WILLIAMSBURG – Organizers of the Save the Burgy Market Steering Committee say they are making progress on their investigation into the sustainability of the Williamsburg Market and the possibilities for a creating a food co-op in its place.
Committee member Susan McAllister said that initial efforts are well underway including assessments of the building and the business, a business feasibility study, a community survey, and a GoFundMe fundraising campaign that has already brought in close to $10,000 since it was set up three weeks ago.
The committee has also received grants for $8,000 from Hilltown CDC and $2,500 from the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation.
This money will be used to pay for the assessments, feasibility study, and the community survey that has been sent out to residents of Williamsburg, as well as Ashfield, Chesterfield, Worthington, Cummington, Plainfield, Goshen, and Westhampton.
The committee is hoping for a large return of the surveys, as this will provide important feedback on grocery shopping trends and priorities, the importance of a locally owned grocer, and the level of support in the Hilltowns for the creation of a food co-op.
The Save the Burgy Market Steering Committee was formed in May when current store owners Angie and Jean Duquette sought help from the community in finding a buyer or buyers for the market that would continue its operation as a grocery store.
Under various names, the market in Williamsburg has served the Hilltown communities as a local grocer for almost 100 years.
The Duquettes, who have owned the business for the last 30 years, are hoping to sell to a buyer or buyers who will keep that tradition going, as the loss of this local business would mean that Hilltown residents would have to travel to cities and towns out of the area to shop for food and household supplies.
While the couple has received offers from individuals wanting to buy the property and turn it into other types of business, they have consistently turned down these offers.
They are now waiting to see if the Hilltown communities will step up to create a viable local food market for the area.
McAllister said that the committee will be holding a community meeting at the end of the summer to announce the results of the assessments and the survey.
Until then she wants the public to know that the committee is hard at work and is stressing the importance of filling out the market survey.
“We want people to know we have been very busy and are making headway into our mandate of assessing the possibility of a community purchase of the market,” McAllister said. “We also want them to watch for the survey in their mailboxes and complete it!”
The survey can also be taken online at: http://tinyurl.com/burgymarket. For more information or to be added to the email list, contact burgymarketcoop@gmail.com.
CUMMINGTON – This weekend, the William Cullen Bryant Homestead invites the public to experience a day of 19th century rural living and home life.
On Saturday and Sunday, the Homestead will recreate an early 1800’s farm community where visitors can meet craftspeople, tradespeople, and farmworkers as they demonstrate the historic skills of blacksmithing, shoemaking, straw braiding, cooking, timber framing and more.
Visitors can also enjoy a ballgame, picnic lunch, a hike on the Rivulet Trail, and explore the homestead’s maple sugar orchard.
Entrance fees are $11 for adult members, $7 for child members, $18 for adult non-members, and $12 for child non-members. For more information contact 200-7262 or acaluori@thetrustees.org.
GOSHEN – Join the Goshen Women’s Club as they host the first “Goshen Summer Fest,” a day of food, music, games and family fun.
The event will take place at Tilton Field on Wing Hill Road on Saturday, July 27, from noon until 5 p.m.
Hamburgers, hotdogs, snacks and beverages will be available for purchase, craft and merchandise vendors will be on the grounds, and the band Sidetrack will provide musical entertainment. Admission is free.
PLAINFIELD – On Wednesday, July 24, the Plainfield Council on Aging will host attorney Edmund St. John who will provide a presentation on elders and legal issues.
St. John will address legal planning for families including areas such as setting up a power of attorney, health care proxies, creating a legal trust, estate planning, and other legal matters.
This presentation will take place during the COA luncheon at the Town Hall. There will be cards and games from 11 a.m. until lunch is served at noon followed by St. Johns remarks.
Ideas for this column on life in the Hilltowns can be sent to Fran Ryan at Fryan.gazette@gmail.com.