DEERFIELD — The Selectboard made an impassioned plea at its Wednesday meeting for residents to get vaccinated as the Delta variant of COVID-19 continues to spread across Massachusetts and the world.
Selectboard member Carolyn Shores Ness said the Delta variant is now the dominant strain in the state and residents need to be mindful that the pandemic is still evolving.
“Remember, your vaccine is not like a force field,” Shores Ness said. “We’ll keep you posted and updated as much as possible.”
Selectboard member Trevor McDaniel said the vaccination effort was effective, but an unvaccinated population gives the virus a chance to continue to adapt.
“We’ve done a great job in Deerfield and Franklin County as far as vaccinations, but we haven’t done an excellent job,” McDaniel said. “If this virus has the ability to mutate again from the Delta variant to something we cannot protect, then everything gets shut down again and our economy gets destroyed.”
Selectboard Chair David Wolfram’s message was more blunt. He said his grandchildren and other children in town are the ones who could be affected by the virus because they are ineligible to be vaccinated right now.
“We don’t need close-minded people to jeopardize everybody else,” Wolfram said. “I don’t care if this is coming across harsh or not because I don’t care. I want to be harsh about it. People should be vaccinated if they can get vaccinated.”
Personnel Board
vacancy filled
DEERFIELD — The Selectboard has appointed Jennifer Reynolds to the Personnel Board after putting out a call for volunteers last week.
Reynolds works with the town of Amherst and is the office manager of its Senior Center.
Tilton Library
holding last Monday Night Music show
SOUTH DEERFIELD — Tilton Library will host its final Monday Night Music performance of the summer on Aug. 2, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Local indie artist Aaron Cooper will perform. The event is free and attendees are encouraged to bring their own chair. The library will also hand out free ice cream.
The rain date is Aug. 9.
SUNDERLAND — Town Administrator Geoffrey Kravitz said Sunderland is looking for additional volunteers for its Council on Aging.
Residents ages 60 and over who are interested in volunteering may contact the Council on Aging at councilonaging@townofsunderland.us. They may also contact Kravitz at townadmin@townofsunderland.us or 413-665-1441, ext. 9.
SUNDERLAND — More than $1 million will be granted to the town through the federal American Rescue Plan, according to Town Administrator Geoffrey Kravitz.
Kravitz said the town will be “brainstorming” ideas on how to spend the money, but he suggested it will go toward revenue replacement, infrastructure and community health. There is no rush, he added; the town has until Dec. 31, 2024 to spend the money.
SOUTH DEERFIELD — The Friends of Deerfield is organizing a painting fundraiser for the town’s 350th celebration behind Tilton Library on Sunday, Aug. 8, at 3 p.m.
The event will be a 90-minute class led by local artist Jocelyn Glabach. Attendees will paint their “vision of the Deerfield River” in the fall.
Tickets are $36 and include painting supplies, an instructor’s fee and snacks. Participants are asked to register at bit.ly/2WmsR8u.
Attendees are also asked to bring a folding chair to sit in. The event will be held outside and the rain date is Sept. 26.