THE COLRAIN CLARION

What’s Your Number

To obtain a house number, please fill out the form below and return to:

ABCS TRIAD

c/o Shelburne Senior Center

7 Main St.

Shelburne, MA 01370

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Name:__________________________________

Address:_____________________

Telephone:______________________________

I would like house number(s)______________

HOMEBOUND DELIVERY PROGRAM

The Homebound Delivery Program is a service offered by the Griswold Memorial Library in Colrain. Its purpose is to deliver books to Colrain residents who are unable to travel to the library.

The service is intended to serve people who are homebound for any reason, including people with permanent or temporary disabilities or health problems, patrons who are unable to get out because of inclement weather, and members of the community who have been hospitalized or are temporary confined in nursing homes.

For information about receiving services from the Homebound Delivery Program, call library director Betty Johnson at 624-3619. For information about becoming a volunteer, please call Rachel Cohen-Rottenberg, coordinator of the Homebound Delivery Program, at 624-3921.

THE BRICK MEETING HOUSE

An Overview

The Brick Meeting House (B.M.H.) known first as the Congregational Church and later as the Colrain Community Church traces its genesis to Chandler Hill and the first settlers to our township. When the nascent town’s demographics began to shift from the ridge to the river valley below, the house of worship followed and was recreated near the North River Cemetery. The B.M.H. was built in 1833-34 at its present location. The steeple wasn’t added until about thirty years later when funding became available.

The B.M.H. served as both a house of worship and as a public meeting hall even after the enactment of the “Separation of Church and State” in the 1830s. Town meetings were usually day-long events with meals prepared and served on the first floor by the ladies. It’s not clear when the building became solely a house of worship.

In the 1960s the United Church of Christ, concerned with declining church attendance, merged with the Congregational and Methodist churches. Practical considerations were behind this merger as well since the Congregational church had a furnace while the Methodist across the town common did not. In a spirit of ecumenism the Congregational became the winter church, the Methodist served the congregants in the warmer months. Still, weekly attendance continued to decline.

In the 1970s under the direction of Mr. Elmer, the Congregational church adopted a more fundamentalist view and the Colrain Community Church was born. Much like the Great Awakenings that had swept across New England in the second quarter of the 18^th century, Mr. Elmer focused on inculcating a renewed spiritual zeal and sense of urgency in his flock. The congregation, now an admixture of old and new parishioners, began to grow weary of weekly worship in the old building and set their sights on a modern facility, free of the more traditional trappings of Congregationalism. To this end the B.M.H. and the former Methodist churches were put up for sale.

In 1992 four Colrain residents, Hale Johnson, Phil Sherburne, the late James Boulger and Brad Brigham, came together in a last-minute effort to save the building from the wrecking ball. The intent was to restore the building and make it available for public use as a multi-purpose, non-denominational facility and the Coleraine Land & Historic Building Preservation Society, Inc (a 501(c)3 non-profit entity) was formed in 1993. The B.M.H. represents the first project of the C.L.& H.B.P.S.

A great deal of restoration work has been done over the past 12 years, but much remains to be done. The upstairs Sanctuary for instance needs a new ceiling. In addition, the steeple needs to be rebuilt, the brickwork needs re-pointing, a new bathroom needs to be constructed and the all the wood from the roof down needs to be scraped and painted.

We thank everyone who has contributed over the years and urge others to help us continue our work maintaining this grand old edifice that stands so majestically in the center of our town. Contributions can be made to the C.L.& H.B.P.S., Inc, c/o Brad Brigham, treasurer, 58 Jacksonville Rd, Colrain 01340. Phone 624-0190 or 3638.

TOWN OFFICE HOURS & INFORMATION

Town Clerk, Main Office - Clerk to Conservation Commission, Board of Health & assistant to the Collector/Treasurer - Monday through Thursday 9am to 4 pm and Monday evenings 7—9 pm. 624-3454

Collector/Treasurer - Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 9am to 3 pm. 624-5549

Assessors’ Office - Tuesday and Wednesday between 9am and 4 pm. Also the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 7 to 9 pm. 624-3356

Selectman meet on Monday evenings at 7 pm. Call the administration assistant at 624-6306 with Selectmen’s business or for appointment on their agenda.

Building Inspector - Wednesday evenings 6 to 8 pm 624-3356

Accountant - By appointment call 624-3356

Police Department - Non-emergency call 625-8200. Call 911 for emergency

FID Cards, pistol permits, etc - Monday evenings 7:30 to 9 pm 624-2454

Transfer Station - Open Saturdays from 8am to 4 pm. The transfer station is a full recycling facility. Trash bags must be purchased and are available at Pine Hill Orchard, Colrain Supergas and at the transfer station

Griswold Library - Open Mondays and Fridays from 3 to 8 pm, Wednesdays from 10 am to 8 pm and on Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm.

Conservation Commission meets on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 7 pm at the old town office.

Board of Health meets the last Wednesday of the month at 7 pm at the old town office.

Finance Committee meets on 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at the old town office

Personnel Committee meets on 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at the old town office

Planning Board meets on 1st Thursday of the month at old town office

Zoning Board of Appeals meets as needed at the old town office

REAL ESTATE TAXES

November 28th was the last day to pay real estate and personal property taxes to the town without additional interest being added. Anyone looking to file for abatements and exemptions should do so within 30 days of mailing of the tax bill or as governed by MGLs. Questions regarding the payment of taxes may be asked by calling Leah Coburn, Tax Collector at 624-5549. Questions regarding the amount assessed, abatements, exemptions, or chapter land may be asked by calling Cherrie Smart at 624-3356 or stopping at the town office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9am to 4pm.

From the office of the Town Clerk…………..

Hunting Dates for this fall and Winter:

Deer (Shotgun) Nov 28 - December 10

Deer(Muzzleloader) Dec 12 - December 31

To obtain a License to Carry, or a Firearms Identification card, contact your local police department. Officer Melinda Herzig is in the town office Monday evenings from 7:30 until 9 pm.

A hunting, fishing or trapping license is not a permit to trespass on private land, posted or not. Remember, your privilege to enter on private land is a courtesy extended to you by the owner.

Hunting, trapping, fishing and sporting licenses do not have to be displayed in a visible manner, but must be shown on demand to any officer empowered to enforce these laws, and to landowners or lessees while on their property.

This information is taken from the Abstracts of the 2005 Mass Fish & Wildlife Laws.

PLANNING BOARD CONTACT LIST

Dave Purrington,. Chair	625-8208 (wk) 624-9611 (hm)
Linda Magee	624-0262
C. Leigh Morrell	624-1200 (wk) 624-1202 (hm)
Kenneth Avery	624-8822
Terrence Maloney	624-3481

BRUSSLE SPROUTS CO-OP

Did you know that Colrain has a monthly Food Co-Op. It is called “Brussels Sprouts” and it is part of the United Natural Foods network that supplies a large variety of wholesome natural foods at Co-Op prices. For more information check out: http://www.unitedbuyingclubs.com If you are still interested contact Betty Johnson about how to join or get specific information about this club.

MOHAWK TRAIL SAFE HOMES

PARENT NETWORK

Seeking Committee Members, Parent and Community Support

Safe Homes is a communication network for parents invested in ensuring a safe social environment for local youth. Last year, almost 50% of Mohawk families joined the network, pledging to supervise all youth gatherings/parties at their homes; not to allow the possession or use of alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs.

For more information check out http://www.safehomes.org/ or http://eccpasa.info/safehomes.htm. The Mohawk Safe Homes Parent Network is supported by the Community Coalition for Teens, 278 Main St, Ste. 411, Greenfield, MA

01301, Phone 413-774-1194 x116.

THE STORY OF CATAMOUNT HILL

Catamount Hill’s natural environment and intriguing history are explored in a 20-page prose account by Carol Purington. Drawing on material preserved by writers of the past and storytellers of the present, she has retold the tale for those who are new to the fascinations of the Hill, as well as those who have been familiar with it since childhood. The booklet includes eight sepia illustrations plus the cover photograph, in color, of the Davenport Flag. It is available at the Griswold Memorial Library for $5 or by mail for $6 from Carol Purington, Woodslawn Farm, 152 Wilson Hill Road, Colrain, MA 01340.

The COLRAIN CLARION is an all-volunteer community supported quarterly newsletter. Deadline for articles for the April issue is March 15, 2006. Please send articles, information, corrections or suggestions to :

estamas@mtdata.com and/or keldaby@mtdata.com

SAVE ENERGY THIS WINTER

As the weather gets colder many people are worrying about how to pay for their increased energy costs. The answer lies in conserving wisely and here are some specific hints that I hope will help you save money and save energy so shortages and price spikes don’t occur this winter. If your want to know how to insulate your house better, consult your utility for an energy audit or go to a knowledgeable hardware store or carpenter for answers. If you wish you could burn wood but can’t, there is a new fuel called biodiesel that is available in our area for the first time. COOP Power is also bringing vegetable oil burners and supporting a biodiesel plant in Greenfield. For more info call Rice Oil or see: http://www.cooppower.com

Another local group is developing a website to aid those who want to save gas by carpooling. Call 888-426-6688 or http://www.commute.com for info as to how to save money and energy by sharing rides. Some college students and single people might want to consider not having a car at all and using the thousands of dollars saved to buy public transportation or to pay to be part of a carpool.

One can also reduce stress and over consumption during the holidays by buying fewer material gifts and giving the gift of a visit and help around the house to your older friends and relatives. We are fortunate to live in a progressive area where we can help at food pantries, community meals, and many other projects, regardless of our beliefs. Let’s choose to do one or two new things each season and I am sure you will be amazed at how we each can reduce our energy consumption and make our community a better place to live.

CALENDAR - EVENTS and MEETINGS

ON-GOING

Cub Scouts: Tiger, wolf, bear and Webelo dens. Mondays at 6:30 – 7:30 pm at Dennison Center. Information, June Kimberley 624-3965

Boy Scouts: Wednesdays at 6:30 pm, Colrain Community Church.

Contact Donald Stetson Sr. 625-2614

DECEMBER

2 - Spaghetti Supper and bingo put on by 6th grade at Elementary School

3 – 4 Victorian Christmas, Colrain Historical Society

4 - Christmas Concert, 2 PM at 6 Brick Meeting House

7- Blood Pressure Clinic hosted by Colrain Ambulance at Pine Hill Orchards Restaurant,

9 – 11 AM. Also Dec 14, 21 and 28 at Colrain Fire Station

15 - Colrain Center Historic District Information Meeting 7:30 PM,

Colrain Central School cafeteria

24 - Christmas Eve Service 8 pm, Second Baptist Church, Christian Hill

JANUARY

18 - Book Discussion group 7 pm library (see Article)

21 - Community Potluck “Cabin Fever” at Colrain Community Church 6:30 pm

22 - Friends of Griswold Library meeting at 7 pm at the library

25 - Snow date for Book Discussion Group

28 - Snow day for Potluck (see Jan 21)

Pre-School Story Hour Fridays at 11AM at Library

Stories, Snacks, and Crafts for ages 0—5.

Tentative Schedule for December and January: Dec. 2; Dec 16; and each Friday in January. There will be no story hour if the Mohawk Trail School District has a weather-related cancellation or delayed start. Story Hour is funded by grants from the Franklin County Family Network and the Colrain Business Association.

3rd Annual Memory Tree

The Friends of the Griswold Memorial Library would again like to help remember loved ones by placing lights on the Memory Trees which will be in front of the library. If you would like a light lit for your loved ones this holiday season, you may do so by the donation of a dollar for each name. Forms are available at the school, library, post office, town hall, Pine Hill, Super Gas and local churches. Please return the form and donation to the library by December 12^th for the tree lighting on December 16^th. A list of names and donation can also be mailed to P.O. Box 33 Colrain, MA 01340. Final date for acceptance of names is December 28, 2004.

BRICK SCHOOL HOUSE

COLRAIN, MA

The Carpenter family asked the Colrain Historic Commission to assess the condition of the Brick Schoolhouse located on Shelburne Line Road in East Colrain . David Rogers has since visited the site and the group met on November 14. We have begun a “Friends of the Brick School” and several members have volunteered to stabilize the building to get it through the winter. If you are interested in participating in this organization, please call Joan at 624-8818. We would like your support and ideas. Donations for restoration may be sent to PO Box 25, Colrain. Thank You

Book Discussion Group

Wednesday, January 18 at 8:00 p.m.

Snow date-January 25

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James Loewen

Winner of the 1996 American Book Award

Beginning with pre-Columbian American history and ranging over characters and events as diverse as Reconstruction, Helen Keller, the first Thanksgiving, and the My Lai massacre, Loewen supplies the conflict, suspense, unresolved drama, and connection with current-day issues so appallingly missing from textbook accounts." http://www.uvm.edu/~jloewen/liesmyteachertoldme/liesmyteacher.html

All are welcome. Books are available at library. For more information or to sign up call 624-3619 during library hours. M 3-8; W 10-8; F 3-8; S 10-1

COMMUNITY POTLUCK

On October 22nd, over 75 people got together at the Brick Meeting House for an old fashioned community pot luck supper. We had a delightful and delicious array of covered dishes, side dishes, salads, desserts and beverages. Acoustic guitar music was provided by Ty Howard, who in addition to being a volunteer EMT for the Colrain Ambulance, also serves as an EMT in Holyoke and Springfield.

At the supper, people were asked if they wanted to have another pot luck. We had a resounding positive response. In light of that we would like to have the next Pot Luck on Saturday, January 21st with a snow day of Jan 28th at 6:30pm at the Community Church. Let's call it a Cabin Fever Pot Luck. Anyone wanting to lend a hand in setting it up, please contact Mo Grossberger either at mogberger@aol.com or at 624-0200

Colrain Center Historic District Information Meeting

Thursday, December 15 at 7:30 PM
Colrain Central School cafeteria

The Colrain Historic Commission invites you to an information meeting concerning the proposed listing of Colrain Center as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. Colrain Center will be recognized for its importance in local history and for its architecture.

Generally an honorary designation, listing on the National Register is the prerequisite for receiving grants and business tax credits for historic preservation. This could open the way for the town and non-profit organizations to receive grants from the state.

There is no downside to this designation as there are no restrictions on what owners may do with their property. If a state or federally funded or licensed project were to impact the historic qualities of the district, the Massachusetts Historical Commission would review the project to try to reduce the impact to the historic district. This would be a protection to owners in the district.

Other National Register Historic Districts in the area include Greenfield Center, Conway Center, Bridge St. in Shelburne Falls, and the Powers Institute in Bernardston. Heath is working on a National Register District for Heath Center.

Chris Skelly from the Massachusetts Historical Commission will present information about the National Register listing. We look forward to seeing you and answering any questions.

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THE COLRAIN CLARION

PO Box 164, Colrain MA 01340

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