WILLIAMSBURG – With the Williamsburg Market currently up for sale, a group of local citizens is trying to assess the viability of the market and the possibility of creating a food co-op to keep a sustainable grocery store in town.
This coming week, the Steering Committee of the Williamsburg Market Project will be sending out a survey to residents, hoping to get important feedback on the community’s interest in a food co-op, and the level of individual commitment there is in helping to forward that goal.
The group is also creating a Go Fund Me account that will be up and running online this week. The group is hoping to raise $10,000 for a feasibility study.
According to Susan McAllister who heads up the Out Reach Committee for the project, the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation has already contributed $2,500 towards the effort and the Hilltown Community Development Corporation has given $800.
“We are also focused on determining the viability of the Williamsburg Market,” McAllister said. “We have already hired a professional to evaluate the business itself and a building inspector to look at the building and facilities.”
The Williamsburg Market Project group was formed after store owners Angie and Jean Duquette announced they wanted to retire and sell the business that they have run for the last 29 years.
The couple has made it clear that their priority is to sell to a buyer or buyers that will maintain the business as a grocery store. They support the idea of a food co-op and have turned down offers from buyers with intentions of turning the market into something other than a grocery store.
A few months ago, the Duquettes turned to the community for help, and a small working group formed, organized by residents Lisa Bertoldi and Claire Bateman.
In May, 160 residents from Williamsburg and several surrounding Hilltowns packed a community forum at the Grange Hall showing overwhelming support for the idea of creating a food co-op at the Williamsburg Market. Since then, the steering committee has been hard at work recruiting volunteers, gathering information on co-ops, funding and a variety of other resources. McAlister said that by September, the group hopes to know how they will proceed.
“We want to know if it makes sense for the community to purchase the market, and we want to know by Labor Day.”
For more information contact: Burgymarketcoop@gmail.com
CUMMINGTON – It Takes a Village is a non-profit organization offering free postpartum support to families with infants and young children living in western Massachusetts. The organization is currently working to raise $10,000 by the end of the fiscal year in order to keep its programs going.
The fundraising has brought in $7,103 thus far and organizers are hoping to raise another $2,897 before July 1.
According to Mollie Hartford, co-executive director of It Takes a Village, the organization receives no state or federal funding and relies on donations and volunteers to fund and operate its programs.
“Our mission is all about community and family coming together to support each other,” Hartford said.
It Takes A Village provides baby clothes, blankets, highchairs, and other items as well as home visits, help with a variety of home tasks, and parent groups. All items and services are offered free of charge.
“If you believe in what we do but you can’t be a volunteer, you can still support us,” Hartford said. “We are asking our village to help us make sure that these programs can continue for families in need.”
Hartford said that the organization is in its 10th year and has grown from serving one family in one town to 1,500 families in 29 different communities and donating over $250,000 baby items every year.
To donate to It Takes A Village, visit Hilltownvillage.org online, or send a check made out to It Takes A Village and mail it to P.O. Box 146, Cummington, MA.
CHESTERFIELD – The Chesterfield Fourth of July celebration is known throughout the Hilltowns as the place to be on Independence Day.
This year, the festivities begin at 7 a.m. with a pancake breakfast at the Fire Station that goes until 10 a.m. Historical exhibits will be on display at the Edwards Museum from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and an art show will be on display from 9:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Town Hall.
The hour-long parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. after which there will be a chicken barbecue, classic car show, magic show and face painting, firefighters competitions and a family softball game.
For your listening and dancing pleasure, the popular orchestra The Heritage Pops will be providing lively big band tunes on the lawn of the Town Hall.
Ideas for this column on life in the Hilltowns can be sent to Fran Ryan at Fryan.gazette@gmail.com.