As a resident of Turners Falls, I am opposed to changing the village’s name, which has been suggested by a few.
I’ve been told that Montague’s Town Meeting Members will be voting on this issue around September/October. I am hoping they oppose the change.
Nobody I know in my neighborhood wants the name changed and I have spoken to many. This would be costly and cause everyone (over 4,000 residents and about 300 businesses) thousands of hours and dollars to make this change, not to mention the stress. About 800 residents are seniors.
If the village name changed, residents would have to contact the DMV; doctors; dentists; optometrists; schools; banks; electric, oil/gas, phone, credit card, mortgage, and insurance companies; retirement accounts; pharmacies; friends; family; etc., to name a few to inform of the change. We would have to change our checks, mailing labels, etc. Businesses would have the added expense of changing their business cards, stationery, signs, websites, and vehicles printed with Turners on it. Maps, whether digital or paper, will have difficulty locating us. Drop-down menus on websites listing towns won’t accept the new name. Even pets will be affected as veterinarians will have to be contacted.
There would be a financial burden on the town as well. State and federal offices would also be affected. We cannot change what happened in 1676. It’s part of our history. Keep the Turners Falls name. I like the village, the people, and saying that I’m from Turners.
Arlene Jigarjian
Turners Falls