Drop a Bag Food Collection—MLK Weekend 2021

Fill a bag of food and bring it to the high school for no-contact drop off:

  • Saturday, January 16, 2021 from 12:00 to 2:00pm
    (inclement weather date: Monday, January 18th)
    South Hadley High School Parking Lot, 153 Newton Street

Because of safety and health concerns the usual ‘Bag the Community’ food collection event will not be held this year, but more than ever there is a need to fill the South Hadley Food Pantry for our neighbors in need and ensure that every local family has access to good foods, every day. This year the South Hadley High School Student Council will hold a no-contact bag drop in the high school parking lot. When you bring your bag, students will unload your vehicle.

Suggested food and household items that are needed include: Pasta sauce, canned/jarred fruit, canned soups, hot or cold cereals, tuna and canned meats, peanut butter, jelly, jam, condiments, household cleaners, soaps, paper products, pet food, and disposable diapers.

Question or concerns? Call 413.538.5063.

South Hadley Christmas Tree Disposal

There will be NO CURBSIDE PICKUP of Christmas trees this season, but residents can bring trees to the South Hadley transfer station as follows:

  • January 8-9 and January 15-16, 2021 from 8:00am to 3:00pm
  • NO RESERVATION is needed for tree disposal and there is no charge.
  • A transfer station permit sticker is NOT required to dispose of your tree during this time.
  • The South Hadley transfer station is located at 10 Industrial Drive.
  • For details: https://www.southhadley.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=504

Trees must have all tinsel, ornaments, and metal removed and not be wrapped in plastic bags. Please do not bring wreaths, as they contain metal.

An additional spring curbside yard waste collection is being added in March/April (dates TBD), and residents may dispose of trees at this time provided the tree is less than 40 pounds and cut to 4 feet or less (and have items removed as outlined above).

The compost area and transfer station are regularly open Tuesday to Saturday from 8:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00 to 3:00pm for South Hadley residents with a valid 2021 permit sticker and reservation. Prepayment is required for disposal of green bags, recycling, and larger items at the transfer station. For more information: https://www.southhadley.org/240/Public-Works.

Ice Melt

Buckets of ice-melt are located at each mailbox in our community for use by residents this winter. While our snow contractor will take care of things during and after storms, this is available in case there are slippery conditions during in-between times. These stations are being monitored and filled by Board members and other owners in an effort to save on costs for our community. Please be sure not to over-tighten the covers. Thanks!

MassPike exit number conversions to begin December 13

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is in the process of converting all exit numbers on freeways to a milepost-based numbering system, per Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requirements. Currently, interstates and freeways in Massachusetts utilize a sequential exit numbering method. Construction began in the Fall of 2020 and is anticipated to be completed in the Summer of 2021.

Exit numbering conversion will begin on the MassPike/Interstate 90 on December 13, 2020. Construction details are as follows:

• Corridor: Interstate 90 (Massachusetts Turnpike)
• Location: Boston to West Stockbridge
• Approximate start date: Dec. 13
• Approximate construction duration: 4 weeks
• Hours of operation: 8:00 PM – 5:00 AM

Please note that all work is weather dependent and construction dates may be adjusted accordingly. This work will not impact the tolls on this roadway. For more information on the project and construction status, to leave a comment or sign up for project updates, please visit: https://www.newmassexits.com/

Falls Redevelopment Visual Preference Survey

The public is invited to join the South Hadley Falls Redevelopment Authority in a conceptual exploration of the redevelopment of a Main Street Property into a mixed-used development. The South Hadley Planning and Conservation Department has received a Massachusetts DHCD Downtown Initiative Grant to produce illustrations to help envision the conversion of the SHELD property into other uses. 

The survey will be open through November 30, 2020. Those wishing to participate are encouraged to view an online webinar for more information about the project and additional details about the design ideas featured in the survey. Links for both the webinar and the survey can be found at: https://www.southhadley.org/462/Redevelopment-Authority

South Hadley Landfill Proposal

At the November 10, 2020 South Hadley Selectboard meeting a developer working in the disposal industry presented a proposal to use space at the now-closed solid waste facility at 600 New Ludlow Road for construction soils that cannot be used onsite because of site constraints, geotechnical properties, or levels of contamination of the materials. The South Hadley facility was closed and capped in 2014, with groundwater testing and environmental monitoring to continue. The Selectboard has encouraged Closure Management, the Holyoke company formed in 2019 that made the proposal, to attend meetings of the Conservation Commission, Board of Health, and Planning Board to gauge interest and possible support.

The public is also being encouraged to review the proposal and comment on the project using a Google Form set up by the Town. A recent news story published on November 12, 2020 in the Daily Hampshire Gazette provides some additional information.

Shadowbrook Annual Meeting

This year’s Annual Meeting of unit owners of the Villages of the Shadowbrook Estate will be held online at 7:00pm on Tuesday, December 1, 2020. An information packet is forwarded by mail to owners before the meeting and this will be followed by an email (or letter for those not using email) from NAI Plotkin with meeting access instructions about ten days before the meeting. Those without access to a computer or tablet will receive details for calling in from a landline. Your attendance is important. If you can’t attend, please be sure to return your proxy form by mail as soon as possible to NAI Plotkin to ensure that a quorum of owners is represented.

Shadowbrook Reserve Study Presentation

Shadowbrook has a new Reserve Study, done by Reserve Advisors (RA) earlier this year. A reserve study provides recommendations to the Board for future spending on major capital projects, such as roofs, roads and decks, and helps to guide the Board through the planning process. A joint committee, with members from the Board and the Financial Advisory Committee (FAC), has been meeting since June to help the RA engineer refine the study by providing more detailed research into prior history, and to make additional recommendations to the Board. Please plan to attend an online presentation for owners about the study:

Shadowbrook Reserve Study Presentation
Wednesday, October 28 at 6:30pm on Zoom

PDF files with study documents and meeting/RSVP information were sent to unit owners via email on Friday, October 23. If you did not get the email with these documents, please contact Melanie at <Shadowbrook@splotkin.com>. Participants will be able to join the presentation online with a computer or mobile device (video/audio), and log-in information will be sent to all who have RSVP’d by Wednesday morning.

Red Foxes

A number of residents have noticed recently that the fur on some of the foxes living around Shadowbrook doesn’t look right. This is likely due to Sarcoptic mange, which is apparently fairly common among foxes. Animals with this condition are not generally considered a threat to people and pets, but people should not interact with them. Affected animals will seek protection from wind, shade, and sun because it affects their ability to thermoregulate, and it’s itchy. The website links that follow provide some additional information:

MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife–Living with Foxes Fact Sheet (general info about foxes)
MetroWest News–South Shore Mange Sightings 9/15/19:
https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/20190915/experts-urge-caution-amid-spate-of-south-shore-mange-sightings
Tufts Wildlife Clinic:
https://wildlife.tufts.edu/wildlife-mange/
Fox Wood Wildlife Rescue Blog:
http://www.foxwoodwildliferescue.org/2017/01/05/treating-sarcoptic-mange-in-red-foxes/