The who, what, where site for the Pioneer Valley
“Ever since 17-year-old Grace E. Kuhn was a child, she has enjoyed reading mystery novels. “To me, trying to solve the crime as the story unfolds always fascinated me. I love the suspense and plot twists that mystery and thrillers bring,” she said. Now readers can try to solve the mystery in her first book, “Knox Hollow — Murder on Mayflower,” self-published in December.” Read the full article at MassLive.com.
“In October, the community foundation awarded $2 million to nonprofit organizations that were struggling to survive in the midst of the pandemic, yet would be able to get their footing with some additional support.” Read the full article at MassLive.com.
Daily Hampshire Gazette, February 10, 2021
It’s almost hard to remember the feeling of being in a busy restaurant on a weekend night: people tucked into tight tables, leaning over bars, smiling and talking and laughing. Squeezing past strangers, running into acquaintances, chatting with someone new — many of us are really missing that connection to a casual social fabric, and being in the spaces that foster it, as COVID-19 has required us to withdraw into our homes and pods.
For the restaurants themselves, the future has never looked so bleak. From abrupt closure orders in the early days of the pandemic to costly adaptations needed to open back up on a very limited basis, restaurants have been hit hard by COVID-19. Restaurants, especially those that are small and locally owned, have always functioned on razor thin margins.
Local restaurants have hustled to keep going during the pandemic by shifting their menus, offering grocery items, adjusting their service models, and taking advantage of the extremely limited government help on offer. Still, too many local restaurants have announced closures — according to the Massachusetts Restaurants Association, one in four Massachusetts restaurants closed between March and December of last year, and Bon Appetit estimates that, on a national level, 85% of independent restaurants face imminent closure without more industry-specific support.
As the vaccine rollout continues and we can start to imagine a post-pandemic world, let’s consider what we stand to lose if the local restaurants in our communities don’t make it through the winter. Restaurants are enormously important to our local economy: according to the Boston Globe, pre-pandemic, one out of every 10 Massachusetts jobs was in the restaurant industry. By December of 2020, 35% of leisure and hospitality jobs had disappeared.
For local farmers, the springtime closure of their stalwart local restaurant customers was a big economic hit. In regular times, interesting and delicious restaurants are also a central feature of a thriving downtown, buoying other local businesses by drawing customers to eat.
Restaurants can provide a meaningful window into cuisines and cultures from around the world, and they also root themselves deeply into their neighborhoods as vital community boosters: over the years, they have donated countless meals and hosted innumerable events in support of community efforts.
During the pandemic, dozens have stepped up as partners on municipal and nonprofit led efforts to feed essential workers and food insecure families, such as Northampton’s Community Food Distribution Project, Amherst’s Dinner Delights, and the Franklin County Community Meals Program.
On a more personal level, think of the restaurants that have played host to memorable moments and meals in your life: family celebrations, gatherings with visiting friends, first dates. Or the not so memorable moments that make up day to-day life: a quick bite of lunch, urgent sustenance after a long workday, or takeout soup for a sick friend. What are the places that you want to be able to return to when the pandemic is over?
The state’s recent $20 million economic stimulus contains elements designed to support small businesses and, specifically, restaurants. This is much-needed and welcome help, and it will continue to be important to advocate for more small business support in the state budget.
But restaurants also need customers — and so many people are struggling financially right now, so this isn’t possible for every household — so if you are able, order takeout. If you can, order takeout this weekend, and next week, and as often as you can until this is behind us. Tell your friends about your local favorites and talk them up on social media. Drop off meals or gift cards for friends and loved ones, especially if you know someone who is struggling and could use a little extra help themselves. Tip generously — extravagantly if you can.
With real advocacy at the state level in support of restaurants and other small businesses, and with a community-wide effort to support them week to week, more of these beloved institutions can hang on until spring, when outdoor dining opens up, or through the summer, when the vaccine may allow for some return to normalcy. In the meantime, call in for tonight’s dinner, and let’s keep local restaurants going.
Philip Korman is the executive director at Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture. Claire Morenon is CISA’s communications manager.
The post 20 Recommendations for Staying Entertained Inside on a Snow Day! appeared first on Hilltown Families.
Job Opening: Program Coordinator: business and labor
Status: 40 (full-time) hours a week
Time Frame: Review begins February 24, 2021, position open until filled
Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) is a nonprofit organization that strengthens farms and engages the community to build the local food economy. Our programs include the Be a Local Hero, Buy Locally Grown® marketing campaign, educational activities for the public, trainings, workshops, and support for farmers, and programs to expand market options for farmers and increase access to local food in our region. We believe that an informed and engaged community is essential to a resilient local food economy and that local food builds community by connecting us to farmers, to the seasons, and to each other.
Our team has a range of skills and life experiences and is a mix of trainers, policy experts, fundraisers, communicators, and administrators. We work to build a diverse and resilient food economy with viable farms, fair and just working conditions, strong environmental stewardship, and accessible and available local food in all of our communities. We are committed to understanding the history and current impacts of racism in the food system and actively work towards equity. We are committed to recruiting and retaining creative, ethical, smart, and innovative people and to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Our ideal candidate has experience with, and enjoys, providing farmers with business support; is familiar with agricultural businesses and can help farms implement practical and meaningful changes to their operations; and has training or experience in business and employee management. Candidates should be capable project managers; be detail oriented and able to see the big picture; and have organizational systems to provide multiple farms with support simultaneously through multiple channels.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
1) Implement CISA’s direct assistance as a member of the Farm Business Support Team:
2) Bring creative and strategic thinking about farm and business support that can further CISA’s mission.
3) Represent CISA at public presentations and other venues/channels as needed.
Other Duties
Perform other related duties as assigned by the Program Manager.
REPORTING and SUPERVISION
This position reports to the Program Manager. May include opportunities to occasionally supervise interns or volunteers.
QUALIFICATIONS
PREFERENCES
Hours and compensation: $19-$22/hour, depending on experience. This is a full-time 40 hours/week, non-exempt position. Health care, vision, dental, long-term disability, 401K matching, sick time, holidays, and vacation are offered. Access to a car and some weekend and evening availability are required.
Due to COVID-19 all CISA positions are currently remote. Successful candidates must have access to home workspace, internet access, and phone capabilities (CISA will provide computer). Continued remote work post-pandemic may be possible, with regular required travel to the CISA office. Once in-person work resumes, regular travel within CISA’s service area (Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties, MA) for technical assistance service provision, outreach, and events will be required.
Writing samples and references may be requested.
CISA is an equal opportunity employer. Equal employment opportunity is a sound and just concept to which CISA is firmly bound. CISA will not engage in discrimination against or harassment of any person employed or seeking employment with CISA on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, status as a protected veteran, or other characteristics protected by law. We are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment.
Please complete applicant questions and attach your resume via our online application form. Questions can be directed to jennifer@buylocalfood.org. Cover letters are not required and will not be reviewed.
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AGAWAM, MA (WGGB/WSHM) — With snow and a blast of arctic air in the forecast this week, it appears as though the depths of winter are finally among us, but thankfully, there are also signs of spring!
Farmers are gearing up for what is expected to be yet another active growing season, with many taking up gardening during the pandemic.
The days are slowly getting longer and with off season maintenance complete, E. Cecchi Farm in Agawam said they’re gearing up for what is expected to be another busy season.
“All our orders are in. The seeds have been coming in for the last few weeks. We probably have 90 percent of the seeds are here…The supplies have been coming in, the pots and everything and the first plants came in last week, and we’re going to start planting today,” said farm owner Michael Cecchi.
They’ll begin with hanging baskets and will start seeding some of the earlier crops, such as greenhouse tomatoes, onions, and lettuce.
Between Easter and Mother’s Day, blooming will begin, but here in New England, it’s not until May 1 that it’s safe to begin transferring to the ground.
“The heartier stuff, the lettuces and cabbages, onions, first of May, and then each week, you know, different things kind of become available, like you don’t want to put tomatoes out until like…the middle of May, peppers a little later because they’re a little more susceptible to frost and the fluctuation in temperatures…You can cheat a little bit, you know, if you’re already in May and it’s pretty warm, you can cheat a little bit, but you’ve gotta keep an eye to the weather and you know, cover them if they’re going to need it,” Cecchi added.
Last season, supplies sold out quickly with many first-time gardeners in the pandemic. Cecchi has this advice to avoid frustration again this year.
“The best thing to do is to shop early. Some people know what they’re doing, buy early, and put it in the garage at night, so it doesn’t get too cold and put it out during the day. If you have the time, you can do that. If you’re planting seeds, get them as early as you can… you know, they’ll keep until it’s time to seed them,” Cecchi explained.
Speaking of seeds, many farmers are reporting a shortage in seed supply, but not at Cecchi’s.
Despite coronavirus-related shipping delays, the Cecchi family told Western Mass News they’ve got plenty of supply in stock. In fact, they’ve ordered a little bit extra this season, all to ensure that come growing season the inventory is in place for both new and experienced gardeners alike.
“People have always loved having pets, but now it’s harder than ever to find companion animals, especially dogs, here in New England. We hear about shelters in southern states like Texas or Georgia that are overcrowded with animals and may use euthanasia to control their population. So why can’t we get more of these pets transported up north to solve both problems?” Read the full article at MassLive.com.
***Wind Chill Advisory in effect for all of western Mass from Midnight through noon Friday***
“Low pressure will slide off the Carolina coast this morning and will quickly strengthens offshore. It will make a far pass southeast of Cape Cod, sparing us from any snow and clouds decrease throughout the day with finally some sunshine for this afternoon. Highs will reach near 30 early this afternoon, but the breeze will pick up and temperatures will slide into the 20’s later this afternoon as Arctic air drains into western Mass.” See the full story at WesternMassNews.com.
CSA Delivery Driver
The CSA Delivery Driver works Fridays from 10am-5pm delivering CSA boxes to members’ homes in western Franklin and Hampshire counties. This position entails packing boxes, organizing boxes in the van, following an order list, understanding the delivery route, and communicating with the managers and customers. This position runs from June-October. Pay is $15/hr. This position is prioritized for, but not limited to the worker who is Field Crew Member.
Skills and experience preferred:
Applicants can email conwayhartfarm@gmail.com with your letter of interest, resume, and three reference contacts.