WILLIAMSBURG – The Hilltown Resource Management Cooperative is looking for a leader after Kathleen Casey, the organization’s administrator, steps down from the post in April after 7½ years.
“I feel like I’m going to miss the work that I have done with the towns,” Casey said. “They benefit tremendously from having a cooperative venture.”
The HRMC serves its 10 member towns by providing recycling, waste disposal, technical assistance, and sustainability services to them. The member towns of the HRMC are Ashfield, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Huntington, Middlefield, Plainfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg and Worthington.
The contracted position the HRMC is looking to fill is 25 hours a week without benefits.
“Whomever is taking this job has to be a very good collaborator,” Casey said, adding that the position also requires a good communicator.
Those interested in applying for the position can send a resume and cover letter to the search committee at compostcween@comcast.net with HRMC Administrator Position in the cutline.
The Meekins Library is holding a food drive for the Burgy Pantry through this month, with the goal to stock the food pantry until it’s bursting.
“There seems to be a need in the community, a quiet need,” said Daria D’Arienzo, who helps to run the Burgy Pantry and serves as the archivist at the Meekins Library.
She said the food pantry is available for people 24/7 to either take from or donate to on the porch of the Williamsburg Grange, although D’Arienzo said donations should be dropped off at the library for the duration of the drive.
During Feburary, the library will be taking in food, paper products, personal care products, and pet supplies. These can be deposited in a collection box at Meekins and there’s also a donation cannister for monetary donations. All monetary donations go to gift cards for grocery stores, D’Arienzo said.
Those with questions can email D’Arienzo at ddarienzo@me.com or they can call the library at 413-268-7472.
Drummer David Bond Engelhard will be appearing at the Hilltown Memory Cafe on Feb. 23.
“It’s going to be kind of interactive drumming,” said Crystal Wright-Partyka, the facilitator for the cafe’s caregiver support group and the main contact for senior outreach with the Huntington Council on Aging.
Englehard teaches at Tanglewood and has played with such luminaries as Peter Frampton, the Pointer Sisters and Robert Palmer.
Englehard’s late mother also had Alzeheimer’s, and he noted how she was able to connect with rhythm even late in life.
“She would tap exactly in time,” he said.
Engelhard plans on using hand drums as part of his program to include the audience in the performance, although he said he’s still finalizing what it will look like.
The Hilltown Memory Cafe is held at Stanton Hall in Huntington every Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. The Cafe is designed to assist those with memory issues through the art and music activities it offers, although it is open to all people. It also hosts a group for those caring for loved one with memory issues.
Those requiring transport to the cafe can call FRTA van driver Richard Homan at 860-836-1844 to schedule an appointment by 6:00 p.m. the day prior.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.