Shelburne to consider new lights at Police Station

SHELBURNE — A $4,915 state grant from the Green Communities Division could lead to new lights at the Police Station at 623 Mohawk Trail.

Energy Committee member Jeff Boettner said that after discussion, the committee decided the most logical use of the grant would be for replacing the lights in the station with a more energy-efficient option, which would save the town roughly $1,300 a year.

The project itself costs $15,250. According to Town Administrator Terry Narkewicz, the rest of the money would come from the fiscal year 2026 Street Light Fund, which contains an unused sum of money. Narkewicz said she will ask the town accountant to encumber those funds to be used in fiscal year 2027.

According to Shelburne Selectboard member Rick LaPierre, both the Shelburne and Buckland finance committees will review the project, given that it is an “unplanned capital expense,” and return with their findings.

“We will get feedback from the two towns’ finance committees, and at that point we’ll be able to make a decision,” LaPierre said. “They’ve been asked to respond promptly. … By our next meeting, we should have some information to make a decision.”

Ashfield Selectboard supportive of poll pad grant

ASHFIELD — While applications for grant funding through the Center for Tech and Civic Life don’t open until July 16, Ashfield Town Clerk Alexis Fedorjaczenko asked the Selectboard at its Monday meeting if it would sign a letter of support for a grant for poll pads, if needed. The Selectboard voted unanimously to support signing a letter.

Poll pads are “like iPads, but for elections,” according to Fedorjaczenko. In previous elections, Fedorjaczenko has manually gone through the voting list and highlighted residents who were listed as inactive voters due to not filling out the census, meaning once they arrived at the polling station, they would need to sign an affidavit confirming they were still a resident of Ashfield. Poll pads would automate this process, and improve the accuracy and flow of the check-in process, she explained.

In her letter to the board, Fedorjaczenko said that if the town gets a $5,000 grant, it could afford three poll pads, though four poll pads would cover both check-in and check-out.

Summer tag sale coming to Shelburne Falls

SHELBURNE FALLS — The annual “giant tag sale” at St. Joseph Parish will offer jewelry, home goods, furniture and other collectibles on Saturday, Aug. 1, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The church, located at 34 Monroe Ave., will also provide the opportunity for shoppers to enter into a number of raffles, with the prizes being a $100 gift card to Big Y, a $100 Mobil gift card and $100 cash. At the same time, a bake sale and food will be available, with a tea cup auction also taking place.

For more information, call 413-625-6405.

Inactive voter postcards sent to Shelburne residents

SHELBURNE — Town Clerk Joe Judd recently sent inactive voter postcards to all currently inactive voters in Shelburne ahead of the Sept. 1 state primary election.

These voters are currently listed as being inactive due to not filling out the annual census as required by Massachusetts General Law. Completion of the postcard and its delivery will result in the inactive status being removed from the voter registry, and no additional paperwork will be required for voters to go to the polls in September.

With questions, contact townclerk@townofshelburne.ma.gov or 413-625-0300, ext. 3.

‘Hobo encampment’ returning to Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum

SHELBURNE FALLS — Historic reenactors will be at the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum at 14 Depot St. on Saturday, July 18, taking part in an exhibit titled “Hobo Jungle, Rail Yard and Bindle Sticks and Tramp Houses.”

The group is led by Dennis Picard, who has been a museum professional in the living history field for 45 years, with long associations to Old Sturbridge Village, Hancock Shaker Village and other New England museums.

According to an announcement from the museum, the group will establish an “encampment” called a hobo jungle, and encourage visitors to engage with the living history reenactors to understand the lives and struggles of early 20th-century transient laborers. Life’s challenges such as laundry, food gathering, cooking , personal hygiene, finding work and modes of travel are just a few of the topics the program will address.

For more information, visit sftm.org.