Notice of Public Hearing, January 29th 2024

PUBLIC HEARING  

Where: Town of Chesterfield Selectboard Room 

When: Monday, January 29th, 2024 at 5:00 pm 

(snow day: Feb 12th, 2024 ) 

Potential participating communities: Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Peru, Plainfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg and Worthington 

  • Planning for the CDBG FY24 grant 

Come share your input on potential projects: Housing Rehabilitation and Social Services which last year included: 

Hilltown Elder Network, Health Outreach Program for Elders, the Goshen Food Pantry, and other programs of interest to you. 

 

  •  Implementation of the CDBG FY22.23 grant 

Share your input on how we have been doing with the above-listed programs. 

 

If you can’t come to the meeting but have comments, please submit written comments to beavh@hilltowncdc.org within 2 weeks of the hearing. 

Hunt Chase
Your input on Hilltown CDC programs is requested

Hilltown CDC, on behalf of the Town of Chesterfield, is seeking community input regarding potential projects to be included in the FY24 Community Development Block Grant application. 

Recent programs included are: Housing Rehab., Hilltown Elder Network, Health Outreach Program for Elders, and Hilltown Food Pantry. If there are new programs or activities you would like to have considered, please let us know! Your participation and input is greatly appreciated. 

If you have participated in any of the programs and would like to share success stories, or ways to improve the programs we want to hear from you as well!

Please share your support, feedback or ideas for improvement through our online survey.

Click here to complete a survey that helps demonstrate need in the Hilltowns.

 

 

 

 

Hunt Chase
Notice of Public Hearing, November 6th, 2023, 5:00 PM

 

Notice of Public Hearing

Nov. 6, 2023 5:00 PM

 

The Chesterfield Selectboard will hold a Public Hearing to discuss Mass. CDBG program tasks outlined below on Nov. 6, ‘23 at 5:00 PM in the Selectboard meeting room in the Town Office Building, 422 Main Road. The building is accessible to persons with disabilities. Contact the Town Administrator for public access via Zoom. Any persons needing special accommodations should email HCDC at least one week prior to the meeting. All persons or organizations wishing to be heard will be afforded the opportunity.

 

Public comment is invited on FY21 items: 

  • Budget amendment to shift Housing Rehab funds from 4C to 4A.

  • Budget amendment to shift ITAV funds to HEN and Food Pantry programs.

 

The public and representatives of participating towns and organizations with ideas or comments regarding these items should attend to present their views. The Town of Chesterfield, through its Selectboard, is the recipient of funds for this program. HCDC is the grant administrator responsible for oversight and implementation. For additional information or if you cannot attend the hearing, but have comments you would like to make, write Hilltown CDC, P.O. Box 17, Chesterfield, MA 01012, or email beavh@hilltowncdc.org

Hunt Chase
Now Hiring- Associate Director

Hilltown Community Development Corporation is accepting resumes for an Associate Director to join our Management Team. This position will provide Program Management and oversee Hilltown CDC’s Housing Department and Community Development Block Grant program.  Excellent written and spoken communication skills are needed. As a member of the Management Team, this candidate will assist in the overall direction, vision, and mission of the agency.  As part of the team this candidate will assist in operationalizing diversity, equity and inclusion in our organization’s business practices.  Experience in Program Management required.  Experience in grant management, supervision, government programs and compliance with state and federal program regulations is desired.  Full Time, Competitive salary $65-$80k.

 

 

JOB DESCRIPTION - ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

 

Responsibilities:  The Associate Director will oversee the functioning of Hilltown CDC’s Housing and CDBG funded programs.  S/He/They will work as a part of the Management Team at Hilltown CDC to develop, rehabilitate, manage and preserve real estate (primarily affordable housing) in the Hilltowns, and to oversee CDBG programs including the Housing Rehabilitation and Social Service programs, and the annual grant application process.   

 

Duties:

Oversight of Housing Programs:

1.      Provide day to day management and administration for housing programs, including housing and real estate development, property management, resident services, and housing rehabilitation. 

2.      Prepare and/or coordinate required reporting.

3.      Facilitate effective coordination and resource utilization among housing programs, to ensure efficient use of staff, consultant and monetary resources.

4.      Participate in financial planning for housing programs; responsible for management of project budgets in excess of $1,000,000.

 

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Administration:

1.      Prepare and submit annual CDBG regional grant application with assistance from other staff members.

2.      Monitor CDBG program progress and supervise the monitoring of sub-recipient social service organizations.

3.      Supervise staff working under the CDBG fund including Housing Rehab Manager, Housing Rehab Specialist and Social Service Program Manager.

4.      Prepare and submit quarterly reports.

5.      Work with town Select Boards to identify eligible CDBD activities and grant priorities.

 

 

Real Estate Development:

1.      Coordinate the management, planning and implementation of residential and commercial development projects in Hilltown CDC’s service area.  When appropriate, collaborate with other Hilltown CDC staff in these efforts.

2.      Identify, research, and evaluate financial and operational feasibility of potential projects and sites for development.

3.      Coordinate site analysis by consultants: for example perc tests, wetlands delineation, and preliminary architectural and engineering work

4.      Obtain site control and secure predevelopment funding.

5.      Obtain necessary permits and approvals.

6.      Negotiate contracts with rehab specialists, architects, engineers, contractors, and other consultants and coordinate their efforts once selected.

7.      Prepare financing proposals, obtain financing commitments, negotiate loan documents, and manage closings with funders.

8.      Develop and manage project budgets with CFO and Executive Director

9.      Oversee construction and completion of projects.

10.  Oversee marketing and lease-up or sale of units.

11.  Oversee management of rental units and required followup on homeownership units.

12.  Staff Real Estate Committee of the Board.

13.  Assist Executive Director in making recommendations to the Board of Directors and implementing Board decisions.

 

Resource Development/ Public Relations:

1.      Identify and research available funding opportunities to address housing problems and issues in the Hilltowns

2.      Advocate for the housing and social service needs of constituent communities.

3.      Represent Hilltown CDC at meetings with funders, affiliate organizations, Town Boards, community groups and the community at large.

 

Staff Supervision:

1.      Supervise the Housing Rehabilitation Program Manager, Property Manager, Tenant Service Coordinator, and any staff and volunteers assigned to real estate development.  Conduct employee evaluations and recommend changes in compensation and job duties when necessary and appropriate.

2.      Provide program and project backup when regular staff are unavailable.

 

Management Team:

Participate in Hilltown CDC Management Team meetings to assist with overall organizational goal-setting, operating budget, program delivery and problem-solving.

 

Supervised By: Executive Director

 

Qualifications:

1.      Interest in working for a community-based development organization and commitment to community revitalization and affordable housing.

2.      Experience with Community Development Block grant or similar federal grants.

3.      Familiarity with residential design and construction.

4.      Demonstrated ability to initiate and complete projects.

5.      Ability to work independently and in teams.

6.      Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent work experience.

7.      Three to five years experience in real estate development and project management.

8.      Three to five years experience with supervision.

9.      Excellent administrative and communication skills, both spoken and written.

10.  Demonstrated ability to manage community process.

11.  Familiarity with public approval processes.

12.  Familiarity with public and private funding programs for affordable housing and economic development.

13.  Experience with contract management.

14.  Experience in project and organizational budgeting and management.

15.  Computer literacy with word processing and spreadsheet software.

16.  Familiarity with a broad range of housing programs.

17.  Position requires a high degree of physical activity including scouting potential development sites, attending on-site construction meetings and attending evening meetings with Town boards and committees.

 

Hours:  37.5 hours per week, generally Monday through Friday.  Evening and weekend hours are sometimes required.  Some work may be done remotely. 

 

EOE/AA/Section 3: Applicants with handicaps and needing assistance will be accommodated.  Among equally qualified candidates, low to moderate-income residents of the local region will be given preference.

Send resume and cover letter to:

Associate Director

HCDC

PO Box 17

Chesterfield, MA 01012

Or email to: davec@hilltowncdc.org

Hunt Chase
Hilltown Open Studios Tour Announces Full Slate of Arts Demonstrations & Live Performances for the Open Studio Tour Weekend

 

Hilltown Open Studios Tour Announces

Full Slate of Arts Demonstrations & Live Performances for the Open Studio Tour Weekend

 

Cummington, MA – The Hilltown Arts Alliance announced today their full slate of live artist demonstrations, talks and performances that punctuate the 5th annual Open Studio Tour. The public is invited to learn art techniques, meet with world-renowned artists and enjoy both music and dance performances as part of the weekend taking place September 30 - October 1st in the Hilltowns of Western Massachusetts. All events are free. 

Thirty-two artists who make the scenic and historic Western Massachusetts Hilltowns their place to live and create will be opening their work spaces from 11AM to 5PM each day. During this weekend, the following live demonstrations and performances include:

Saturday

  • 11am: What I see, I paint | Jeanne Johns at Cummington Community House Tour Hub

  • 12pm: Relief prints using a copy press | Leni Fried  |  494 Stage Rd, Cummington

  • 1pm: Throwing large pots with stacked sections | Mark Shapiro  | 42 Conwell Rd

  • 1pm:  The Road to Cummington | Sergei Isupov at ProjectArt, Main Street, Cummington

  • 2pm: Back to black: the role of value | Kathryn Jensen at Cummington Community House Tour Hub

  • 3pm: You can paint a horse | Cyndy Sperry  | 257 Sugar Hill Rd

  • 4pm: Creating character with theatrical make-up | Beckie Kravetz at Community House Tour Hub

  • 5pm: Quartet jazz band | Lithia Quartet at Cummington Community House Tour Hub

  • 5pm: folk singer | Jitensha at Sena Farm Brewery

Sunday

  • 11am: Re-using old frames demonstration | Pleun Bouricius | 53 Old South St, Plainfield

  • 12pm: Blueprints: making botanical cyanotypes | Madge Evers at Cummington Community House Tour Hub

  • 1pm: The Road to Cummington | Sergei Isupov at ProjectArt, Main St, Cummington

  • 1pm: Prints using photopolymer intaglio plate | Nancy Doniger | 91 North Rd, Westhampton

  • 2pm: The alchemy of watercolor | Valerianna Claff  | 32 Munson Rd, Chesterfield 

  • 3pm: When red and blue don’t make purple: color mixing | Lena Garcia  | 105 South Street, Chesterfield

  • 4pm: Human Erratics: On and Off Screen Dance, with Doug Abrams, piano | Ellie Goudie-Averill  | Chesterfield Town Hall – 422 Main Road, Chesterfield

The tour has added more food options this year including Worthy-Que Smoke N’ BBQ at Sena Farm Brewery, Saturday and Sunday starting at 12 noon, and Holyoke Hummus at the Cummington Community House (Tour Hub), Saturday, starting at 11am.

“We’re very excited that so many of our artists will be not just opening their studios but giving the public a close up look at their process. Whether you have wanted to learn how to throw a pot or understand various printmaking techniques, there is so much to choose from,” says Hilltown Arts Alliance President and award-winning fabric artist Kathy Ford. 

“This year we wanted to broaden the representation of what is art in the Hilltowns and we are pleased to be including local musicians and dancers. We encourage the public to come, meet an artist and see how they live and work, then stay for the performances and local foods,” says Kathryn Jensen, watercolor artist and this year’s tour chairman.

A Tour Hub and gallery featuring representative works of each artist is being set up in Massachusetts newest designated cultural district: Cummington, MA. It will be held at the Community House at 33 Main St.  Printed maps will be available there and at each studio stop on the tour. An interactive tour map is located at: hilltownartsalliance.org/tour-map.

New to the tour this year are: Adrian Almquist, Nancy Doniger, Madge Evers, Greta Gnatek Redzko, Lena Garcia, Ellie Goudie-Averill, Marie Haas, Eric Jacobson. Barbara Konieczny and Molly Smith.

Returning artists include: Elena Allee, Ana Busto, Pleun Bouricius, Laura Bundeson, Valerianna Claff, Gloria Conwell, Michael Falcone, Leni Fried,  Alexandra Cherau, Sergei Isupov, Kathryn Jensen, Jeanne Johns, Beckie Kravetz, Guy Matsuda, Michael Melle, Kevin O’Connor, Olwen O’Herlihy Dowling, Jen Parrish-Hill, Kädri Parnamets, Mark Shapiro, Cyndy Sperry, John Walker, Jr. and Susanna White.

The Open Studio Tour is made possible with support from the Hilltown Community Development Corporation, Cummington Cultural District; Mass. Cultural Council, Hilltown Community Health Center. Florence Bank, George Propane, East Branch Studios, Cummington Supply, and Old Creamery Co Op.

For the most updated information on artists and events throughout the weekend, go to hilltownartsalliance.org

About the Hilltown Arts Alliance. The Hilltown Arts Alliance is applying to be a registered 501(c)(3) and is a volunteer-run nonprofit arts organization serving the beautiful hilltowns of Western Massachusetts. These lush rolling hills are home to an impressive number of accomplished artists. Our mission is to spread the word! The Hilltown Arts Alliance seeks to connect and support local Hilltown artists and makers in their creative endeavors.

featuredHunt Chase
5th Annual Hilltown Open Studio Tour Sept 30-October 1st

 

5th Annual Hilltown Open studios Tour set for 

September 30th - October 1st, 2023 

Tour hub and performances held in cummington,  
massachusetts’ newest cultural district 
 

 

Cummington, MA – The Hilltown Arts Alliance announced today that 32 artists who have chosen the beautiful and historic Western Massachusetts Hilltowns as a place to live and work will be opening their workspaces September 30 and October 1, 2023 for the 5th annual Open Studio Tour. The weekend features work and demonstrations from a global slate of artists in 23 locations. The studio spaces are open 11AM - 5PM each day. 

“The rural Hilltowns are increasingly where artists from around the US and the world are choosing to live and create,” says Hilltown Arts Alliance President and award-winning fabric artist Kathy Ford. “Artists on the tour are from Ukraine, Ireland, Estonia, Spain, the Netherlands, New York, Hawaii, Kansas, Florida, California, Montana, Illinois, Alabama, Mississippi and Oklahoma. While our influences and work are wildly diverse, we all come here to find the space to create. Artists in the Hilltowns reinvent 19th century barns and mills into light-filled creative spaces. Seeing how people live and work in such a beautiful rural area is the unique experience of the Hilltowns Open Studio Tour.” 

A Tour Hub and gallery featuring representative works of each artist is being set up in Massachusetts newest designated cultural district: Cummington, MA. It will be held at the Community House at 33 Main St.  Printed maps will be available there and at each studio stop on the tour. An interactive tour map is located at: hilltownartsalliance.org/tour-map

New to the tour this year are: Adrian Almquist, Nancy Doniger, Madge Evers, Greta Gnatek Redzko, Lena Garcia, Ellie Goudie-Averill, Marie Haas, Eric Jacobson. Barbara Konieczny and Molly Smith. 

Returning artists include: Elena Allee, Ana Busto, Pleun Bouricius, Laura Bundeson, Valerianna Claff, Gloria Conwell, Michael Falcone, Leni Fried,  Alexandra Cherau, Sergei Isupov, Kathryn Jensen, Jeanne Johns, Beckie Kravetz, Guy Matsuda, Michael Melle, Kevin O’Connor, Olwen O’Herlihy Dowling, Jen Parrish-Hill, Kädri Parnamets, Mark Shapiro, Cyndy Sperry, John Walker, Jr. and Susanna White. 

Attendees of the tour will wander Scenic Byways 112 and 143 from Huntington in the southern Hilltowns to Plainfield in the north during peak leaf season. The roads follow the Westfield River, which was designated Wild & Scenic by an act of Congress 30 years ago. Restaurants, a brewery and food trucks serving local fare are dotted throughout the area. Music and dance performances will take place in Worthington and Cummington in the late afternoons during the weekend. Attendees can come for the entire weekend – or just spend a few hours – getting to know the work of Hilltowns artists and the scenery that inspires them. 

The Open Studio Tour is made possible with support from the Hilltown Community Development Corporation, Cummington Cultural District; Mass. Cultural Council, Hilltown Community Health Center. Florence Bank, George Propane, East Branch Studios, Cummington Supply, and Old Creamery Co Op. 

For the most updated information on artists and events throughout the weekend, go to hilltownartsalliance.org 

About the Hilltown Arts Alliance. The Hilltown Arts Alliance is applying to be a registered 501(c)(3) and is a volunteer-run nonprofit arts organization serving the beautiful hilltowns of Western Massachusetts. These lush rolling hills are home to an impressive number of accomplished artists. Our mission is to spread the word! The Hilltown Arts Alliance seeks to connect and support local Hilltown artists and makers in their creative endeavors 

newsHunt Chase
Notice of Public Hearing

Notice of Public Hearing

June 26, 2023 1:00 PM

The Chesterfield Selectboard will hold a Public Hearing to discuss Mass. CDBG program tasks outlined below on June 26, ‘23 at 1:00 PM in the Selectboard meeting room in the Town Office Building, 422 Main Road. The building is accessible to persons with disabilities. Contact the Town Administrator for public access via Zoom. Any persons needing special accommodations should email HCDC at least one week prior to the meeting. All persons or organizations wishing to be heard will be afforded the opportunity.

Public comment is invited on FY21 items: 

  • CDBG FY21 Budget amendment to shift Housing Rehab funds to up to three Public Social Service Programs

The public and representatives of participating towns and organizations with ideas or comments regarding this item should attend to present their views. The Town of Chesterfield, through its Selectboard, is the recipient of funds for this program. HCDC is the grant administrator responsible for oversight and implementation. For additional information or if you cannot attend the hearing, but have comments you would like to make, write Hilltown CDC, P.O. Box 17, Chesterfield, MA 01012, or email beavh@hilltowncdc.org

______________________________________________________________________________

                                                             

Contact:         Bea von Hagke – CDBG Grants Manager

                        Hilltown CDC

                        P.O. Box 17

                        Chesterfield, MA 01012

                        beavh@hilltowncdc.org

newsDenise LeDuc
Hilltown Community Development Corporation Starts 2023 Working on 20 Grants, Plans Growth for Mobile Market and Hilltown Directory Initiatives

Chesterfield, MA – Showing marked growth, Hilltown Community Development, the non-profit that seeks to improve the quality of life for Hilltown residents, ended 2022 with over $2 million in grants generated since the pandemic era. The organization has fostered several new initiatives to help increase the Hilltowns’ appeal as a place to live, work and recreate by addressing economic, housing, education, social and community needs.

“Throughout Covid, we helped our local businesses survive by offering small grants,” says Hilltown Community Development Director Dave Christopolis. “As the world has reopened, we shifted our work to launch a tourism program and increase food security while supporting small local farmers and taking the Hilltown Mobile Market online. We continue to support the many artists that call the Hilltowns home by helping them market themselves and the region. Housing remains at the core of our mission. We have developed, own and manage 68 units of affordable housing scattered across the Hilltowns.”

Housing:

In September of 2020, the organization purchased the former Chester High School building, which had been converted to affordable housing in 1987.  The building also houses the Chester's town library and a small museum, and is a contributing structure to the Chester Factory Village National Register Historic District.  Hilltown Community Development has been awarded over seven million dollars for the renovation of the building and will start construction on these improvements in 2023 preserving 15 housing subsidies.

Public Facilities

Hilltown Community Development is helping reimagine the elementary school in Cummington which was closed in 2016.  It will be a community space including a commercial kitchen available for food production.

Hilltown Community Development secured a $2 million earmark from Congressman Richard Neal for the construction of a Senior Center in Worthington. They will work with the Town of Worthington to raise the additional funds to construct a 5,000 square foot Senior Center.

The organization is assisting the Town of Chester in seeking funds to redesign and redevelop their vacant elementary school. They are also assisting the town of Hinsdale in redeveloping their public beach and park at Plunket Lake and making it ADA compliant.  

The Arts:

Hilltown Community Development supported a community group from Cummington in their bid to turn the downtown area into a state designated Cultural District. The designation is expected to come through in spring 2023. It will help the town produce more cultural programming and preserve and enrich the historic character of Main Street. In 2022, the street featured Reflections: a juried art show featuring installations by nine local artists. These installations invited participants to reflect on the cultural and natural history of the region while strolling down Main St.

The organization supplied marketing and PR support to the Hilltown Arts Alliance’s 4th Annual Open Studio Tour which was held on October 1st and 2nd. Art enthusiasts and art buyers from as far away as NYC and Boston came to the Hilltowns to meet with 23 artists, see their work and the unique Hilltown creative process. Nearly 40% of the visitors purchased art and 60% bought local foods, adding to the economic health of the region

Health:

Hilltown Community Development completed its work with local Councils on Aging and community volunteers to create walking maps for nine downtown areas. The initiative was designed to help seniors safely get out for exercise and socialization in their communities. You can view these maps here: Healthy Aging — Hilltown CDC Click on the town thumbnail to see the map. You can also obtain a printed copy from the COA of each of these towns. Any questions about these maps please reach out to Rural Health Project Manager Joan Griswold joang@hilltowncdc.org or (413) 296-4536 ext 102.

The National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health awarded Joan Griswold, The Rural Public Health Project Manager their Community Stars Award for the betterment of rural health in the Hilltowns. Ms Griswold, a long-time resident of Goshen, has educated local residents on CPR, coordinated vaccination drives and increased knowledge about Covid vaccines among the young. She built the healthy walking initiative and helps coordinate the Hilltown Mobile Market.

The organization coordinated a COVID vaccination clinic that took place at their offices in Cummington on October 31st, 2022. Forty-five locals were able to be vaccinated and boosted without prior reservations

Farming and Food Security:

The Hilltown Mobile Market successfully transitioned from four in person markets to weekly online pre-ordering with distribution throughout the Hilltowns to 18 locations. It operated from July through November. The program provided a local outlet for food from 20 producers. New producers this year included Pause Pivot Farm, a hydroponic greenhouse in Williamsburg, Cream of the Crop Farm in Russell, Foxtrot Herb Farm in Shelburne Falls, Grace Hill Dairy in Cummington, and Kinne Brook Farm in Worthington.  They diversified the offerings of the market with local beef, yogurt, eggs, cheese, microgreens and herbs. 

The program grew from an average of over 120 customers a week to over 300. Over $10,000 of healthy local food was given away to 72 low income families and more than $46,000 in revenue was generated for local farms. Look for more farmers and an even greater variety of produce next year. Farmers and local producers looking to join the program for 2023 should contact Hunt Chase at huntc@hilltowncdc.org.

Business Development:

After surveying over 170 local businesses, the Hilltown Community Development decided to transition the Hilltown Business Directory to an online product that now has content about the Hilltowns and encourages tourism. The site has nearly 5,000 active monthly users. Accompanying the online directory are a series of brochures that are being professionally distributed in the Hilltowns, the Berkshires and the Pioneer Valley. Twenty-thousand of the first brochure, focused on Fall Daytrips, were launched Labor Day and accompanied by a Facebook ad campaign. Brochures about Business Services, Health & Wellness, and Hilltown Living will launch in the new year. Businesses included are promoted online with custom Facebook and Instagram posts highlighting their events and goods offered. Since launching a dedicated Facebook presence in September, Hilltown Directory posts have reached over 100,000 people. Businesses looking to advertise in 2023 should contact Joan Griswold (joang@hilltowncdc.org or (413) 296-4536 ext 102).

Hilltown Community Development welcomes resident input on programs. Please reach out to Dave Christopolis at dave@hilltowncdc.org.

About Hilltown Community Development 

Hilltown Community Development is a private non-profit organization that seeks to improve the quality of life for Hilltown residents by addressing economic, housing, education, social and community needs while preserving the rural character of the area. Among their initiatives is the Hilltown Mobile Market, which distributes local produce, meat and dairy throughout the region and the Hilltown Directory which promotes local business and regional tourism.

newsHunt Chase
Steve Kulik - One of a Kind

I am very sad to hear of the passing of Steve Kulik. I got to know Steve fairly well in my job as Executive Director of the Hilltown CDC.  I was hired in 2011 and Steve was our State Representative. He went out of his way to meet with me and help me get a handle on the work the CDC does and what the pressing issues in the Hilltowns were. I knew there was a paucity of knowledge in Boston about Hilltowns. Little did I know I was getting to know one of the most compassionate and effective legislators in our state. I also soon learned that Steve was one of the founding community members of the Hilltown CDC.

As I got settled into my job, I developed a relationship with Steve that showed me another side to politics and government. I saw how he was able to advocate for our rural towns with kindness and intellect and at times, when needed, some fierce advocacy.

Without hesitation, Steve worked tirelessly to help move a piece of legislation through state government that has resulted in millions of new dollars designated for community development programming, providing assistance to many of our rural friends and neighbors. This legislation was the Community Investment Tax Credit or CITC. This has enabled CDC’s across the state to leverage millions of dollars from donors who receive a tax credit on their donation.

For folks who follow Hilltown CDC’s work, we would not have a Mobile Market selling local farm products without CITC, we would not have developed additional affordable housing units, nor would we have been able to expand our transportation services for seniors without CITC and Steve’s advocacy.

There is one other memory I want to share.

When Steve retired for the legislature, Hilltown CDC helped an event to honor his life and work. His wife Suzanne and children Sam and Elizabeth attended the event. Family and friends put together a collage of pictures of Steve’s life. It was a beautiful time.

I brought some musician friends of mine to the event, and we played some jazz music while people honored Steve. On a break, I took a look at the pictures of Steve’s life. I saw this young guy with a long ponytail letting his freak flag fly.

At that moment it all made sense. Steve was a counter-culture activist who figured out how to get inside the system and change it for the better. He never lost his hippie idealism. 

He was “one of a kind” in the messy system we know as politics. There is one thing I know for sure, we need more Steve Kulik’s in our world if we are going to get anything done.

 

Dave Christopolis

Executive Director

Hilltown CDC

newsHunt Chase
Support Our Work, Add Your Name!

Can you take a moment to help Hilltown CDC? We must demonstrate support each year for our federal grant applications.

If you have utilized the services provided by the Hilltown CDC or I know someone who has benefitted from or could benefit from these services, please add your name to our list of supporters below!

newsHunt Chase
Fall Happenings! Sept 30-Oct 2

Full Slate of Hilltown Arts Activities Set for September 30 - October 2


Hilltown Arts Alliance Open Studio Tour;

Local Wine, Beer & Harvest Tastings Highlight
Weekend Events

Cummington, MA – The Hilltown Community Development Corporation has announced a full slate of art activities that run throughout the weekend of September 30 - October 2nd in and around the Hilltowns of Western Massachusetts.  The events are complemented with opportunities to taste the best of local farm and beverage producers at the height of harvest season. 

The weekend begins Friday with an arts salon at the Cummington Community House featuring five local artists and continues with the 4th annual Hilltown Arts Alliance Open Studio Tour through Sunday. The self-guided tour that takes visitors to see the work and studios of 23 Hilltowns artists who have chosen the region for its unique rural character and space to create. 

Local food makers and growers are participating with seasonal offerings. There will be a wine tasting of the new vintages of Sauvignon Blanc and Rose at Glendale Ridge Vineyard. Sena Farm Brewery is producing a special raspberry-infused beer to commemorate the weekend. Labels for the limited edition beer have been designed by artist Elena Allee, whose studio is on the tour. The Old Creamery Coop, which sells the goods of local farmers, is celebrating its 10th year with food and music in Cummington on Saturday evening.

The full schedule of activities includes:

  • The Art Salon: Friday, September 30, 6PM, Cummington Community House, Cummington. Engaging conversations with five unique and talented Valley-based artists.

  • The Hilltown Arts Alliance Open Studio Tour: Saturday October 1 - Sunday, October 2, 11AM - 5PM; 19 locations, 23 artists. Pick up tour maps and view a representative show of the artists’ work at the tour hub in the Commington Community House. Interactive map: https://hilltownartsalliance.org/tour-map/

  • Sena Farm Brewery Artist’s Palate Beer Tastings:  Friday, September 30, 2- 7PM, Saturday, September 1, 1 - 7PM,  Sunday, October 2, 1 - 6PM, Worthington. Vibrant Lithuanian style beer with local raspberries introduced in celebration of our Hilltown artists: ask for the Benevolent Host. Farmer’s Daughters food truck on site.

  • Old Creamery Co-Op 10th Anniversary Celebration. Saturday, October 1,  5 - 7:30PM, Pettingill Memorial Park,  Cummington.  Come enjoy food and drink from local establishments and farms that do business with the Creamery, a hub of the Hilltown economy.  

  • Glendale Ridge Vineyard Wine Tasting: Sunday, October 2, 4 - 6PM, Southampton. Experience the vineyard at harvest with views of Mt. Tom. Special pricing for those who show their Open Studio brochures.

Artists on the Open Studio tour who are doing in studio demonstrations include: Jeanne Johns (11:30AM Saturday, Portrait conversations); Valerie Claff (1:30PM Saturday,  Making a watercolor painting, start to finish); Mark Shapiro (3:30PM Saturday, Throwing, assembling & decorating a teapot in under an hour); Kathy Ford (11:30AM Sunday, The first block: character in quiltmaking); Leni Fried (1:30PM Sunday, Printmaking).

“The rural Hilltowns are undergoing something of a renaissance among artists and food producers,” says Community Development Director Dave Christopolis. “Cummington is going to receive Massachusetts Cultural District Designation this year and is planning additional arts and culture programming annually. Grants from that program and the Hilltown CDC are helping breathe new life into historic buildings where artists can live and create. Each year more artists move to the HIlltowns for the beauty but also the community they become a part of.  We have also just had two new restaurants reopen in historic spaces in Worthington: The Goldenrod Country Inn and Liston’s Bar & Grill.”

“The Hilltowns are a fascinating mix of artists and agriculture, and always have been,” says Hilltown Arts Alliance president, and fabric artist, Kathy Ford. “Artists like Helen Frankenthaler, Willem de Kooning, Diane Arbus and Marianne Moore trained here. Now, we are home to internationally renowned artists like Sergei Isupov, Mara Superior, Mark Shapiro, Olwen O’Herlihy Dowling, and Andrew DeVries. This is a weekend to celebrate our past and that today the Hilltowns are alive with so much creativity.”

Attendees of the tour will wander Massachusetts Scenic Byways 112 and 143, plus many backroads, at the height of leaf peeping season. Visitors can stop at as many arts locations and events as they prefer with Cummington as the tour hub.

The artists included in the Open Studio Tour are painters, sculptors, fabric artists, artisan jewelry makers, printmakers and ceramicists. The complete list of artists participating is: Gloria Conwell, Kathy Ford, Mark Shapiro, Jen Parrish-Hill. Elena Allee, Michael Falcone, John Walker, Ana Busto, Sergei Isupov, Kadri Pärnamets, Jeanne Johns, Leni Fried, Chris Bagg, Susanna White, Laura Bundesen, Olwen O’Herlihy DowlingSusan Flores, Laurie Israel, Guy Matsuda, Pleun Bouricius, Cyndy Sperry, David Marshall, Valerianna Claff.

The Open Studio Tour is made possible with support from the Hilltown Community Development Corporation, primary sponsors ArtsAngels, Community Foundation of Western Mass; Mass. Cultural Council, Hilltown Community Health Center. Secondary sponsors: Florence Bank, Mr. Tire, Cummington Supply, Hilltown Hybrids and The Hilltown Land Trust.

For the most updated information on artists, events and food opportunities throughout the Open Studio Tour weekend, go to  hilltownartsalliance.org/open-studio-tour.

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About the Hilltown Community Development Corporation. Hilltown Community Development is a registered 501(c)(3) that seeks to improve the quality of life for Hilltown residents by addressing economic, housing, education, social and community needs while preserving the rural character of the area.  

About the Hilltown Arts Alliance. The Hilltown Arts Alliance is a registered 501(c)(3), volunteer-run nonprofit arts organization serving the beautiful hilltowns of Western Massachusetts. These lush rolling hills are home to an impressive number of accomplished artists. Our mission is to spread the word! The Hilltown Arts Alliance seeks to connect and support local Hilltown artists and makers in their creative endeavors



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Fall Tourism Brochures Are Here!

Hilltown Community Development Corporation Launches Business Development Campaign with Revamped Directory and Fall Tourism Brochure

Chesterfield, MA – The Hilltown Community Development Corporation has launched a new business promotion program including the region’s first tourism campaign. Responding to the results of a survey of over 170 Hilltown’s business, the former print Hilltown Directory has been shifted into an online initiative (hilltowndirectory.com) that now contains content about how to live, work and travel within the Hilltowns.The Hilltowns of Western Massachusetts now has its own logo as the first step in the branding of the region.

Twenty-thousand copies of the Hilltowns Fall 2022 Daytrips brochure are being distributed in the Pioneer Valley, The Berkshires and at public places and businesses within the Hilltowns. A paid Facebook initiative launches this week to draw those from the surrounding areas to the Hilltowns for the perfect, yet close, fall escape.The Hilltown Directory is posting a Business of the Day feature on Facebook and Instagram to further draw attention to the opportunities and business owners within the region.

 

“We’ve been working on more sustainable and useful ways to promote local business and the region and after conducting a survey where we tested several ideas, we made a bold digital move,” says Hilltown CDC Director Dave Christopolis. “Now that broadband and cell services are available throughout the Hilltowns an easily searchable and updateable directory online just makes sense. Service businesses were especially hard hit during the pandemic and we need to show a broader audience that we are open for business, distinct and amazing to visit.”

 

While the Hilltown Directory was online before, it has now been redesigned, categorized for ease of use, optimized for search engines and features articles designed to promote the unique history, culture, rural character and business opportunities of the region. Bold photos of the region’s attractions and businesses are featured throughout. Most are taken and submitted by Hilltowns residents, such as the current cover image of Rte 20 and the National Park Service designated Wild & Scenic Westfield River in fall.

 

“The Fall Brochure has been a big success in terms of advertiser support,” says Christopolis. “We have 55 businesses and attractions listed. The map gives people a sense of the region and what to do in an easily digestible form. The listings make it easy for everyone from moms to couples, kayakers to hikers and apple pickers, to plan a day or a weekend in our amazing region. When we relaunched the website just after Labor Day, the traffic shot up to six times its daily norm. We know those numbers will just continue to build through peak fall tourism season as our paid social media initiative kicks in. Many of our Business of the Day posts have been getting over 1000 people looking at them.”

 

The Fall 2022 Daytrips brochure will be available throughout October. Other brochures will be produced through the fall and into next year.  Business Services will launch in November, Health & Wellness for the New Year, and Home, Pet, Auto in February for spring remodeling season. Summer Daytrips will be available starting in April. The closing date for inclusion in one brochure and a year-long listing in the directory is October 15, 2022, and the fee is $100.

 

Businesses interested in getting involved are encouraged to look at the advertising opportunities at hilltowndirectory.com/adopportunities. For more information, or to get copies of the Fall Daytrips brochure, contact Advertising Director Joan Griswold at joang@hilltowncdc.org or 413-296-4536x102. 

 

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About the Hilltown Directory 

The Hilltown Community Development Corporation is a private non-profit organization that seeks to improve the quality of life for Hilltown residents by addressing economic, housing, education, social and community needs while preserving the rural character of the area.

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4th Annual Open Studio Tour set for October 1st & 2nd

Hilltown Arts Alliance Open Studio Tour set for
October 1st & 2nd, 2022


Village of Huntington Added to the Tour of 23 Artists’ Studios

 

Cummington, MA – The Hilltown Arts Alliance announced today that 23 artists who have chosen the beautiful and historic Western Massachusetts Hilltowns as a place to live and work will be opening their workspaces October 1 and 2, 2022 for the 4th annual Open Studio Tour. The weekend features art demonstrations and a full slate of food and drink opportunities from unique Hilltown artists and producers. This year, the picturesque and historic town of Huntington is being added to the tour. A Tour Hub & Community House Gallery featuring representative works of each artist is being set up at 33 Main St. in Cummington, MA.  Printed maps will be handed out and an interactive tour map is located at: hilltownartsalliance.org/tour-map.

“The rural Hilltowns are home to a thriving population of creative people,” says Hilltown Arts Alliance President Kathy Ford. “We may not be as well known as places like the Berkshires or Northampton, but the Hilltowns are where artists increasingly choose to live. The beauty of this place brings out the beauty in our artists' work. Here we have the room we need to create.”

New to the tour this year are: Elena Allee, who focuses on nature as a construct or memorial; Susanna White, whose oils and alkyds often focus on light and clouds somewhere between realism and abstraction; John Walker, a painter and fine woodworker who recently won first prize at the New England Arts Festival; and Laura Bundeson who explores the brain in all its complexity and beauty through both painting and fabric art.

Attendees of the tour will wander Scenic Byways 112 and 143, plus many backroads, at their leafiest time of year. The Hilltowns feature many hiking and walking trails, white-steepled villages, farms and orchards offering their fall bounty and a river so significant it is designated Wild & Scenic by the National Park Service.

As a complement to the artwork, local producers such as Sena Farm Brewery and Glendale Ridge Vineyard are offering special tastings for tour participants. The Farmer’s Daughter Food Truck will offer lunch in Worthington during the weekend and local restaurants are celebrating with seasonal menus.

The artists included are painters, sculptors, fabric artists, artisan jewelry makers, printmakers and ceramicists. The complete list of artists participating is: Gloria Conwell, Kathy Ford, Mark Shapiro, Jen Parrish-Hill. Elena Allee, Michael Falcone, John Walker, Ana Busto, Sergei Isupov, Kadri Pärnamets, Jeanne Johns, Leni Fried, Chris Bagg, Susanna White, Laura Bundesen, Olwen O’Herlihy DowlingSusan Flores, Laurie Israel, Guy Matsuda, Pleun Bouricius, Cyndy Sperry, David Marshall, Valerianna Claff.

The Open Studio Tour is made possible with support from the Hilltown Community Development Corporation, primary sponsors ArtsAngels, Community Foundation of Western Mass; Mass. Cultural Council, Hilltown Community Health Center. Secondary sponsors: Florence Bank, Mr. Tire, Cummington Supply, The Hilltown Land Trust.

For the most updated information on artists and events throughout the weekend, go to hilltownartsalliance.org.

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About the Hilltown Arts Alliance. The Hilltown Arts Alliance is a registered 501(c)(3), volunteer-run nonprofit arts organization serving the beautiful hilltowns of Western Massachusetts. These lush rolling hills are home to an impressive number of accomplished artists. Our mission is to spread the word! The Hilltown Arts Alliance seeks to connect and support local Hilltown artists and makers in their creative endeavors

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Hilltown Mobile Market Now Open!

Hilltown Mobile Market Announces 20 Participating Farms and 18 Delivery Locations for 2022 Season

All ordering is now online with expanded selection and convenience!

 

Chesterfield, MA, June 8, 2022 – The Hilltown Mobile Market is back for a fourth season with online ordering, expanded products offerings and 18 locations throughout the Hilltowns.  Customers will now be able to browse hundreds of products online grown by 20 local Hilltown producers during the season which runs from July 16-Nov 18.

New producers this year include Pause Pivot Farm, a new hydroponic greenhouse in Williamsburg, Cream of the Crop Farm in Russell, Foxtrot Herb Farm in Shelburne Falls, Grace Hill Dairy in Cummington, and Kinne Brook Farm in Worthington.  They will diversify the market with local beef, yogurt, eggs, cheese, microgreens, herbs, and more.  Returning producers Berniche Blueberry Farm in Chesterfield, Clark Brothers Orchard in Ashfield, Four Corners Farm in Worthington, Good Bunch Farm in Shelburne Falls, Intervale Farm in Westhampton, and Sawyer Farm in Worthington will provide a steady supply of delicious, freshly harvested fruits and vegetables all season long.

New partnerships have also enabled the market to expand to 18 locations with drop-off delivery at various retail stores and community centers. Customers will pick up their pre-orders during designated hours at each location.  Door delivery is also available for residents at Westhampton Woods, Hamblin Court, Highland Village Circle, Hillside Terrance, Nash Hill, and The Maples.

“Everything will be freshly picked to order and travel no more than 30 miles from the farm to your table” says Monica Guzik, Market Manager.  “It will be like shopping at all your favorite local farm stores and roadside farm stands right from your computer or phone.” 

Customers can sign up for a Hilltown Mobile Market farm share, which ranges from $150-$500, to spend down throughout the season.  The program directly supports local farmers but is more flexible than a traditional farm share box or CSA, allowing customers to select the items they want to receive.  There is a $20 minimum order but no weekly commitment. Customers can add to their balance anytime, or simply pay by the order.  Those with SNAP (food stamps) can also sign up for a fully reimbursable HIP CSA that automatically credits $40-$100 per month from their benefits to spend at the online market.

"You get to choose what you like to eat. Love carrots but not zucchini? The Hilltown Mobile Market enables you to enjoy what you want without any waste” says Seva Water, Market Coordinator.

The Market will open for online orders every Saturday starting July 16th.  Orders must be placed by Tuesday at 1pm for pickup either Thursday or Friday afternoon, depending on location. 

The Market is an innovative program of Hilltown Community Development working to increase market access for small Hilltown producers and provide healthy, affordable produce to all residents.  The grant-funded initiative began operating in Huntington and Cummington in 2019 and has now expanded to serve Blandford, Chester, Chesterfield, Middlefield, Westhampton, Williamsburg, Windsor, and Worthington.  The goal of the market is to eventually sustain operations year-round and become a viable distribution option for producers and consumers in the Hilltowns and beyond.

To learn more about the Hilltown Mobile Market visit www.hilltownmobilemarket.info or contact Monica Guzik at (413) 296-4536 x109

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Cummington Awarded Grant for Main Street Cross Walks

Town of Cummington Awarded $31K to Construct Two Pedestrian Crossings on Main Street

The Town of Cummington was recently awarded $31,000 in funding through the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s Shared Streets and Spaces Grant Program. The program provides funding to municipalities and public transit authorities to quickly implement improvements to plazas, sidewalks, curbs, streets, bus stops, parking areas, and other public spaces in support of public health, safe mobility, and strengthened commerce. The program originally launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic during the summer of 2020. The Town of Cummington applied for funding during the fourth grant application round in March 2022.

The grant will fund the construction of two new pedestrian crossings on Main Street: one at the Cummington Community House and another at the entrance to the Hillside Terrace Senior Housing. These new crossings will include ADA compliant pedestrian ramps, high-visibility pavement markings, and new signs to help people walk to these community destinations. The Town expects to begin construction in Summer 2023.

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