Here are some brief thoughts on recent happenings in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region.
Nothing is more unsettling than change, and change that takes the form of residential and commercial development feels most threatening of all. That puts the members of local planning boards and zoning boards of appeals on the front lines of hot-button issues — for example, the proposed development of a Dollar General store on Routes 5 and 10 near the intersection of Mill Village Road in South Deerfield.
Every town faces controversial projects and members of its planning boards and zoning boards of appeals find themselves at ground zero in a neighborhood dispute. But their bedrock — and that of residents’ — is the body of rules that shape their decisions, as laid out in each town’s master plan and bylaws, documents regularly revisited in response to experience and changing goals. Reading through them is, actually, reassuring: Growth happens within a set of criteria that proceeds along a path of public hearings, appeals and, if necessary, legal redress.
“This has not been easy,” said Deerfield ZBA Chair Bernie Sadoski, about the Dollar General proposal. “All of us have put a lot of time in here, and we’ve got a lot of public comments, and I’m thankful we’ve got that because it’s important to the process.”
That process — at times murky and prone to bogging down — is, to paraphrase Winston S. Churchill, the worst path to consensus — except for all the others.
Matthew Regnier, 18, of Orange fulfilled a proven path to leadership with completion of his Eagle Scout project. Regnier converted two old mail boxes — the big ones you see on the street — into flag drop-off boxes that are works of art befitting their ultimate purpose as a container for the dignified disposal of unusable flags.
“I thought that was important,” Regnier said, “that it was a good opportunity. I’ve always had respect for the American flag.”
Along the way, he had to plan his project, enlist the help of other people and solicit donations of time, talent and money — three very grown-up skills. You can see the results near the maintenance building in Orange at South Cemetery or at American Legion Post 172 on Daniel Shays Highway. Eagle Scouts are our future leaders, maybe even a future president. That’s why The Recorder publishes a story and photo about the ones who come to our attention.
Kudos to Regnier and all Eagle Scouts.
The pandemic has changed the ways in which the Franklin County Community Meals Program has operated. For example, some people don’t feel comfortable yet going into a small church kitchen with others, so when Executive Director Rachel Berggren landed a $5,000 COVID-19 relief grant from Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts to help feed hungry people in Greenfield, she reached out to Brad’s Place.
The Main Street restaurant with a few sidewalk tables hadn’t yet reopened to indoor dining. Berggren saw a “two-fer” opportunity: Help keep Brad’s in business by paying owner Dan Devine to serve up his popular meatloaf, Swedish meatballs, lasagna, beef stew, chili, baked ham and more for the meals program.
“It feels so good to help,” Devine said.
Berggren is looking to create more symbiotic relationships. “Local restaurants get the help they need to get through these unprecedented times and we feed people at the same time.”
The partnership opens up opportunities for volunteers, businesses and groups who want to help in some way. “They can either cook or donate the money for a meal – whatever works for them.”
Berggren said it costs between $250 and $300 to sponsor 100 meals for a day.
Congratulations to Community Meals for an innovative solution to the “new normal.”