EASTHAMPTON — The Nashawannuck Pond Committee is calling for volunteers for WinterFest 2022 on Feb. 12.
As a result of the increased presence of COVID-19, all indoor WinterFest activities have been canceled or postponed. All open volunteer positions are one-hour shifts for outdoor activities.
Openings include: assisting people up and down the bank, if needed for ice harvesting on Nashawannuck Pond, between noon and 3 p.m.; assisting people getting on the wagon for horse-drawn wagon rides, from 1 to 2 p.m.; assisting in road crossing from 50 Payson Ave. across Williston Avenue to the Nashawannuck Pond, from 1 to 2 p.m.; helping to man the pond merchandise and educational table, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and babysitting the inflatable Bumble on the Boardwalk, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Anyone interested in volunteering should email nashawannuckpond@gmail.com. The correspondence should detail the preferred time and activity. Safety vests will be supplied.
The town is slated to receive approximately $1.84 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding over the next two years. All funds need to be spent or dedicated by the end of the calendar year 2024.
To help Southampton determine the ARPA spending plan priorities, the Select Board has compiled a 12-question survey to seek input from residents, said Chris Fowles, board chairman.
“We’ve been talking about how to spend it and the best thing we could do was to get some community involvement, get some perspective from the residents and … better understand how the pandemic has affected people at the household level and business level,” Fowles said.
The survey is available online at www.surveymonkey.com/r/RYFC7MF.
Hard copies of the survey will also be available at the Edwards Public Library and the Senior Center. Once completed, surveys can be mailed to: Southampton Town Hall, ℅ Select Board, 210 College Highway, Southampton, MA 01073. Surveys also can be turned in to the designated collection box outside Town Hall.
Outlook Farm Barn & Eatery in Westhampton is closed until March 31 but will reopen on April 1 to celebrate its 60th anniversary in business.
The historic Westhampton farmhouse, located on Route 66, was built in 1781, according to the business’ website. Originally named the Norton Tavern, the inn was reported to be built for a bride. In 1860, Warner Bartlett bought the tavern and renamed it Outlook Farm. He ran the business until 1920 when Will Fiske bought the farm.
In 1962, Dave and Mary Lee Morse bought Outlook Farm from Will Fiske. In January 1994, Dave and Mary Lee turned the farm over to their eldest son, Bradford Morse and his wife, Erin.
Edwards Public Library, located at 30 East St. in Southampton, is hosting a “Besties Bash” on Saturday, Feb. 12 at 11 a.m. Attendees can make valentines and meet “The Snow Queen.” To register, Call 413-527-9480.
The COVID-19 vaccine clinic at William E. Norris School has been rescheduled from Saturday, Jan. 29 to Saturday, Feb. 5 due to the weekend snowstorm. The clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. To register, visit northamptonma.gov/2219/Vaccine-Clinics.
Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.
