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Petersham Has Lost a Great Friend

Selectman Frederik (Rik) Marsh died in the morning hours of January 7, 2021 while recuperating from a fall and after spending several days in the hospital.
rik

Whether Rik was supervising and helping residents at the transfer station each week or stopping at the Friday Market for an ear of fresh corn to eat on the spot or taking notes as clerk of the Selectboard, Rik was a central figure in the life of our small town. He kept our July 4 parade, begun as a neighbors' walk around the Old Maid's Mile by the late Beth Cummings, alive and he ran a private stray cat rescue at his West Street home.

An election to fill the vacancy will me held May 17 and will include incumbent Henry Woolsey's re-election bid as well. Selectboard chair Nancy Allen commented as follows:

"The Selectboard is saddened by the unexpected death of fellow Selectman Rick Marsh after a brief illness and our thoughts are with his family at this time.

The Selectboard will be reviewing next steps as allowed by law -- filling the seat by either holding a Special Election or at the next Regular Annual Election which has been set for May 17. Petersham's local election is held on the first Monday of March, but due to COVID19 and as allowed by law, the Town Clerk requested moving the date to May 17, and the Selectboard concurred with that recommendation.

As reviewed with the Town Clerk at the time of taking that action, the hope is that the COVID19 vaccination programs will be further along and surges will have quelled, plus it provided a much-needed break for election workers from the rigorous election processes of Fall 2020. It is unlikely that a Special Election will be inserted into the timeline given the original reason for moving the date and how close any Special Election date would end of being to the May 17th Election.

The key focus of the Selectboard from January thru April is the town's budget. That annual work is a joint effort between the Selectboard and the Advisory Finance Committee working with all town departments and committees. With that primary focus, it is likely that waiting until May to fill the now open seat will work out with no harm done and is logistically best for all including the Town Clerk for her process and for her team of poll workers. This process will be further reviewed at an upcoming Selectboard meeting."

-Nancy Allen

Chair, Petersham Selectboard

Hospitals Must Now Post Their Prices

Good news for anyone who has ever been surprised by medical bills - hospitals must now post their prices for all to see. Kaiser Health News and others are reporting the new requirements.

Hospitals face the new year with new requirements to post price information they have long sought to obscure: the actual prices negotiated with insurers and the discounts they offer their cash-paying customers. That could allow consumers to shop for the best price for nearby services.

The move is part of a larger push by the Trump administration to use price transparency to curtail prices and create better-informed consumers.

As of Jan. 1, facilities must publicly post on their websites prices for every service, drug and supply they provide. Next year, under a separate rule, health insurers must take similar steps.

With the new hospital rule, consumers should be able to see the tremendous variation in prices for the exact same care among hospitals and get an estimate of what they will be charged for care — before they seek it.

Reports:As many as one third of all Americans reportedly struggle to pay medical charges.

Fire Damages East Street Home house fire

On Dec. 31, fire damaged a home at 21 East Street. Mutual aid from Athol, Barre, Hardwick, New Salem, Orange, Phillipston and Woods Ambulance saved the structure and the 4 cats in the house. No one was injured.

Polly Pillsbury, whose mother Bina (Mary) Pillsbury, 94, lives in the home, said she was just arriving at 9:30 a.m. for a visit and to feed the cats when the fire broke out in a power strip at the Christmas tree. Polly said she put her mother out of the house with her dog and was prevented by smoke from finding the cats as she called 911.

While still working the structure fire, crews were diverted to put out a working chimney fire at 51 Birch Drive in Petersham.

Animal Control Call Log Summary
December 2020

12/01 Contact from resident regarding stray cat in the area, trap loaned out to homeowner. (Trap subsequently returned as it appears cat has left the area.)

12/03 @7:30a Resident request to remove HBC rabbit located in front of home on East. Services rendered.
12/03 @8a Call from PPD regarding resident at the station to file complaint related to dog issue. Situation discussed with officer and subsequent follow up plan reviewed.

12/04 @10a Call for loose goat. Goat was found shortly after call placed

12/08 Several messages regarding loose horse, to area, owner previously identified

12/10 @1:30p Resident call regarding loose dog near Post Office. To area, dog returned to owner, discussion regarding ongoing concern

@5p Call from dispatch regarding call received from resident. Caller is requesting animal control look for what they believe is an injured cat crying in the woods behind the home. To area, nothing found.

12/11 @5p Trap dropped at residence for above situation with cat.

@6:15p Cat successfully trapped and transported to animal shelter.

12/16 @7:30a Discussion with Chief Cooley regarding animal issue and health of owner in town. Over the course of the day, several conversations ensued.

12/17 Multiple calls to various agencies regarding resolution options for above.

12/19 @9:30-11a Site visit to above location to discuss plans with others involved.

12/21 @9-11:30a Meet with outside agency to crate and move multiple animals for evaluation and medical care at a veterinary facility.

@6:30p Call for loose dog on the Common. To area, owner identified, dog returned to owner.

12/27 @8:30p Resident call for two dogs that left yard unattended. PAWS FB alert posted. Animals returned on their own during the night/early morning.

12/28 @9a Teleconference with outside agency regarding animals previously removed from home.

12/31 @9a To shelter to prepare housed cat for veterinary appointment. Transport provided by others.

@9:30a To house fire location. While awaiting PFD okay to go in to home to look for cats, prepared small triage area. Dog was previously secured and with owner.

@11:15a Permission given by PFD Chief Robinson to enter home. The four cats were located in various locations in the house, safely captured, placed in carriers, and brought to triage area.

@12p Cats transported by animal control to veterinary facility for evaluation

@2:30p Three of four cats transported to home of family member. Family member to transport one animal to Angell for further medical intervention.

@5p Transport homeowner of above and dog to temporary housing here in Petersham

@7:30p Call from PPD regarding ongoing issue with loose dog

Notes: Daily cat care for animal in shelter from 12/11-12/31.

Open Burning Can Start January 15

Depending on wind and weather, open burning of brush may start January 15. Open burning permits will be available between 7:30 AM and 12:00 Noon, January 15 through May 1.

Permits are only issued between 7:30 AM and 12:00 Noon.
Permits are only issued on the day that you wish to burn.
No permits are issued in advance due to the potential for changing weather conditions.

Massachusetts allows residents to burn brush between January 15 and May 1, depending on weather conditions. You must obtain permission from the town in which you plan to burn brush.

Some towns served by the New Braintree State Police Dispatch office offer burning permits online at c8burnpermits.com. If you are burning in Petersham, visit the site between 7:30 a,m. and noon to obtain a permit on the day you want to burn brush. Permit availability on a given day will depend on weather conditions.

Regulations

You may only burn brush. All other materials are illegal. No leaves, grass, hay, stumps, building debris or any other materials are allowed to be burned.
All open burning must be a minimum of 75 feet from buildings or structures.
Burning will be allowed to start at 10:00 a.m. and extinguished by 4pm.
Any open fire must be attended at all times by the permit holder.
No person shall set, maintain or increase a fire in open air at any time except by permission.
You must be 18 years or older to apply for a permit and/or set, maintain or increase a fire once permission has been granted by the Fire Department.
You must have an appropriate means to extinguish an open air fire completely at the end of the day or if requested by the Fire Department.
The Fire Department can refuse or cancel a permit at any time. (Example: Violation of permit regulations, or change in weather conditions.)
Open burning season is January 15 - May 1.

Almost 90 Percent of Petersham Voters Cast Ballots

Final national results of the presidential election are not decided but Petersham voters mainly supported Joe Biden according to Town Clerk Diana Cooley.

Eighty seven percent of the town's 1,009 registered voters cast ballots, either voting early or in person. Approximately 460 early votes were cast early either by mail or in a drop box. The rest were cast on election day. Cooley said that adds up to an 87 percent turnout.

Joe Biden received 528 votes. Donald Trump got 321 votes.

The Board of Health has closed the swap shed at the transfer station until further notice to help minimize possible exposure too possible Covid-19 contaminants.

The Board also reminds residents that by state orders, residents should not bring returnable containers to the shed for redemption. Do not leave returnable cans/bottles or swap items at the shed. Returnables may be kept at home storage or put in the town recycle bin. Masks required. These steps are aimed at minimizing exposure to possible Covid- 19 contaminants.