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

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!

Please save the date and join us for our virtual annual meeting on Tuesday, October 18 at 6-8PM on Zoom

Click to Join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89124349232

Dave Christopolis,

Executive Director

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.

New Business Promotion Plan Released!

Revamped Business Directory and Regional Tourism Campaign

Chesterfield, MA – The Hilltown Community Development Corporation has announced that they have begun the process of revamping their business directory program for the digital age and are creating the region’s first cohesive tourism campaign. The directory, which was first produced as a print booklet in the 1980s, will now shift its emphasis to the online directory which has been streamlined to make it easier for Hilltown residents and visitors to find local businesses and attractions. In conjunction, a series of brochures will be created to promote tourism (2022 Fall Day-trips and and 2023 Summer Day-trips) as well as guides to Health & Wellness, Hilltown Living (home, building, auto), and Business Services. Twenty-five thousand tourism related brochures will be distributed in the Berkshires, The Pioneer Valley and throughout the Hilltowns in public places such as restaurants, town halls, general stores and libraries. Five thousand each of the local business related brochures will be distributed within the Hilltowns throughout 2023.

“The pandemic hit us all profoundly in ways that we could not expect. It forced some businesses to close, others to push more into online initiatives and increased workloads with the added headache of supply shortages,” says Dave Christopolis, Hilltown CDC Director. “We are now thinking about the future of business in the Hilltowns and how we can best support our unique village centers and foster a thriving business economy. The Hilltown Directory and the accompanying informational brochures are an important part of supporting Hilltowns businesses and we want to create them in the most sustainable and effective way possible.”

The Hilltown Community Development Corporation surveyed businesses in May 2022 about their pandemic experience and thoughts on the effectiveness of the old print directory. One hundred seventy business owners responded. “We found out that our businesses had concerns about the effectiveness of the directory as response is so difficult to track. We also tested our ideas about promoting the Hilltowns as a distinct and cohesive place to ‘eat, live and play” and found that business owners were overwhelmingly positive about these new initiatives.”

Due to the increased cost of paper, and concerns about sustainability, the CDC will no longer produce and mail the directory to every household, Brochures that largely replicate most of the listings of the old directory will be created.

“The CDC played an important role in supporting new businesses in the Hilltowns that opened during and after Covid-19 that are now thriving such as the Carm’s, the Common Table and their new ice cream store in Chester and the Williamsburg Country Store. The CDC’s new directory initiatives should further help locals find businesses and drive increased interest in our region,” continues Christopolis. “We are literally 30 minutes away from larger population centers and with concerns about gas prices rising, we hope to welcome more day-trippers from the surrounding areas to our unique rural way of life that includes so much natural beauty, agricultural richness and artistic expression.”

Businesses interested in getting involved are encouraged to look at the advertising opportunities at hilltowndirectory.com/adopportunities. The cost for a listing in the online directory for one year and inclusion in one print brochure is $100. For more information, contact Advertising Director Joan Griswold at joang@hilltowncdc.org or 413-296-4536x102. For inclusion in the Fall 2022 Day-trips Brochure the deadline is August 3, 2022. For inclusion in the online directory and one other brochure.:September 1, 2022

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.

Hilltown Community Development Corporation has been listening to your thoughts and created new business development initiatives. The pandemic hit us all profoundly in ways that we could not expect. We are thinking about the future of business in the Hilltowns and how we can best support our unique village centers and foster a thriving but responsible business economy.

We have been taking a hard look at both the print and online Hilltown Business Directory and conducted a survey that 170 of you answered. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration! Based on that survey we have made the following decisions:

·     We will promote the Hilltowns as a cohesive and wonderful place to live, work and play with a series of brochures distributed throughout the Hilltowns, the Berkshires and the Pioneer Valley as relevant to the topic.

·     For 2022 into 2023 these brochures will include: Fall Daytrips, Home & Auto; Health & Wellness, Business Services and Summer Daytrips.

·     We have simplified both the look and categorization of the online directory and make it easier to find and highlight your business. We will increase our search engine optimization, social media marketing and Google Adwords outreach so more people find us online.

·     We will create content features about local businesses and daytrip suggestions that are featured both online and in the brochures.

·     We will cease printing the full directory due to the rising cost of paper and our concerns about sustainability. Additionally, the survey revealed that business owners have not found it that effective. 

We have revised the website and will distribute the Fall Daytrips brochure mid August - October to take advantage of our most scenic, and well-traveled time of year. Please click here to see a mockup of the brochure that includes ad possibilities. The rate for 2022 will be $100 for an online listing that includes 35 words of copy, a photo carousel and inclusion in one of our brochures. Joan Griswold at the CDC (joang@hilltowncdc.org) is available to answer any questions you may have and take your ad insertions or you can place your ads through our web interface here. It's super simpler and should take less than 10 minutes. As always we welcome your thoughts and comments.

Sincerely,

Dave Christopolis

Executive Director

If you are interested in steady, local work and quick payment--

 Hilltown CDC is currently seeking General Contractors who are interested in bidding on Housing Rehabilitation projects funded by various state and federal grant programs. We recently received Housing Rehab funding, and we will be bidding many projects in the upcoming months.

 Projects are planned in the towns of Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Plainfield, Peru, Worthington, and Williamsburg with projects typically ranging around $40,000-50,000. Contractors working on Hilltown CDC administered projects are assured payment for all approved work and a quick turnaround on invoices as well as a source of steady, local work year-round.

 A minimum of a Home Improvement license is required.  General Accident and Liability insurance as well as Workman’s Compensation insurance, if applicable, is also required.

HCDC is an EEO/Section 3 Employer. Women & members of minority groups are encouraged to apply.

Please contact Adam Korelitz, Program Manager, at (413) 296-4536, ext. 123 for an application or email adamk@hilltowncdc.org. 

“What Happened at The Veterans Home?” is a homegrown indie film, written, directed, produced, and scored by Cummington musician Laura Wetzler. Laura and cinematographer Jared Skolnick shot it safely, one actor at a time, over the course of eight days in Florence, Agawam, Holyoke, and Greenfield, MA.

This 50-minute award-winning film is an emotional drama about a disabled veteran, her nurse daughter, and a CNA aid worker caught dead center in the pandemic nursing home tragedy, who refuse to be silenced.

Date: Sunday, March 20, 2022 Time: 2 pm

Where: The Academy of Music 274 Main St. Northampton MA

Tickets on sale now at: aomtheatre.com or 413.584.9032

Tickets: $18-20.+

To register for complementary tickets for veterans and health care workers (100 tickets available) contact: info@nervygirlfilms.com.

An Official Selection at 25 international film festivals, “What Happened at the Veterans Home?” has won numerous prestigious awards, including Best Screenplay in Paris, Best Feature in Athens, Best Humanitarian Film in Prague, Best Actress in Amsterdam and Naples, and Honorable Mention at The Cannes World Film Festival, among others.

The Hilltown Open Studio Tour returns this year on Saturday and Sunday, October 2nd &3rd. The visually rich experience of seeing the artists - in their intimate studio settings – complements the beauty of Western Massachusetts’ rolling hills, farms, mountain streams, and autumn foliage. Enjoy 22 studios and 25 artists working in a variety of media on this self-guided tour from 11am to 5pm both days. You may begin at any studio (locations and map on www.hilltownartsalliance.org) or at the Cummington Community House, 33 Main Street, Cummington, MA.

The tour is fresh each year with several new artists – and returning artists presenting new works! COVID shutdown provided a long creative incubation time for each artist on the tour, and new perspectives and
approaches are an even greater part of the annual event after a year hiatus!

Learn more at: https://hilltownartsalliance.org/open-studio-tour/

“I spent the pandemic shutdown creating jewelry for an exhibition at the British Museum in London and a stylized oak tree design, both collections inspired by History, Nature and Architecture.” explains artist Jen Parrish-Hill. “Being surrounded by nature means you want to help preserve it, so I donate a percentage of each website sale to an organization that brings light to issues threatening our wildlife, our environment, our earth.” Peaceful, but not isolated, Parrish-Hill also states that her Hilltown setting is rich in creative sharing amongst artists and looks forward to the return of the studio tour. “For solitary creators, having people visit (even just once a year) can be very rewarding - the conversations, meeting neighbors and the joy of being part of a talented community of artists.”

Painter Cyndy Sperry looked to history during the pandemic for perspective. “Well now, Picasso and Matisse painted through two world wars,” she points out. One special COVID project she completed was a rework of Emmanuel Leutze’s “Washington Crossing the Delaware” done through a Zoom collaboration with art partners.

Another highlight this year is a Raku firing at Project Art, a live work artist residency program specializing in contemporary ceramics. Internationally known artists, Kadri Pärnamets and Sergei Isupov will be doing a dramatic Raku firing over the two days – works will be glazed, loaded, fired and then removed from the kiln while red hot, placed into flammable materials which starve the piece of oxygen, blacken the clay surface and produce colorful highlights in the glazes and rapidly cooled in buckets of water. The drama comes from the carefully managed fire, smoke, steam and high anticipation of the many variables that create an unpredictable, but always beautiful, outcome.

Normally Sergei and Kadri spend their daughter Roois's school year in Cummington and summers in
their homeland, Estonia. Throughout the pandemic year, Roosi attended school from home and clay
work was part of her new curriculum while working side by side with her parents in the studio and when possible, joined by masked-up friends from the neighborhood and classmates. Due to its immediacy and outdoor process, these special firing events were popular with both kids and their parents during the pandemic year. Other recent works by Sergei and Kadri will be on view in the building's gallery run by Ferrin Contemporary during HOST.
 

Please check the website for any updated COVID information and be prepared to wear a mask inside the studios.
 

Visit our Facebook page
Hilltown Open Studio Tour

The Hilltown Mobile Market received a grant through the Startup Circle of the Hampshire County Food Policy Council, in partnership with Cooley Dickinson Hospital, to offer a Veggie Rx prescription program.

Starting in August, prescriptions will be available in $10 vouchers to shop at the Hilltown Mobile Market and four other Hilltown farm stands. The prescriptions are being distributed through the Hilltown Community Health Center’s Community Health Worker program, targeting families who are food insecure or individuals managing a diet-related disease.

To learn more about the program please reach out to Kim Savery, Director of Community Programs and Family Support, at ksavery@hchcweb.org

The Hilltown Mobile Market is a different kind of grocery store. Every week the market gathers fresh and affordable Hilltown-grown produce from our neighbor farms. Everyone can shop for produce from the colorful veggie van at one of our four weekly stops in Blandford, Cummington, Huntington and Worthington. Purchases with SNAP, HIP, WIC and Senior Coupons are welcomed!

Our 2021 weekly market schedule:

THURDSAY

WORTHINGTON: 2:00-3:30PM
Congregational Church
156 Huntington Road

CUMMINGTON: 4:30-6:00PM
Kingman Tavern
41 Main Street

FRIDAY

BLANDFORD: 2:00-3:30PM
Post Office
102 Main Street

HUNTINGTON: 4:30-6:00PM
Town Green
24 Russell Road

Got a few seconds?

Each year, Hilltown CDC applies for federal funding through the Community Development Block Grant to fund vital programs such as the Hilltown Elder Network (HEN), HOPE, Housing Rehab, It Takes A Village and the Hilltown Food Pantry. It is time to apply for next year's grant and we need your input for a strong application! Please demonstrate your support in two easy ways:

1) Sign Your Name (10 seconds)

2) Take the Survey (5 minutes)

If you, or someone you know, has participated in, or could benefit from participating in any of these programs and you would like to share support, success stories, or ways to improve the programs please contact Bea at beavh@hilltowncdc.org or 296-4536, ext. 11. Additionally, if there are new programs/activities you would like to have considered for future CDBG funding, please let us know!

Looking to get into the field of Public Health? The Southern Hilltown Adult Education Center has partnered with Holyoke Community College and BHN (Behavioral Health Network) to support Hilltowners to prepare for and succeed in the Community Health Worker Apprenticeship Program. The CHW program training course work will prepare students to work with children, youth, and families who have been impacted by opioid and substance abuse.

The training program consists of 9 college credits in the first year- free of charge, along with a $5000 sti-pend. The second year consists of a paid full-time apprenticeship, with an additional $7500 to the paid position. The 6 credit fall 2021 course will be fully virtual.

In person info session: June 21, 6pm at the Village Enterprise Center, 26 Main St, Chester. Virtual option also available. Call 413-354-1055 for more information.

Visit the SHAEC website for additional details about starting a new career in public health.

Leaky roof? Drafty windows? Soggy septic?

Now Accepting Applications for Housing Rehab!

Hilltown CDC received new funding for the FY20 Housing Rehab Program for the towns of Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Peru, Plainfield, Williamsburg and Worthington, and we are currently applying for the FY21 grant that may also include Westhampton. Income eligible homeowners who live in these towns are encouraged to apply now if you need help with your housing repairs.

The Housing Rehab Program is designed to address health and safety hazards such as:

• Siding

• Roofs and Chimneys

• Windows and Doors

• Floor Joists,

• Flooring Insulation,

• Walls,

• Ceilings

• Handicap Accessibility

• Septic Systems and Sewer Tie-ins

• Plumbing and Electrical Updates

• Wells, Pumps, and Hot Water Tanks

• Porches, Decks, and Stairs

• Lead Paint Removal

• Asbestos Removal

These NO Interest/NO payment loans may be entirely forgiven, and all work is completed by a licensed contractor of your choice. Please don’t delay, funding is available, and you may be surprised to find out you qualify! Please contact our Housing Rehab Program at (413) 296-4536, ext. 123.

Household Size	Maximum Gross Annual Income
1	$47,150
2	$53,850
3	$60,600
4	$67,300
5	$72,700
6	$78,100
7	$83,500

Funding is provided by the US Dept. of HUD/DHCD and MA CDBG Programs to the Town of Chesterfield.

The Housing Rehab Program got a delayed start in 2020 with the onset of the Covid-19 virus.  All housing rehab work was put on hold until a clear definition emerged from the State and local governments regarding safety protocols.  Once these guidelines were established, exterior work was permitted for the first four months of the year, then interior was approved only after every local Board of Health was contacted to review our safety protocols and obtain authorization for this work.  Since these safety protocols have been put in place, the Housing Rehab Program has successfully undertaken 15 projects to date with no virus contamination for the homeowners or contractors.

Considering the difficult start for the program, Housing Rehab is currently experiencing good success.  There were four projects that had very serious repairs which were completely restored to acceptable living conditions with new roofs, siding, windows, two heating systems, and two septic systems. A total of 15 projects received funding under the the FY19 Grant, with two additional projects pending review.

Senior households served:  10 households / 16 beneficiaries
Households receiving lead paint remediation:  4
Households receiving septic repair assistance:  5
Households receiving handicap accessibility assistance:  3
Households receiving heating systems:  5

Applications for 2021 are now being accepted - Apply Today! Eligible applicants are low-moderate income households in Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Peru, Plainfield, Williamsburg, or Worthington. Typical services include replacement roofs, siding, windows/doors, updating electrical and plumbing, installing handicap accessible ramps and baths, replacing failed wells, septic systems, and remediating lead paint hazards. 

BEFORE: Wood siding deteriorated

AFTER: New vinyl siding installed to protect the home and provide greater insulation.

The Cummington Cultural District’s I Love Cummington Photo Contest during the first three weeks of February encouraged Cummington residents to submit photos of their favorite local scenes and tell the Cummington Cultural District planning committee what they loved about the town, as well as their vision for more arts and cultural offerings they would like to see in Cummington. Online public voting resulted in favorite photos in five age categories.

The Cummington Cultural District is pleased to announce the winners:  Lysander Woodard, Potash Hill Farmstead (0-12 age group), Fionnghuala Reagan, sunset (12-16 age group), Joanna Jarcz, Night Skies (17-19 age group), Katy Eiseman, Sheep (40-59 age group), Paula Zindler, Cummington Clouds (60+ age group).

Congratulations!  And, thank you to everyone who participated by submitting a photo or voting.  Thank you also to prize donors:  Alice’s Kitchen, Old Creamery Coop, A2Z Science & Learning Toys, A Wing & A Prayer Nursery, Cummington water color artist June Ferrin, and the Cummington Fair.

 The Cultural District Committee is in the process of exploring a Massachusetts Cultural Council designation as a Cultural District – a distinct area known as a vibrant place with creative people and events -  which makes the district eligible for state recognition and arts and culture support.  The proposed district would give existing programs and events such as Friday Night Café, Hilltown Bash, Kingman Tavern Museum, the Cummington Fair and Project Art contemporary ceramics a new way to cross-promote events and build support for arts and culture in Cummington.

 The photo contest was part of the community engagement process for the application by which the committee asks for public input on priorities and the proposed program of work for the district.

Potash Hill Farmstead

By Lysander Woodard

Sunset

By Fionnghuala Reagan

Night

By Joanna Jaracz

Sheep

By Katy Eiseman

Cummington Clouds

By Paula Zindler

Age Category                  Winner                  Prizes                                                                                      

0-12                       Lysander Woodard, Potash Hill Farmstead        

$10 Gift Certificate to Old Creamery Coop, Cummington, $25 Gift Certificate to A2Z Science & Learning Toys, Northampton, Tickets to the Cummington Fair (2022) 

12-16                     Fionnghuala Reagan, sunset      

$10 Gift Certificate to Old Creamery Coop, Cummington, $25 Gift Certificate to A2Z Science & Learning Toys, Northampton, Tickets to the Cummington Fair (2022) 

17-19                     Joanna Jaracz, Night Skies                    

$10 Gift Certificate to Old Creamery Coop, Cummington, $25 Gift Certificate to A2Z Science & Learning Toys, Northampton, Tickets to the Cummington Fair (2022) 

20-39                     None 

40-59                     Katy Eiseman, Sheep                    

$50 Gift Certificate to Alice’s Kitchen, Cummington                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

60+                         Paula Zindler, Cummington Clouds                    

Watercolor painting from Cummington artist June Ferrin, $50 Gift Certificate to Wing & a Prayer Nursery, Cummington

We sat down with Housing Director Paul Lischetti to learn more about the recent addition of the Chester Commons Building to our Housing program.

How did we come across the Chester building? ​Chester Commons is the former Chester High School building. It was converted to affordable housing for people over the age of 55 or who have disabilities in 1987. The Chester Library (the Hamilton Memorial Library) and the town's mineral museum are also located in the building. We had heard that the previous owner of the building was interested in retiring.

Why did we decide to purchase the building? ​Hilltown CDC wanted to make sure that if the building was sold, it would continue to serve the community as affordable housing.

What funding sources/agencies helped in purchasing the building? ​We obtained two loans from the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC), a Boston-based agency that provides loans and technical assistance for affordable housing work. One loan was to purchase the building. The other loan is used to pay for pre-development expenses including an appraisal, architecture and engineering, legal expenses, and environmental compliance.

What are some of the challenges of managing this new property? ​The building is in need of improvements including replacement of the flat roof and repairs to the sloping slate roof, brick and masonry repairs, window repairs and replacements, a new boiler and other energy conservation improvements, and handicapped accessibility improvements to meet current standards. We are also interested in adding an elevator if adequate funding can be identified, to improve access to the second and third floors for the building's elderly and disabled residents. Chester Commons is a contributing structure to the Chester Factory Village National Register Historic District and historic features of the building must be preserved as improvements are made.

What are our future renovation plans? ​Hilltown CDC has received funding awards from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston and the State Historic Tax Credit program. Federal Historic Tax Credits are also being applied for. We have also submitted an application for funding from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the needed improvements. The process of applying for funds is competitive and usually takes more than a year to complete. Once funding has been lined up, the work can proceed.

For additional questions related to this project, please contact Paul Lischetti at paull@hilltowncc.org. To apply for housing in the Chester Commons or any other HCDC property, please contact Kristepher Severy at kristephers@hilltowncdc.org

Equal Housing Opportunity

Hilltown CDC, on behalf of the Town of Chesterfield, is seeking community input regarding potential projects to be included in the FY2021 Community Development Block Grant application. Typical programs included are: Housing Rehabilitation, Hilltown Elder Network, Health Outreach Program for Elders, Hilltown Food Pantry and It Takes A Village. If there are new programs/activities you would like to have considered, please let us know as well! Your participation and input on these programs is greatly appreciated.

If you have participated in, or know someone who has participated in any of these programs and would like to share success stories, or ways to improve the programs please contact Bea at beavh@hilltowncdc.org or 296-4536, ext 115. Similarly, if you know people who could use the program please share your support of the program by sending a letter to Hilltown CDC

Or, if you live in Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Peru, Plainfield, Westhampton, Williamsburg or Worthington, please add your name to our petition and take the survey!

Throughout the pandemic, Hilltown CDC staff have continued working on behalf of our communities, our tenants, and our small local farms and businesses. Although it has been many months since we all gathered together in person, we are thrilled to have grown our family with the addition of two new staff to our Housing Team:

We are delighted to introduce Jennifer O'Connell who was recently hired as our Housing Services Coordinator.  Jennifer brings her skilled background in case management to our team and will focus on helping our tenants access needed services and support.  Before Hilltown CDC, Jennifer worked as a Case Manager at Swift River in Cummington and assisted severely mentally ill clients in Enfield, CT to be able to live independently in their community.

Jennifer earned her associates in Human Services from Asnuntuck Community College and trained as a Nurse's aide.  She has always enjoyed helping people and is happy to be able to work locally in the Hilltowns.  She lives in the Hilltowns with her partner and 8-year-old daughter, and her daughter's kitten, Pluto.  She loves being outdoors in the summer.

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Kristepher Severy is our new Property Manager, taking over for Stephanie Bean as she transitions to our Accounting Department. Kris spent the last nine years working with Pancione Associates, the property management company that services all of the apartments and buildings owned by Hilltown CDC. He also served as the Property Chair for Laurel Park in Northampton where he has lived for the past ten years.

Kris says he enjoys the dynamic nature of working with people on ever-changing projects. He enjoys architecture and likes to see improvement! Kris also has an art history degree and music background, and managed Raven Used Books bookstore in Northampton for 17 years. He enjoys reading, singing, kayaking, cycling, cider, and sculpture parks

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In addition, we also welcomed Clara Rowan to our finance department. She has worked in the financial field for the past 15 years at a few local housing authorities. In her spare time Clara likes to travel! Welcome to the family Jen, Kris and Clara!

Are you looking for an affordable apartment in Chester?

Hilltown CDC is currently accepting applications for one studio and one 1-bedroom apartment on the third floor of 1 School Street in Chester, MA. Tenancy is limited to those 55 years of age or older, or persons with disability. Rents are subsidized by Massachusetts Rental Vouchers. Subsidies are based on income.

Rent for studio (before subsidy): $774.00

Rent for one bedroom (before subsidy): $774.00

Incomes limits are set at 80% of area median, and may not be more than the amounts listed:

1 Person – $47,850

2 Person – $54,650

Complete applications must be received by 1/31/21. Tenancy expected to begin in February. Applications will be mailed or emailed upon request. For more information, call Kristepher 413-296-4536 ext. 105, or email kristephers@hilltowncdc.org

Equal Housing Opportunity