offer a fleeting but memorable way to connect: Not quite a parade, but more than a honk of the horn.
They may not get the publicity accorded our health care personnel on the front lines of the novel coronavirus, but employees of our towns’ department of public works are also essential to our well-being.
“A lot of what we do is behind the scenes,” said Greenfield DPW Director Marlo Warner II. “You might not see what we’re doing, but we’re doing it.”
That includes keeping clean water gushing out of our taps, disinfecting city buildings and maintaining our infrastructure. Those jobs don’t diminish in importance during a pandemic.
In small towns, the most visible faces of our DPW are at the local transfer station, where workers maintain safe distancing and ensure orderly disposal of our trash and recyclables.
“I consider us the third arm of public safety,” Warner said. “We’re making sure people are safe in our own way during this COVID-19 pandemic.”
Throughout the county, residents are carrying a trash bag with them on their walks and hikes, picking up litter as they go.
“It’s a great opportunity, I think,” said Heidi Strickland of Athol, who, with Ellen Evans, co-founded Green Clean Athol. “I care about people, but I also really care about the environment,” Strickland said.
Last year, their community cleaning event drew about 100 people.
“The virus is keeping us from doing that again,” Stickland said. “But the virus doesn’t keep us from going outdoors, so I suggested people go out and clean their neighborhoods.”
Bonnie and Al Benjamin said they have picked up roughly 180 pounds of trans and recyclables.
Likewise, in Northfield, resident Shirley Keech said she and others have been inspired to get out and clean up trash near their homes, too. “This is something we do all the time,” Keech said. “We’re just going out a little more often now.”
Some people have shared what streets have been patrolled for litter on NextDoor, a townwide email list-serve.
Sounds like a plan many of us can replicate.