NAMI event to feature conversations on mental health

SHELBURNE FALLS — The Water Street Barn & Studio at 31 Water St. will host an afternoon of live music and conversations on mental health to support the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Massachusetts on Sunday, Aug. 18, at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $10, with proceeds supporting NAMI.

Ashfield commits opioid settlement funds to regional recovery efforts

ASHFIELD — The Selectboard has agreed to allocate $332 of the town’s opioid settlement funds to support addiction recovery projects spearheaded by the Franklin Regional Council of Governments.

Board of Health member Lynn Dole told the Selectboard during its Monday meeting that the town was awarded $10,337 as part of the nationwide opioid settlement, announced in July 2021. The money will be paid in installments over the next 18 years.

After much discussion, Ashfield Board of Health members agreed that the best use of the money would be to put it toward regional efforts. Boards of health from across Franklin County met and determined that if they pooled their resources, they would have $20,000 a year.

“Each small town in and of itself couldn’t do a lot with that funding, but if we pooled our energy together through FRCOG we could do more,” Dole explained.

Dole said FRCOG has identified three programs to support with these funds: The RECOVER Project, a Greenfield-based nonprofit offering peer support groups and recovery coaching; Moms Do Care, a statewide program supporting pregnant and postpartum individuals struggling with substance abuse; and the Center for Human Development, which has locations across the state and is looking to offer more peer recovery coaches.

The Selectboard voted unanimously to accept the Board of Health’s recommendation to allocate the funds to FRCOG for the next two years.

Ashfield Lake House gains permanent liquor license

ASHFIELD — Two weeks after her grand opening, new owner Gretchen Gerstner has been granted an annual liquor license allowing beer, wine and mixed drinks to be served at the Ashfield Lake House.

The Selectboard has been approving one-day liquor licenses for the restaurant since it reopened under new ownership on July 31. Now, after receiving approval from the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission to transfer the old license to the new owner, the board has signed off on the annual license that will expire and need to be renewed at the end of December.

Selectboard members were delighted to sign the license and see the return of the popular restaurant.

“The place was slammed yesterday,” Chair Steven Gougeon said. “It’s nice to see it back open again.”

Contract for road repairs awarded to Warner Bros.

SHELBURNE — Roadwork will begin soon as the Selectboard has awarded a $723,000 contract to Sunderland-based Warner Bros. LLC for necessary repairs and safely improvements to Old Greenfield Road.

Work is set to include culvert replacement and resurfacing for a 1.5-mile stretch of Old Greenfield Road.

While a timeline for construction has not yet been set, Selectboard member Andrew Baker said that Warner Bros. and new Highway Superintendent Jeff Johnston want to get work underway as soon as possible to complete it before construction season ends and cold weather arrives. However, before work can begin, the town will need to figure out how to remove a large amount of knotweed in the area.

Baker said there are several possible ways to remove the invasive plants, including expensive chemical treatments or having Highway Department laborers dig up and backfill the area. Officials are seeking advice from the Conservation Commission.

“It will slow down the launching of our road project until we can address it,” he said.

Town mechanic takes on interim highway supt. role

COLRAIN — Longtime town mechanic Nate Gilbert has agreed to serve as interim highway superintendent.

Colrain has been without a highway superintendent since March, when former Superintendent Steven Daby died. During Tuesday’s Selectboard meeting, Gilbert agreed to take on the role of superintendent while also continuing with his mechanic duties and keeping the equipment running. He will be paid the superintendent salary of $77,127 that was budgeted for the year, as well as a $500 biweekly stipend for mechanic duties.

Town Administrator Diana Parsons said the Selectboard plans to review Gilbert’s work in February and, if all goes well, he will be given the opportunity to become the town’s permanent highway superintendent. His role of mechanic will not be replaced, but combined with the superintendent role for a salary of $90,131.

“He’s been a longtime employee and he deserves an opportunity to step into this role,” Parsons said. “But he’s had a job here for years that he’s loved, being a mechanic, and he’s good at it. … He also deserves an opportunity to step back into that mechanic role if he wishes.”

Parsons said Gilbert’s appointment is a step toward stabilizing the department and getting it fully staffed. The town is looking to hire additional laborers and will evaluate the department’s needs further in February.