Transfer Station to close Friday

NORTHFIELD — The Transfer Station at 31 Caldwell Road will be closed Friday, Jan. 20, due to anticipated inclement weather. The Transfer Station will be open Saturday during its regular hours of 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Police training funding transferred to Bernardston

LEYDEN — The Selectboard unanimously approved transferring Leyden’s share of police training funding from the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, in the amount of $4,800, to the Bernardston Police Department, which provides policing services to Leyden through an inter-municipal agreement.

Leyden seeks MassTrails grant

LEYDEN — Selectboard member Katherine DiMatteo suggested during a Jan. 3 meeting that the town apply for a MassTrails grant to pay for an assessment of Leyden’s existing trails. Applications are due Feb. 1.

The assessment would describe each trail’s hiking and walking quality, as well as its accessibility for seniors and people with disabilities.

DiMatteo said in a phone interview that Leyden is still trying to gather “any information to help satisfy the grant requirements.”

“My priority is to figure out what a trails assessment would cost,” DiMatteo explained, “and put the grant application in for that, and spend the rest of the year developing concrete ideas and getting estimates for costs.”

DiMatteo said she asked for assistance from Karin Parks, the librarian at Robertson Memorial Library; Jeff Miller, coordinator of the local snowmobile club and president of the Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts; and Recreation Committee Chair John Higgins.

“At this point in time,” she said, “I am in touch with everyone, but I am still waiting on estimates or a consultant and contractor, either private or from (the Franklin Regional Council of Governments), to do an assessment of all the trails, whether it be on public or private property.”

According to the MassTrails website, the award maximum depends on the project type and is generally $60,000 for local projects and up to $500,000 for projects demonstrating critical network connections of regional or statewide significance.

New Planning Board appointed

BERNARDSTON — With the resignation of a member, who is moving out of town, the Selectboard has appointed Pam Nuovo to fill the vacancy.

Nuovo moved to town from Shelburne, Vermont, seven years ago. In her time in Vermont, Nuovo served on the town’s Pedestrian and Bike Paths Committee, which helped plan and fund a bike path through town.

“It’s exciting to see how the community blossomed,” Nuovo said of her experience working with that committee. “I feel like Bernardston is a community with so many resources.”

350th Anniversary Committee member to share event plans

NORTHFIELD — Mary King, a member of the 350th Anniversary Committee, will visit the Northfield Senior Center on Thursday, Feb. 2, at 1 p.m. to speak on the full range of anniversary events planned in 2023.

Events include everything from children’s activities, musical performances, history programs and more.

“There is something for everyone,” King said in a statement.

King will also describe ways that seniors can get involved in the year-long effort.

For more detailed information on her talk, contact King at mary.mking9@gmail.com.

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