Town-wide Nichewaug Meeting Held

Fifty-one residents attended an open discussion of options for the Nichewaug property at the town hall at 6:30 p.m. on October 17. Town Moderator Bart Wendell ran the meeting as residents shared ideas for the property from open space to mixed uses to senior housing. Wendell opened the meeting by saying the town has been seeking ideas for the property for nearly ten years and  "It is time to have a conversation."

A town-wide mailing was sent to 900-plus voters to announce the meeting. Wendell said a series of  meetings could determine a consensus -- an agreement to suggest what, if anything, to do about the complex. The next session will be held in three weeks.

Wendell said the planned meeting was not a formal public meeting even though several town officials were present.

The Board of Selectmen plans to ask voters for more broadband borrowing at a November special town meeting and set the amount at about $800,000 while the town waits for a definite reimbursement promise from state agencies. A draft document outlining the promised payback, which won't happen until the local system is built and running, is in the hands of the lawyers for review.

If the deal is not final by the November town meeting date, Selectboard chair Nancy Allen told the Finance Committee on Oct. 9, that meeting will have to be scrubbed. "If we don't get a signed agreement from MBI (Massachusetts Broadband Institute) we will cancel the town meeting," she said. FinComm member Mark  Bishop asked, "You could lose your $560,000 ante?" Allen said, "Yes." 

Broadband committee member John Blum told the meeting that the town will have to pay the utility companies to  upgrade utility poles and pay to relocate fiber optic cables that MBI installed all along East and North Main Streets to make room for new cables.

About 15 residents attended an information meeting to bring residents up to date on the town's broadband project for 7 p.m. October 10 in town hall. The Selectboard recently scheduled a  special town meeting to propose borrowing about $800,000 for the project and expects that the town will be reimbursed by the state when the system is completely built and operating.

2019 Tax Rate Estimate Heading Upward

Assessor Dana Kennan told Selectmen Oct. 9 that the 2019 tax rate will be up about four percent from $16.37 to $17.07 and an average single family home tax  bill will rise from $3,919 to $4,128 in the coming months.

In other business, the board voted to open the wood bank at the transfer station on Nov. 3. Vouchers for firewood will be available at the town office starting October 15. Volunteers will be stacking wood at the dump on Sunday Oct. 14

The board appointed David Boeri of North Main Street and Anne Cavanaugh of East Street to vacant seats on the Conservation Commission.

Mostly Wandering Dogs and Hatching Turtles

ACO Call Log September 2018

09/02@3p Report of loose dog near 122 and New Athol Road. Dog located and returned to owner.

09/03@11a Resident update regarding hatched turtles in yard. Advice given.

09/04@8a Resident reports unknown dog walking in middle of West Road. Owner located and notified.

09/07a@9a Resident requesting information about turtle rehab options for HBC turtle on Route 122. Resident willing to transport to Tufts Wildlife.

09/08@1p Resident request to borrow trap for lost cat. Trap loaned.

09/14@8:45p Resident call to inform circumstances regarding raccoon in shed. Advice given. Deceased animal retrieved using rabies precautions. State Lab notified and disposition advice followed.

09/17@2p Resident reports house cat is missing. Does not want a PAWS Alert sent. Suggestions given to help locate.

09/20@6p Owner of above called to say cat was at home when she returned from work. Though cat appeared fine, suggested she contact her veterinarian.

09/24@2p Dispatch report of loose dog on New Athol Road. Dog identified, owner contacted.

09/26@3p Resident call to discuss options for nuisance wildlife getting into trash. Options given.

09/27@4p Resident call to follow up on nuisance wildlife and discuss best option.

09/30@12:30p Dispatch and resident call for loose dog on Route 32 near Athol Line. Dog brought to a Petersham location by finder. Dog picked up and brought to Petersham Animal Shelter. FB post/PAWS Alert. Owner called at 1:30p stating she is visiting a relative in Petersham and dog wandered off. Met owner at Shelter at 2pm, dog returned to owner..

Loss of Tree Species Prompts Reflection and Action
 
The Harvard Forest Fisher Museum will host a public event from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday October 20, 2018, to explore species loss and encourage community action. A panel discussion and Q&A by experts on invasive species and human decision-making will augment guided tours of Hemlock Hospice, a field-based sculpture installation created by Harvard Forest Fellow David Buckley Borden. A short documentary film will also premiere.

The program will focus mainly on eastern hemlock, a widespread tree in southern New England forests that has been the focus of intensive study at the Harvard Forest for many decades. Hemlocks are now dying across the East coast and throughout southern New England, due to an invasive, aphid-like insect called the hemlock woolly adelgid. Scientists project that hemlock forests in Massachusetts will be functionally extinct by 2025.

The film screening will be followed by a second guided tour of the art exhibition from 2:15 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Hemlock Hospiceexhibitwill remain on view at the Harvard Forest through November 18, 2018.

Members of a "Petersham Committee" held an informational meeting to explain their plans to create a way to help residents age in place in town. Forty community members attended the  meeting at the center School cafeteria September 26. Petersham presently  has limited services for elders.

Jim Reagan told the group the plan is to follow a "Village to Village" model to recruit subscribers and volunteers who might provide services like home making, yard work, trips to the grocery store and more. He said the nearest similar working model of such a group is Monadnock at Home in Southern New Hampshire. Such groups began with Beacon Hill Village in Boston and have spread across the country. With volunteers and paid staff, they collect information about available services and service providers and volunteers to hep senior members of their communities.

The group plans a follow-up organizational meeting after the Age Council luncheon on October 22 and will discuss forming an advisory council.